Discussing: Lack of Comments

Lack of Comments
Posted Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 18:40 CET by Sorcerer

I've been wondering why with the huge amount of news we post here on the front page, comments on the news are such rare animals... Is the Comments link at the bottom of each news post not obvious enough? I renamed it to Post Comments, but I'm at a loss for more ideas.

If anyone can clue me in as to why no one wants to post news comments, I would be interested in hearing it...

# 12
Name:	Arabwel Unregistered
E-mail:	arabwel@yahoo.com
Date:	Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 18:05 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
Well... it might be because people think that the news are of no concern to them? I, for a sample, admit that I have no idea what the Jefferson Project IS, even though I often read (or at least browse) the news... or, not having NWN in my grasp, the news of a patch do not concern me one bit... News such as site updates I wait eagerly, of course, but when THOSE come along I am too busy going to enjoy said updates to comment... (making a contribution, for now)

# 10
Name:	Z-Layrex Unregistered
E-mail:	Z@Sorcerers.net
Date:	Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 21:17 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
The lack of comments did really make me wonder whether anyone is actually reading the news we post. You know it's not a matter of copy, paste submit people. We have to go through the entire text, adding the coding and html. One mistake and the whole post's ruined. Trust me, feedback would be REALLY appreciated. Or even a post of thanks.

# 9
Name:	Greenlion420 Unregistered
E-mail:	greenlion420@msn.com
Date:	Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 15:27 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
I read the news, or at least check for new news everyday. However I'm not as advanced in my gaming as most of the visitors to SP, so I feel most of the time my comments would be worthless or make everybody say "DUH Dumbass".

# 8
Name:	Spellbound Unregistered
E-mail:	N/A
Date:	Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 7:09 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
I think that it's not an issue of not wanting to "be the first to do something". SPers don't strike me as the type to be afraid to be the first to speak out on anything or in any forum. I suspect the people who are interested in the news are either scanners or readers. For the scanners, a bolder, larger "Post Comments" definitely could help catch their interest. I think the way it is now, it gets somewhat lost in the verbage. Readers, on the other hand, see it full well I suspect, but choose not to respond. It's almost like reading a newspaper -- your mindset is "check the news" --you may not be ready to deliberate over it or start a discussion about it -- you're simply digesting it -- kind of a different frame of mind (or maybe that's just American newspapers -- you have to read 10 stories on the same thing in order to get your facts straight :D )...anyways, just a thought.

# 6
Name:	Blog Unregistered
E-mail:	blogarithm@hotmail.com
Date:	Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 5:16 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
I think most of the regulars here on the boards just visit the forums and chatroom. Perhaps there should be a poll in Sorcery Sundries to see how many of us really read the news. (Personally, I just scan the front page about once a month.) But if this poll is done, it should be initiated by a staff member, because otherwise, I think it would be rather rude. Obviously, people are aware of the news staff's hard work and dedication to posting the news. So if a humble member like myself asks "Do you really read the news?", it's like slapping the news staff in the face and saying "do we really need you guys"... very touchy issue here. Other suggestions: The weekly poll seems to gather the most attention. In fact, there was a thread in Sorcery Sundries regarding last week's poll... but there are no comments on the front page's weekly poll results. So clearly, people are more willing to make comments via the forums. Maybe there should be more incentive to post on the front page then. A simple example of such an incentive would be to add any front page comments you make to your post count. Anyways, that's my two cents. =) Kinda ironic how an article about lack of comments actually gets the most comments.

# 4
Name:	Devious Unregistered
E-mail:	N/A
Date:	Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 19:53 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
Well this is the first time i visit this site, only get some information, but i didnt knew it exsisted, but i think ill visit it more often now, and post some comments :). i think #1 is right...!

# 1
Name:	Uytuun Unregistered
E-mail:	charlotte005@hotmail.com
Date:	Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 18:48 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
I think noone posts just because it's not a habit (yet). Something like 'Noone posts a comment, so I won't either.' So if a couple of nice souls start doing so, the rest will follow. That's what I think...

# 11
Name:	Sorcerer
E-mail:	N/A
Date:	Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 12:40 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
Well, the front page alone loads nearly 2000 times a day, so people must be reading the news...

# 7
Name:	Pyro Unregistered
E-mail:	None
Date:	Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 6:54 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
I read the news but I don't see a need to comment, Im sure many others do that aswell.

# 5
Name:	sP Unregistered
E-mail:	samplecow@hotmail.com
Date:	Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 22:21 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
I suppose I read the news and figure thats that. Maybe I'll start commenting more in the future =)

# 3
Name:	Uytuun Unregistered
E-mail:	N/A
Date:	Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 19:05 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
I don't think that makes any difference, Tal. It's always hard for people to be the first to do something.

# 2
Name:	Sorcerer
E-mail:	N/A
Date:	Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 18:56 CET
ip:	Logged (hidden)
Comment
I'd say ok, if posting comments was a relative novelty, but the system for it has been around for over 6 months...