Comment Challenge Day 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and… 7

I am really enjoying taking part in the Comment Challenge, but I have already fallen into the trap that I was worried about when I was considering taking part - I’m already behind - what with the start of the new term and all! EEK!

But this was something I really wanted to take part in and an area I feel I need to improve on. If anything already I can see a huge benefit in taking part just in the range of blogs I have read - even if I haven’t commented on them.

So here is a recap of the last 5 days or so of the 31 Day Comment Challenge..

Day 2: Comment on a blog you have never commented on

I have commented on a couple of new blogs. In particular I really enjoyed Mentor Me’s post about music and its political motivations and themes. It seems like they have been having some great conversations along with the Intrepid Classroom about this topic. This really got to me because of my passion for music and that we are celebrating NZ Music Month too!

Day 3: Sign up to a comment tracking service

Argh… Argh… and double argh! My new found excitement for Flock I’m not sure what i’m not doing right and I need to have some more time to tinker but I can’t get coComment to work. I won’t say anything more here as this will come down to something simple I am sure!  So i’ll leave it with a - I’ll get back to you!

Day 4: Ask a question

This was great as someone came along and left a comment with a question on my blog (spot the challenge goers!) which was great to get the conversation going. I then responded with another question among my comment - it’s interesting how it is growing into a worthwhile and interesting conversation. Something I haven’t really been involved in previously. The ongoing conversations and connections are proving to be powerful and engaging already!

Day 5: Comment on a post you don’t agree with.

This one seems easier to say than do. I have also heard bit of talk about that some people have found this tricky.  I need to go exploring a bit more. I think possibly this may be easier to do once I step outside my normal educational based blogs into the realms of something else?!  Another task for this weekend!

Day 6: Engage another commenter in discussion

See Day 4 for this one. This is a part of the challenge I am really enjoying.

Day 7: Reflect on what you’ve learnt so far

I’ve pretty much covered this part throughout the blog post. I think that the most powerful things I am taking from the challenge so far is the real big shift for me in taking part in conversations in the comment section.

Also working on developing my comments past the basic and into a bit more depth, relating posts to my experience and finding out more from the blogger after their post.

One week in and I feel like I haven’t really given the challenge my all, but am looking forward to the weekend and spending a bit of time checking out some more blogs and filling in some of the gaps in the challenge. I’m hoping as next week settles down and I get back into routine I will be able to challenge myself some more!

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31 Day Comment Challenge - Day 1

So I had seen the comment challenge around and knew this was something I wanted to participate in as I feel like this is an area I need to contribute and develop more within. It wasn’t until I read Barbs post about it that I decided to give it a go.

So Day 1’s Challenge is to do a comment audit so here I go with the questions…

• How often do you comment on other blogs during a typical week?
  • Anywhere from none to five-ish I would say. Sometimes what I want to say has been said or I don’t have anything extra to add to the conversation so nothing is said.

• Do you track your blog comments? How? What do you do with your tracking?
  • Nope, not until today actually where I subscribed via email to comments on one blog post. But I can see how this would get messy quickly!

• Do you tend to comment at the same blogs or do you try to comment on at least one new blog per week?
  • Generally it’s the same blogs that I comment on. But if something comes up I will comment on it.

The next part of todays challenge was to read this post at Lifehacker and think about the points brought up in this post.

• Contribute new information to the discussion: I don’t generally say the same thing - if it’s been said previously I leave it. If I feel like I could add something extra to the conversation I will make a comment.
• Do you comment for the sake of commenting: Hmm I guess I have left some rather basic comments but not so much for the sake of commenting - if that makes sense?!
• Know when to comment and when to email: Not too sure about this one…
• Are you a know-it-all: Well I DEFINETLY don’t know if all so I really hope that I have never come across in this way.
• Is the tone of your message clear: I don’t think i’ve had any conversations that have been heated for this to be a big issue. But once again another area I maybe need to think about?
• Own your comment: I always post/comment with my name. That one was easy
• Are you succinct: Yes I am. See
• Cite resources and links: I try to do this as this is something quite important to me.
• Be courteous: Yes I am, thank you
• Don’t post when emotional, drunk etc: Nope, never done this one either!
• Do not feed the trolls: Ok… Day one and i’ve learnt something in this challenge already… there are trolls?!

Though this seems somewhat peculiar I can already begin to see areas that I really would like to work on. Perhaps in this challenge it’s the perfect time…

* Adding wealth and interest to a comment conversation
* Commenting on more blogs and more purposefully

For more information on the comment challenge check out the wiki.

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