Comments on Commenting

I have found myself lately pondering the art of blog commenting. I've realized I have many reasons FOR commenting--and probably more for NOT commenting. Generally, I DO leave comments because I've found the post interesting (maybe it's a controversial topic), I can relate exactly to what the author is saying, or it's an author I'm trying to help support (like if they are newly published and I love their work and want to spread the word). There are a few other reasons I'm sure, but I can't think of them right now, and that's not the point of the post.

This is the reason for the post--

Here's a list of why I DON'T leave comments. If you have a blog I follow, I suppose you'll just have to figure out where yours fits, like it or not.

1--I'm tired. I've expended what little energy I had at the time reading your blog post, and writing a comment would push me over the edge.

2--No time. I've read it, loved it, but have too many things going to formulate an articulate response.

3--The topic is something I feel very strongly about, and I want to write a well-worded response, but by the time I get it figured out, too much time has passed and your blog has moved on, or every other commenter has already said what I wanted to say.

4--I didn't like the post, didn't care about it, found it too boring or long or whatever to waste my time reading it, and do not want to encourage further discussion. (Of course, that can't be the case all the time, otherwise I wouldn't be following you in the first place.)

5--I disagree with you, but know that nothing I say is going to change your mind, and I'm not the kind of person that goes around trying to convert everyone to my philosophies anyway. It's your blog, you have a right to post anything you want, even if you are wrong.

6--Your blog gets gobs of comments without adding mine to the masses. Plain and simple--you don't need me, and I doubt you notice.

7--I simply had nothing to add. The post was fine--interesting, thought-provoking--but I felt that adding a comment was superfluous and accomplished nothing other than getting my name listed under the post.

There, now you have it. Not that you need it, much less asked for it. But there you have it, nonetheless. Feel free to comment. Or not.