Following the trend... of the Disqus bandwagon. :) After the success over at some of my favorite blogs, including GingerSnap's Daily Fashion Post, the (chloe) conspiracy & now My Superfluities..., I am starting to no longer resist. (Incidentally, I also want to give a big "shout-out" to GingerSnap who answered quite a few of my questions about the new commenting system last year.)Unfortunately, I am still unsure if this is the right move for the JCA blog and I need your help! I made a pro-con list (a la Rory Gilmore from the Gilmore Girls) to help me figure it out...
Pros:
- Users can log-in through other accounts
(like Twitter, Facebook, etc.) - Users monitor all their comments in one profile screen
- Users can reply to comments through their email
(do not have to go back to the blog to reply to a comment) - Threaded comments
- One more thing to sign-in {ugh!}
- Can't switch back to old Blogger commenting system with comments (comments stay stuck with Disqus; the comments are the best part of this blog!)
- Not sure if Disqus comments can be searched by Google
Quick Poll: Should I switch the commenting system to Disqus?
UPDATE: Thanks everyone for voting & chiming in. I really appreciate all the great feedback. Based on it, I have decided to leave the current commenting system (via Blogger) as-is. :) Nothing will change. {yey!} [As an aside, I would turn off the poll but there is no way to do it without losing the results, which I would like to keep. So it stays too! ;) ]
I don't use Facebook or Twitter and want nothing to do with Google (except this blog) because their privacy practices are TERRIBLE if not non-existent. If I can't comment using Live Journal account with Disqus, then I won't be commenting and that is a bummer. But, do what you have to do, Alexis. I'll support whatever you decide.
ReplyDeleteI think being able to search the comments is important. There is so much information there! But if you are having problems and feel disqus would help with that then you need to do what you need to do. Thank you for all that you do!!
ReplyDeleteI really like the Disqus commenting thread system. Since I don't like subscribing to comments, it's nice to be able to go back and find your comment to see who's responded instead of searching through tons of comments to see any replies. That would be the #1 reason that I'd support the switch. I think it is worth researching further to see if the comments can be googled, because many comments are valuable!
ReplyDeleteI have not been able to figure out how to comment using Disqus.... every time I type out a response on blogs that use this, and try to post, I lose everything, so I've given up out of frustration.... I would hate to not be able to post on JCA! If you decide to change, could you please post about how to leave comments?
ReplyDeleteI think your choice has to come from why you are choosing to do it. As it turns out my turn to the disqus system was a wee bit early, as the commenter that was giving me trouble was actually doing it in the name of science (!?!?!), but now that I have turned, I won't turn back.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that I can reply back through the disqus moderator page to EACH individual comment instead of creating ONE REALLY LONG COMMENT (or many comments, but scrolling back and forth to see what people have said can get tiring in blogger).
I am incredibly sad that Marietta and others can't comment because they are having issues with disqus. I have never had an issue, but then I only do my disqus work from home...maybe at certain work places disqus is blocked or something the way facebook is at some places?
Fortunately, Marietta and others have my e-mail, and have e-mailed me, but I know that being able to pen an opinion, etc., makes the link to the community more tangible.
So the choice is yours, but if you are not pressed to change yet (I felt VERY worried about the comments and felt disqus was the last option before going private with my blog), maybe give it a while?
Everyone: Thanks for the feedback everyone! It has been super valuable so far. I look forward to reading more on your perspectives.
ReplyDeleteAs for motivation... I actually do *not* have any pressing need to change the current comment system. (I don't need to block users and find the current system to be fine.) The only thing persuading me was the thought that maybe Disqus was offering something so unique that this community might benefit from.
AnneGav & Kristin & Marietta: Thanks for the support. I am probably going to leave things as they are considering the vote on the post & the comments made here. Thank you for your help! :)
AppGal: You are so right. I need to research this all much more before any changes. :)
dinagideon: I reread your post and I caught the line of "commenter that was giving me trouble was actually doing it in the name of science". Say what?!? That is crazy on their part. :( I hope things have worked out for the better. :)
Is the disqus system the one that allows you to post from Facebook? If so, I'd hate having my real name out there for everyone to see.
ReplyDeleteI've also had some problems commenting on Disqus based comment sections. I'm sure I could figure it out eventually.
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to a lot of the threads here so I can know what the follow up is without having to go back to the blog (which is blocked at work). Also, I would really hate to lose the ability to subscribe to the Buy and Sell weekly posts, especially since I can't see the blog from work. I rely on my email to see those posts.
I'll support whatever change you want to make obviously. Disqus does have that cool reply to individual comments feature and you can edit! The only drawback for me is that I can't see Disqus comments on my blackberry so I have to wait until I'm home to see the comments from some of my fav blogs. Honestly, periodically checking the comments on JCA gets me through my workday so I would personally be bummed if you switched to Disqus.
ReplyDeleteAnd Dina, I should probably comment on your blog but I'm at work (ugh!) so I can't. But how do you know that commenter was truthful about it being in the name of science? And even so, that's a pretty nasty thing to do. Maybe it's just the cynic in me but I wouldn't trust that explanation either.
It really is a personal decision. I've too have heard that some commenters have a hard time using Disqus once in awhile, but I find for me that the pros outweigh the cons. I love being able to reply directly to each comment and I love being able to use the disqus website to see all my new comments without referring back to each post.
ReplyDeleteBefore, if someone left a comment on an old post - I might have never seen it unless I visited the old post for some reason. Now, each and every new comment shows up on my online disqus account no matter which post (including old ones) the commenter posted on! It's amazing :)
I no longer miss comments!
Also, it allows you to edit comments. So if a particular comment is very helpful and informative, but perhaps uses inappropriate language or (in my case is a friend who inadvertently reveals personal information) the comment can be edited without losing all the content!
Whatever you decide to do - I'm sure it'll be great! You have a wonderful blog and many loyal readers! :)
Gingersnap: There is also a setting on Blogger that allows the blog owner to receive comments automatically without subscribing, and this includes comments from older posts, too...no need to check back in on any of the posts, because the comments come automatically to your inbox. :)
ReplyDeleteEveryone: Thanks again! It sounds like I should leave things as they are now. I am thankful and grateful for your votes on the poll as well as comments. :)
ReplyDeleteRegina: Yes! You can post from Facebook. I agree, having personal information made public would not necessarily be a positive.
Desert Flower: That is a good point to consier about if posts/comments are viewable behind corporate firewalls.
Stephanie: Another good point about your Blackberry being able to view the comments made!
GingerSnap: Thank you again for all the advice! You have such a great blog too. :)
FFM: You are right about that feature, which is great! Especially with all the Spammers who post spam URL links in old posts, hoping I wouldn't catch them. In the beginning I would miss some of the comments. Ever since you told me about it, and how to enable it, I feel like I am "in the know" with comments. :)
I think disqus is great for the blogger who is able to easily reply to individual comments.
ReplyDeleteI don't like disqus as a reader because it seems to create a lot of clutter. I admit that I less frequently visit blogs that have it. I am less inclined to read disqus comments from other readers because I can't get through all of the text for the meat of the information. I haven't quite caught onto disqus and maybe I will change my mind if I *do* catch on.
Disqus?? Huh?
ReplyDeleteI have NO idea what you're talking about, but if you do make this change, I'll try to figure it out...
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteI discovered this blog only last year and love what you do with it, Alexis! I am continually amazed at how thoughtful and fair-minded you are in all your comments. I find the community to be lively and the vibe to be consistently positive. Even though I don't comment much, I read the blog each and every day. I have NO idea what disqus is, but if you were to switch to it, I will make an effort to acquaint myself with it. On the other hand, my personal opinion (being a total novice to blogging) is in line with the other person who said, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
I am sure you will make the most appropriate decision, and I support whatever it will be.
GigiOfCa: I totally agree about the Disqus comments looking a bit cluttered! I thought it was just me. ;) Although, I did like the fact that comments could be nested, allow for a conversation to be in one place.
ReplyDeleteHeidi: You are a sweetheart! :)
SallyO: I don't blame you for not knowing Disqus! I didn't know too much about it myself. :) It is a different way to make comments in blogs (some of which I listed in the post, if you want to see what it looks like).
KitKat: Thank you so much for the support. You are so nice! :)
I really hate disqus. Please don't change it to that.
ReplyDeleteAlexis...
ReplyDeleteI love it just the way it is! :)
Em: I agree, I won't be changing it after all. :)
ReplyDeleteGoldCoastGal: Aw! Thank you so much. You are too sweet! :)
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ReplyDelete