Daily Archive for January 29th, 2007

How to write a helpful comment

Questions to ask yourself:

  • do you agree?
  • do you disagree?
  • if you find something that is interesting, can you explain why?
  • is there something that you don’t quite understand? do you need more details?
  • do you share common interests?
  • what did you learn?
  • what can you add? what can you suggest? can you make other connections? (try not to repeat their ideas)

What to remember when commenting:

  • check for audience (security) and proofread your comment (spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and sense)
  • ask yourself the questions above
  • be respectful: politely express different opinions
  • respond to the ideas, not the person
  • be sure you are in the right blog
  • write as if you are speaking to the individual in person–do not use IM speak