I’m fine with any site or blog that requires that comments be approved before posting. Among other things it has the potential t0 help avoid comment garbage that adds unnecessary noise, and often vulgarity, to the conversation. What I would like, though, with a rejected comment is a rejection note.
For example, I wrote a comment on on the Hulu blog the other day on their post about terminating boxee’s access to their content. I felt my comment was well thought out albeit direct while still be reasonable and polite (of course I did, I wrote it). I hit submit and my comment drifted off into the bowels of the hulu blog’s administrative system for subjective review and approval. I’ve checked back a number of times over the last few days and it hasn’t shown up so I’m guessing I’ll never expect to see it and I have to let it go.
What I can’t let go of is the desire to know why it got rejected. See, I’m interested in joining the conversation, making my voice heard and being a face with a name that stands out in the crowd (did I get them all?). That happens through representing myself well online including in others’ blog comments. If I haven’t cut it and I’m being rejected, I’d like to know why. If I disagree for the reason for rejection, fine, that’s my prerogative just as it yours to reject my comment, but at least I know why. On the other hand, if there is something to be learned from having a comment rejected, I’d like to learn it. Maybe my comment can be refined, re-posted and approved. Whatever the reason for rejection, without knowing it I’m prone to making the same mistake again in the future.
So here’s what I’m asking for. If you reject comments, take a quick second for comments where the reasons for rejection might not be so obvious and give the commenter some feedback. And blogger, wordpress and others, please add a feature to your blogging tools that will allow the comment moderator the option to provide a quick few words of feedback when rejecting a comment and the submitter has left an email address. Our conversations would be better for it.
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It’s Not You, It’s Me
I’m fine with any site or blog that requires that comments be approved before posting. Among other things it has the potential t0 help avoid comment garbage that adds unnecessary noise, and often vulgarity, to the conversation. What I would like, though, with a rejected comment is a rejection note.
For example, I wrote a comment on on the Hulu blog the other day on their post about terminating boxee’s access to their content. I felt my comment was well thought out albeit direct while still be reasonable and polite (of course I did, I wrote it). I hit submit and my comment drifted off into the bowels of the hulu blog’s administrative system for subjective review and approval. I’ve checked back a number of times over the last few days and it hasn’t shown up so I’m guessing I’ll never expect to see it and I have to let it go.
What I can’t let go of is the desire to know why it got rejected. See, I’m interested in joining the conversation, making my voice heard and being a face with a name that stands out in the crowd (did I get them all?). That happens through representing myself well online including in others’ blog comments. If I haven’t cut it and I’m being rejected, I’d like to know why. If I disagree for the reason for rejection, fine, that’s my prerogative just as it yours to reject my comment, but at least I know why. On the other hand, if there is something to be learned from having a comment rejected, I’d like to learn it. Maybe my comment can be refined, re-posted and approved. Whatever the reason for rejection, without knowing it I’m prone to making the same mistake again in the future.
So here’s what I’m asking for. If you reject comments, take a quick second for comments where the reasons for rejection might not be so obvious and give the commenter some feedback. And blogger, wordpress and others, please add a feature to your blogging tools that will allow the comment moderator the option to provide a quick few words of feedback when rejecting a comment and the submitter has left an email address. Our conversations would be better for it.
Like this: