Comments on: Week 1: Comment reflections http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/05/week-1-comment-reflections/ Inspiring connections through images Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:55:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Christine Martell http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/05/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-261 Christine Martell Sat, 10 May 2008 16:22:00 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/05/07/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-261 Kevin, I know, it was eye-opening to me also. At first I wondered if I should be talking more when I speak, then I realized the people who are attracted to my sessions on facilitating with visuals and such are probably not those who want to be lectured to. People do however end up in sessions accidentally. I had a guy from a telecom sitting in the front of one of my session thinking I was going to talk about Powerpoint. He got a sense in the first few minutes that wasn't going to be the case. It turned out he loved the session and went back and convinced his company to buy my visual tools. So sometimes we win over the ones who don't think they want what we have to offer :) Kevin,
I know, it was eye-opening to me also. At first I wondered if I should be talking more when I speak, then I realized the people who are attracted to my sessions on facilitating with visuals and such are probably not those who want to be lectured to.

People do however end up in sessions accidentally. I had a guy from a telecom sitting in the front of one of my session thinking I was going to talk about Powerpoint. He got a sense in the first few minutes that wasn’t going to be the case. It turned out he loved the session and went back and convinced his company to buy my visual tools. So sometimes we win over the ones who don’t think they want what we have to offer :)

]]> By: Christine Martell http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/05/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-260 Christine Martell Sat, 10 May 2008 15:52:32 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/05/07/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-260 Diane, After popping over to your blog and getting a similar feel, I started thinking about the fact that there really isn't a place for people to make general comments on most blogs. I know I get messages occasionally posted in what seem to be strange places, but I see now it might be because there isn't really a general conversation space. I wonder if a page with open comments would make sense? Diane,
After popping over to your blog and getting a similar feel, I started thinking about the fact that there really isn’t a place for people to make general comments on most blogs. I know I get messages occasionally posted in what seem to be strange places, but I see now it might be because there isn’t really a general conversation space.

I wonder if a page with open comments would make sense?

]]> By: Diane Hammond http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/05/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-259 Diane Hammond Sat, 10 May 2008 13:02:49 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/05/07/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-259 Christine, you said: "I keep thinking I must be doing something wrong since I get so few comments compared to others". I don't think this is a "right or wrong" situation. Doesn't it depend entirely on the purpose of your posts? I just found my way here for the first time from the "comment08" feed.  I read this post, had a look to see who you were, looked around your other posts and then added your RSS feed to Google Reader. As Sue said, your posts are very informative; I'm sure I can learn a lot from you. It doesn't necessarily follow that I need to comment on each one - "good idea - I'll try that." Christine, you said: "I keep thinking I must be doing something wrong since I get so few comments compared to others".

I don’t think this is a "right or wrong" situation. Doesn’t it depend entirely on the purpose of your posts? I just found my way here for the first time from the "comment08" feed.  I read this post, had a look to see who you were, looked around your other posts and then added your RSS feed to Google Reader. As Sue said, your posts are very informative; I’m sure I can learn a lot from you. It doesn’t necessarily follow that I need to comment on each one - "good idea - I’ll try that."

]]> By: Kevin http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/05/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-262 Kevin Sat, 10 May 2008 10:03:46 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/05/07/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-262 Wow People just wanted to listen to so-called experts? I would always rather network with my peers, after being informed by the work of the experts. The conversations at conferences almost always seem richer than the presentations (unless it is me presenting, of course -- he says with sarcasm) Kevin Wow
People just wanted to listen to so-called experts?
I would always rather network with my peers, after being informed by the work of the experts. The conversations at conferences almost always seem richer than the presentations (unless it is me presenting, of course — he says with sarcasm)
Kevin

]]> By: Christine Martell http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/05/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-253 Christine Martell Fri, 09 May 2008 15:31:28 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/05/07/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-253 Kevin, I also find it really interesting how different we all are in regard to what might seem like simple things. There was a discussion on some training blogs not too long ago where people were expressing how they don't want to talk with their peers at conferences, they want to listen to the experts talk. That was really eye-opening to me. I speak at a lot of conferences, and make an effort to get the participants talking. That's where I get most of the value. So it may be similar with blogging. We each learn in different ways. Kevin,
I also find it really interesting how different we all are in regard to what might seem like simple things.

There was a discussion on some training blogs not too long ago where people were expressing how they don’t want to talk with their peers at conferences, they want to listen to the experts talk. That was really eye-opening to me. I speak at a lot of conferences, and make an effort to get the participants talking. That’s where I get most of the value. So it may be similar with blogging. We each learn in different ways.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/05/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-252 Kevin Fri, 09 May 2008 11:02:14 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/05/07/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-252 You write: "What is interesting to me is how often bloggers ignore the questions I ask." Yep. I think the comment part of the conversation often gets left behind because bloggers get so caught up in their own writing of posts (I am guilty). One of the nice things about the Comment Challenge is that it is allowing me to look at my writing and blogging from the inside out -- from the role of a visitor on other sites where I am commenting, etc. And then, I can go back to my own blog and think about how I need to react to comments of others. Take care Kevin You write: "What is interesting to me is how often bloggers ignore the questions I ask."
Yep.
I think the comment part of the conversation often gets left behind because bloggers get so caught up in their own writing of posts (I am guilty).
One of the nice things about the Comment Challenge is that it is allowing me to look at my writing and blogging from the inside out — from the role of a visitor on other sites where I am commenting, etc.
And then, I can go back to my own blog and think about how I need to react to comments of others.
Take care
Kevin

]]> By: Christine Martell http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/05/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-266 Christine Martell Fri, 09 May 2008 03:21:55 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/05/07/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-266 Sue, I certainly will give you credit for disagreeing. Where is that check box from the last challenge? Your perspective is helpful. I keep thinking I must be doing something wrong since I get so few comments compared to others. I'll have to try your idea about getting tips after the blog deconstruction series I am working on right now. Sue,
I certainly will give you credit for disagreeing. Where is that check box from the last challenge?

Your perspective is helpful. I keep thinking I must be doing something wrong since I get so few comments compared to others. I’ll have to try your idea about getting tips after the blog deconstruction series I am working on right now.

]]> By: Sue Waters http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/05/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-265 Sue Waters Thu, 08 May 2008 23:07:44 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/05/07/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-265 Oh dear does this count as me disagreeing?  I don't see you are lecturing at all on your blog Christine.  You write incredibly informative posts on an area that many of us have minimal appreciation of which is why there is a need for you to provide the thorough explanations.  That to me isn't lecturing but realising the information would benefit your readers.  But understandably when you write these types of blog posts it's harder to engage in conversations (I had similar issues on the Edublogger).  Those posts that were more informative normally provoked less response even though they were useful.  My post that really worked was <a href="http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/04/27/heres-my-first-five-tips-for-writing-better-blog-posts-what-are-yours/" title="Permanent Link to Here’s My First Five Tips For Writing Better Blog Posts — What Are Yours?" rel="nofollow">Here’s My First Five Tips For Writing Better Blog Posts — What Are Yours?</a> because while it was informative it also asked for their tips.  Perhaps you could do similar on the very basics of using images to enhance blog posts.  Oh dear does this count as me disagreeing?  I don’t see you are lecturing at all on your blog Christine.  You write incredibly informative posts on an area that many of us have minimal appreciation of which is why there is a need for you to provide the thorough explanations.  That to me isn’t lecturing but realising the information would benefit your readers. 

But understandably when you write these types of blog posts it’s harder to engage in conversations (I had similar issues on the Edublogger).  Those posts that were more informative normally provoked less response even though they were useful.  My post that really worked was Here’s My First Five Tips For Writing Better Blog Posts — What Are Yours? because while it was informative it also asked for their tips.  Perhaps you could do similar on the very basics of using images to enhance blog posts. 

]]> By: Christine Martell http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/05/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-254 Christine Martell Thu, 08 May 2008 16:52:10 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/05/07/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-254 Michele, Well I wouldn't even be noticing a difference in behavior if you hadn't started writing about all the homophily stuff. Some of what I wrestle with is that both of the blogs I write on aren't totally mine. This one belongs to my business and the other my ASTD chapter. So I find myself wanting to be professional and certainly not doing anything others may object to. I doubt this really serves me however, since I think I just come off as boring (not something that happens in the rest of life). So Michele, you are one of the few people who read my blog who have met me face to face. Am I imagining this or do you see a difference? Michele,
Well I wouldn’t even be noticing a difference in behavior if you hadn’t started writing about all the homophily stuff. Some of what I wrestle with is that both of the blogs I write on aren’t totally mine. This one belongs to my business and the other my ASTD chapter. So I find myself wanting to be professional and certainly not doing anything others may object to. I doubt this really serves me however, since I think I just come off as boring (not something that happens in the rest of life). So Michele, you are one of the few people who read my blog who have met me face to face. Am I imagining this or do you see a difference?

]]> By: Christine Martell http://www.christinemartell.com/2008/05/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-255 Christine Martell Thu, 08 May 2008 16:43:08 +0000 http://christinemartell.com/2008/05/07/week-1-comment-reflections/#comment-255 Sue, this is helpful. I keep wanting to be able to read everything from Google Reader. Just accepting I have to go to each blog, and looking at it as an opportunity to comment and see the posts in context will go a long way toward me adopting the process. Maybe the universe is telling me to just slow down a bit. So contrary to my nature! Sue, this is helpful. I keep wanting to be able to read everything from Google Reader. Just accepting I have to go to each blog, and looking at it as an opportunity to comment and see the posts in context will go a long way toward me adopting the process. Maybe the universe is telling me to just slow down a bit. So contrary to my nature!

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