Why is it that some writers do not respond to individual comments on their hubs?

1. 89

   Cardisaposted 12 years ago

   Why is it that some writers do not respond to individual comments on their hubs?
   
   I noticed this with some writers who have been on HP for two years or more. They will choose to respond directly to some comments and ignore the others. Doesn't it make you feel like not commenting on these writers hubs? Your thoughts please.

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   Website Examinerposted 12 years ago

   Correct. It is important that no Hubber should - deliberately or unwittingly, because of sloppiness or otherwise - feel ignored or inferior, compared with those so fortunate to have their comments acknowledged by the author. Hence, the appropriate principle seems to be: Respond to all comments or none at all. As with all principles, there must be room for flexibility and exceptions, such as when someone is making absurd comments or is being very persistent. If someone does not respond to my comments, yes indeed, that would make me disinclined to make further comments to the Hubber in question.

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      Cardisaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I feel the same way WE. Thank you for a wonderful answer.

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   Dia Jacobsposted 12 years ago

   I have experienced this before and I do think that maybe I'm a new hubber or I don't write a lot of articles, that's why my comments were not responded. It does makes me feel inferior at times but there are some great hubbers out there too who reponded within a few hours. I believe everyone should give a respond to the comments. Those who commented are usually the ones who really read through the whole Hub and give it a thought.

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      Cardisaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You are right, everyone should at least leave a thank you in the comments to acknowledge their appreciation for the comment.

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      teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I try to get back to comments made within a day. I appreciate the hubbers who take time to read through and comment. I also realize that many people read the hub but do not comment, that's OK too.  However, with the increased number of followers, I a

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      Dia Jacobsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That's true, at least a thank you will show some appreciation to hubbers that read through and give a comment.

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4. 90

   Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years ago

   I have noticed this, and I am hoping that this is because they are responding to people who have written something insightful and / or asked a question.  My "great hub" no matter how well phrased doesn't seem to generate a response.  Maybe they thought I was a spammer or maybe they just didn't know what to say to me.
   
   In other situations that don't get return comments:
   
   I would guess that they do not know that they are allowed to comment on their own hubs.  Or they may feel that reading and commenting on their readers' hubs shows more support.
    
   
   They may feel that communicating through a message (email) may be a better way. I know on my blog, I return comments by email and not through the blog, because I do not expect my readers to come back to a blog they have already read.
   
   On the rare chance that a Hubber responded to everyone's comment but mine, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt, and figure they just missed it.  They were getting so many messages, they thought they had responded to me already.  If it continuously happened, then I might worry, but that hasn't happened to me.

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      Cardisaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      MT everyone should be treated equally. Thanks for responding.

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   peeplesposted 12 years ago

   I sure hope it doesn't make people feel bad. If I am left a simple nice hub sometimes I do not repy. If someone writes a large amount or asks a question I will then reply. Sometimes I don't like to put up a Thank you reply until the hub has two or 3 comments. It's not that I value anyone less just that I don't want to pump up my # of comments with mostly my comments. I do however if it is one of my followers, try to go to their hubs and comment. With three children running around my house I am lucky to get the time I do on here and try to use it wisely. I hope in the process I have never offended anyone.

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      Cardisaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Well leaving a thank you reply on in the comments is okay. We understand the time crunch for some people.

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6. 94

   j-u-i-c-eposted 12 years ago

   I try to reply to every comment but you have to use your judgement. Most people saying "Great hub!" aren't looking for a reply. They just want you to know they liked your hub. If they were looking for a reply, they would have given you something to respond to by telling you what they liked about it or by asking a question. I think it's perfectly fine not to reply to those kinds of comments.
   
   Also, as in conversation, sometimes its best not to have the last word. If you've been trading comments with a reader, at some point, one of you has to stop replying, and sometimes it's more polite to let the other person have the last word. In general, if there is any doubt that they would appreciate a response, reply, but be aware of those situations where not replying would be more appropriate.
   
   As far as replies to my own comments go: I've been on the Internet long enough not to take it personally if I don't get a response. A response is nice to have, but I don't feel slighted if I don't get one. Maybe they're too busy to reply to every comment -- should I get upset about someone who didn't reply to my comment because they were busy replying to several other comments that needed to be addressed before mine? Maybe they don't know how to answer my question and want time to think about it or look up an answer. There's too much to do to get upset about little things like this.
   
   The only time I get annoyed if I don't get a reply is if the replies are all one-sided: if the author is only replying to people who agree with his or her opinion and ignoring people who might have legitimate criticisms. In that case, it's not the lack of a reply that bothers me, it's the lack of objectivity.

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      Cardisaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you and I don't expect everyone to respond to something like "great hub", I on the other hand still say thank you. If the comment is spam I delete it.
      
      In the case of conversations then the author is acknowledging their reader. I am tal

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   EuroCafeAuLaitposted 12 years ago

   I agree with you 100% on this, Cardisa.  In fact I have a way to make sure I am caught up with everyone - the odd-even system.  On my account summary, if there's an odd number of comments that means I forgot to respond to someone's reply.  Because comments mean SO MUCH to me, not only do they give me a feeling of "wow, I made a difference" to helping my Google score and the Hub returning to the daily feed, I want to respond to all comments that come my way, however short or long.  This is something that I have committed to doing, but it is an individual decision.  I personally think it's correct to thank all those who have visited my hub and taken the time to comment.

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      Cardisaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I used to do the odd even thing too but some people will still come back to reply and we will have this never ending conversation so I sometimes leave the visitor with the last word...lol

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   BigEd5857posted 12 years ago

   I take the time to give comments that have some degree of value and I appreciate any response from the writer. Good question Cardisa. I hope you have a wonderful, blessed day.
   
   Ed

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      Cardisaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks BigEd, same to you too.

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9. 62

   fathomblueposted 12 years ago

   That is a good question. I'm not completely sure why they don't comment. I know it makes you feel discouraged about your writing so it makes you not want to try harder at your next hub. But I try not to let it get me down. The other thing is maybe they don't know how to comment directly possibly. I really appreciate your question and I hope this helps. Take care and have a wonderful day OK.

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      Website Examinerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Well, the question is about responding to comments on one's own hubs. Whether or not people comment on your hubs is a different issue.

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    4FoodSafetyposted 12 years ago

    As for myself, I sometimes find myself being able to respond much later than what I would like to admit.
    
    Commenting takes allot of effort and yet generate a tremendous amount of notoriety for that hub. It is absolutely critical to respond - yes, the trite saying of better late than never is true but the effort to respond promptly is important too.
    
    One of the items I know writers find frustrating is the lack of content within the comment. Sadly too many comments are simply a reply rather than a real comment. Including content in the comment is what is proper and correct.
    
    We vote up answers, sadly, we don't vote on hubber's comments.
    
    If comments contained content, I feel writers would be encouraged to reply.
    
    Nonetheless, in my opinion, a comment of any sort deserves a reply by the author - even if the reply is not timely, a respectful reply is still a duty of a writer.

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11. 90

    spartucusjonesposted 11 years ago

    When I write a hub, I try to acknowledge every comment, even if it is just a simple thank you.
    
    As a commenter I really am not too concern over whether or not they respond. I mean if I was asking a question, or leaving very specific comments an acknowledgment would be nice. But if my comment was just briefly stating that I enjoyed their hub, I'm not necessary looking for an acknowledgment.

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12. 67

    Clive Donegalposted 11 years ago

    I was an opinion columnist for about 15 years. I made it a practice not to answer criticism in print, I didn't want to start a running argument or be defensive. More often than not, other readers would take up the cause. I did, however, answer all email, no matter what the writer thought of my column.
    
    Sometimes comments are so contemptible that they deserve no answer.
    
    Sometimes they are just attaboys and, while it is a worthy sentiment, "thank you" is not a worhty comment.
    
    If I can expand on a comment , add to a discussion or feel that it contains a sincere question, I answer. Otherwise I think that comments should stand on their own, without comment from the original author.
    
    It never occurred to me to worry about whether my comment got a response.

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       Website Examinerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I found this particularly informative and interesting.

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    2. 89

       Cardisaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I find this very interesting. Thanks.

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13. 88

    Maggie Bonhamposted 9 years ago

    I think part of it is that people get busy, miss the email messages, or maybe haven't paid attention to their comments recently.  I'm relatively new to Hubpages and recently I discovered someone had left a comment on a hub some days back.  I responded, but I felt really bad about missing it.

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    1. 89

       Cardisaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Hi Maggie, I understand your point, but I was referring to people who deliberately chose to skip some responses. For instance a hub get 10 comments but you only choose to respond to 2 of those comments directly.

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       Millionaire Tipsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       I have to admit that I have been awful at replying to comments lately - actually for a long time. It just depends on my schedule. I do try to read hubs by the commenter, and sometimes I leave comments unpublished until I have time to read their hub.

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       Maggie Bonhamposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Hi Cardisa!  I suspect that unless it's a question or a comment they like, they don't bother to respond.

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