How do you react to hubs with comments disabled?

1. 95

   Stephanie Henkelposted 12 years ago

   How do you react to hubs with comments disabled?
   
   As a hub reader, how important is it to you to be able to comment? Does it frustrate you when you are not allowed to comment on a hub? Will you still vote on that hub? Will you follow an author who disables comments? I wonder if disabling comments affects your hub score?

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2. 85

   Sunshine625posted 12 years ago

   I have no problem when comments are disabled. I still vote accordingly. Yes I would still follow the writer. It's their option to allow comments. Not sure if disabled comments affects the hub score, but if it does I suggest the hubber does his homework if they care. Excellent question Stephanie! I look forward to other responses.

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3. 81

   Judah's Daughterposted 12 years ago

   It can be frustrating when hubbers disable comments, however they can do this for many reasons.  For instance, if it is a controversial subject and they simply don't want to address disagreeable comments or even monitor them, or maybe they don't want to engage in the subject with their readers because they are too busy to respond timely.
   
   You may vote the hub up or down or mark it awesome, funny, useful, beautiful or interesting.  You can also email the author by clicking on the contact link below the hubber's profile picture on their home page.  Finally, I've seen cases where a hubber will respond to a hub with another hub.
   
   I don't know whether enabling, monitoring or disabling comments affects the hub score.  That may be answered in faq's.  I wouldn't let disabled comments affect whether or not I follow a hubber.  If they write material I am interested in, I would still want to be notified when they post something new.

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4. 61

   xstaticposted 12 years ago

   I am always  surprised when I don't find a place to comment, but it would not stop me from following the author. I don't know if it would affect the mysterious hub score ot not. Good question!

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5. 82

   JayeWisdomposted 12 years ago

   If the contents of a hub (whether creative or non-fiction writing) move me to comment, I do so. I realize, however, that the "Deny" button is there for a reason. As far as I know, none of my comments have been denied, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. I would still feel the same about the hub's content and would still vote the same even if the writer did not allow my comment.
   
   If I'm very passionate about a hub's topic, and my opinion differs extremely from that of the writer, I might refrain from commenting if I were concerned that I could not do so in a completely civil manner. (I have been known to get "riled up" over some issues, and I don't want to precipitate an argument online. Ha!) I've read some hubs where one or two readers were determined to argue their points ad infinitum, and the hub writer eventually had to say (in effect), "Enough! You disagree with me, and that's okay, but continuing to wrangle about it is not proving anything or adding to the discussion." At that point, if the argumentative reader continued in the same vein, I think the writer would be justified in disabling further comments by that person.
   
   The only reasons I would ever deny a comment on one of my own hubs would be if (1) the comment were obscene, (2) the intent was obviously malicious or (3) multiple comments degenerated into the type of argument I described in the previous paragraph. A good discussion about an article--particularly if the topic is controversial--usually attracts "pro" and "con" opinions. The writer may consider it necessary to address "con" feedback in order to defend either content, facts or sources (as I did recently). I think that is preferable to disabling a comment just because it might not agree with the hub's content or the views of the writer.
   
   I don't know if, or how, disabling comments affects one's hub score. I did notice, however, that after replying to a very long (11-point) comment to one of my hubs recently (in a reply that was necessarily long), my total HP score dropped five points the next day! Whether or not my response affected the score, I cannot say. That hub score still remains a mystery to me much of the time!

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   1. 74

      robie2posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      LOL the mystery of Hubscore is one thing that still eludes me after 4+years. My score seems to shoot up and down within a six to eight point range and I cannot for the life of me figure out what drives it, so I have stopped trying and stopped worryin

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   2. 82

      JayeWisdomposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      This is (at least) one time when I answered a question without really understanding it! LOL  I read the word "disabled" but my brain registered "Deny." Ironically, when I read a hub with Comment disabled, the light came on!

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6. 74

   robie2posted 12 years ago

   I don't react negatively to a hub or a hubber who disables comments, but I am usually surprised when people do it. It seems like cutting your nose off  to spite your face.   Every comment is a backlink and helps with search engine ranking.  Also the keyword content of comments is important in terms of SEO as well-- so why would you want to disable comments?
   
   But if people do, it's ok with me and I enjoy good and interesting hubs whether or not I can comment on them

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7. 78

   alphagirlposted 12 years ago

   I think the option to disable is fair.It really depnds on the hub article and the type of comments.
   Some commentors are not kind or unprofessional. I think a level of courtesy, respect and professionalism is good and needed.

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8. 0

   Giselle Maineposted 12 years ago

   I find it frustrating when comments are disabled, but less so if the author has mentioned why they are doing this.  One hubber whose work I admire had disabled comments on one of their hubs, but at the bottom had written something to the effect of "Comments are disabled on this hub due to the large amount of spam comments I have been receiving."  This made it completely understandable to me as a reader.  Whereas if comments are just disabled with no word of explanation, I understand that this is the writer's prerogative, but I find it a little frustrating as a reader.  Especially when I want to write something positive (which is usually the case anyway), it is frustrating for me to feel unable to support that hubber through the comments! 
   
   If it is a hubber I already follow I find it a little less frustrating, especially if he/she usually allows comments on their other hubs.  I just figure there may have been a special reason for that particular hub (e.g. controversial topic which might cause too many comments for author to keep up with, etc). 
   
   If it is a hubber I don't already follow then, again, it is completely the writer's prerogative not to allow comments, but I am less likely to follow that writer if I suspect they will be often disabling comments (without word of explanation).  But if they mention somewhere that comments are being disabled and why, then I would feel better about following them. 
   
   This is all just my honest personal opinion, and ultimately I think it is quite OK that people use the option to disable comments.  It is just not what I would do myself, and I find it frustrating when it is done with no word of explanation (even though I realize that the writer is under no obligation to justify anything to anyone).  Yes it does affect how I might view the writer (if I am not already following them or otherwise familiar with their work).  I am not expecting everyone out there to agree with my position or even understand it... but that was my opinion, and the question asked for our honest opinions.

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9. 92

   Rochelle Frankposted 12 years ago

   I followed someone yesterday who has comments disabled.   I read several of his hubs and thought they had a lot of interesting information. Yes, I vote and sometimes share or tweet. etc. I have no idea if it has an effect on hubscore.
   
   It's fine with me if people don't want to deal with comments-- but I find it a little puzzling, because comments are one thing that bring a hub "back to life".   
   
   When the feed shows a comment, it is often a way for people to find a hub which might have been missed the first time around. If there is no interaction, an article can sink slowly out of sight. Even if people are not here for the earnings, I would think they want their work read.

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10. 74

    breathe2travelposted 12 years ago

    I have only had my comments disabled once -- and they were in response to the author's request for me to validate my comment. I provided two links to medical research articles substantiating my orignial comment.  She denied (twice) my supportive comments (again, that she requested), but left my original comment as well as her comment asking me to validate my "suggestion"...  I did not think this approach was one supportive of open communication.  Nor do I care to follow someone who so blatantly ignores a valid point.
    
    I can understand several of the circumstances described in the other answers to this question, and those "disablements" would not deter me from following a hubber.

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11. 88

    Pamela99posted 12 years ago

    I have only come across a few hubs where the comments are disabled and I guess I usually wonder why, but it does not stop me from clicking on the green button. I have never done that as I enjoy the comments, but I imagine the person who disables the comments has a good reason.

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12. 85

    randomcreativeposted 12 years ago

    Great question!  It does frustrate me when I can't comment on a hub, but it doesn't stop me from voting and following.  Personally I don't write content that I feel doesn't warrant comments, but I know that's not true for everyone.  As for the hub score, I have no idea.  It does discourage conversation/interaction so I would imagine it would affect it.

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13. 61

    AlokkumarSharmaposted 12 years ago

    Basically disabling comments on hub depends on the topics of hub.. But I really surprised when I see comment disabled on any hub... By disabling comment we are blocking to get others view on my topics which can help to improve my hub... But it's not negative sometime topics like castism & religion should disable the comment so, no dispute could be started there.

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14. 58

    WD Curry 111posted 12 years ago

    Personally, if you aren't going to play the game, what's the point? At the same time, someone may be too busy with life to respond to the comments. Once I suggested to a new person (through "contact") that they ought to leave the capsule up, so people could respond to the article. They accused me of an ad hominid attack.
    
    Go figure. I decided that I was being too impulsive, and I don't make suggestions like that anymore.

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15. 60

    cheaptoysposted 12 years ago

    think you can always write to the hubber

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16. 78

    Express10posted 12 years ago

    I enjoy commenting on some hubs, but I comment about 80% of the time. I don't believe that it's my right to comment, it is a little strange when I come across a hub that doesn't accept comments, however, I still vote it up or useful, etc.
    
    Disabling comments could possibly affect the hubber's score because if the comments are on topic I believe that may assist with search rankings. However, comments are optional and aren't a must. Some hubber's get fed up with off topic or insulting comments and they choose to refuse them.

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