Replying to comments

1. 73

   Hauntyposted 14 years ago

   When I post a comment to someone's hub including a question and they approve it, but do not answer the question, does that mean they have no manners? In your opinion.

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   1. 70

      Maddie Ruudposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Well, if that's the case, then I've earned my last name for sure (it's pronounced "rude," if that wasn't clear).  If you've got a lot of hubs, especially hubs on controversial subjects, it is really hard to keep up with approving all the comments, let alone responding to them.  Only a few days ago I had to approve more than 1000 comments!  By the time I was done, my head was a gelatinous mess and there was no way I would have been able to form a cohesive response to any questions that might have been posed.
      
      If you have a question that needs an explanation longer than a sentence or two, on a popular hub, I think your best bet is to ask a question of the author using the Question box in the right-hand column.  He or she can then write a hub about it.  But even if the hub isn't particularly possible, or your question seems simple, don't take it personally if you don't get a response.  You never know what is going on with the user's other hubs, or in his/her personal life.

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      1. 75

         Shadesbreathposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Why don't you write some really profitable hubs and post them  on my account.  That way, you can get the information out on those controversial subjects, which is the important thing really, to get the information out there, and I, in the name of friendship, will be happy to monitor the comments.

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2. 58

   worldgrandeurposted 14 years ago

   In my opinion, people don't have to answer or reply to every little comment or it will be really tiring task. They will approve it which means, they agree so it's totally fine not to answer.

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3. 81

   camloposted 14 years ago

   Well, it would be nice if the question were answered.
   But you know there are a very few Hubbers who would never reply to a comment, because it offers them no advantages, least of all earning them money. Something to do with 'HubPages Etiquette' ...

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4. 71

   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   Hey Haunty, it is best not to ask questions within your comments. There is a 50/50 chance that they will not answer the question.
   
   @Camlo, actually it is very advantageous for the hub writer to answer the question, because it adds more to the comment section, which in turn adds more to the hub's contents.
   
   Carrying on conversations in the hub comments section isn't always advisable, but it doesn't hurt the hub and does add freshness to the hub, each time you respond.
   
   Just a thought.

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   1. 81

      camloposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Of course. There's absolutely no sensible reason not to reply, and/or to answer questions.

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5. 86

   rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

   I think if you ask a question, it would be polite for the hubber to answer. But keep in mind, some hubbers are not active daily on the site. Maybe they don't have the proper time to answer when it is approved. I know there are times I don't have time but I'll approve it from the email alert. I do try to answer any questions but don't always respond promptly.

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   1. 81

      camloposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I must admit, I often read comments early in the morning, but am totally incapable of writing at that time of day. So I first approve and reply in the evening after work.

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   2. 49

      mailxpressposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I happen to agree.  There are weeks I'm on Hubpages daily but then there are weeks I don't sign in.  Life doesn't always allow us to do all of the stuff we want to do.  When I find the time to write I'll write for days when I know I can walk away from life at least five hours per day but then there are weeks I just don't have that kind of time.
      Don't take it personally.

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6. 0

   Rhysjcposted 14 years ago

   I'm new here at HubPages and I like to encourage my readers to comment again after their first comment. In most cases I will reply to the comment, thanking them for showing an interest and also giving my view on what they have said. I am yet to receive a question so we shall see

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   1. 77

      sofsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Actually it would be polite and profitable for the hubber to answer the question, actually it would make the hub very interactive and dynamic. It may also answer the doubts of others reading the hub.

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7. 86

   DzyMsLizzyposted 14 years ago

   This is a double-edged sword, here.  In the first case, as Maddie said, if you are a prolific writer with comments in the thousands, it becomes an impossible task to even keep up with approving comments, let alone replying.
   
   On the other side of the coin, though, if you are relatively new, or don't get comments in those kinds of quantities, I would think it a matter of plain courtesy to at least offer a brief answer...OR...write a new hub, and let the questioner know about it via a link in your reply. 
   
   (I'm guessing that a link to one of your own hubs in your own comments section should not count as 'using comments for promoting your hubs.)
   
   I always try to at least offer a brief 'thanks for stopping by--glad you enjoyed the article' type of reply to each commenter.  It builds rapport with fellow hubbers, increases your followers, and is probably advantageous in ways I have yet to discover.
   
   

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8. 73

   Hauntyposted 14 years ago

   Thank you, everybody. It is understandable that some authors, being overwhelmed by comments, don't have capacity for answering all of them.
   
   Sometimes it's difficult for me to reply to comments on my early hubs, because I either don't remember the content or have since changed my stance on the subject.
   
   I know, I know - write informative, magazine-style articles.

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9. 63

   Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

   I have a couple of "dealing-with-grief" type of Hubs, and people tend to write long comments and often ask questions.  Those I take very seriously because of the nature of the readers' situations; but on the other hand, I kind of said what I know in the Hub, and don't always know how to answer some of their questions.  That means it can be draining to sit and try to think up the right kind of answer for someone dealing with grief.  There's no way I wouldn't answer, and I feel humbled that they ask.  Still, some of those Hubs are - like - two years old (I think), and I'm getting death questions in my e.mail more often than my own not-all-that-great mood prefers.  So, I'm thinking of shutting off the comment boxes on those Hubs.
   
   "As we speak", though, I have a question sitting and waiting to be answered.  It's from a math Hub I did that was supposed to be nothing more than quick math tricks.  I added links for anyone looking for "real" math help.  That's another old Hub, and it gets me traffic (so I'm appreciative of commenters).  Still, it's getting so now people just come on and act as if I'm a calculator!  ("What's 50% of 5909340?"    )  The question that's waiting isn't that, but I have links to the answer to that particular question.  I feel bad that I just can't deal with explaining yet one more time what is better explained at those links I provide.  I also feel bad that I haven't been quicker to answer the person's question.  It's just that I'm really not able to deal with yet one more of those right now, and the person really could just click on the links.   (Maybe I'll add a text box to that one and mention that I don't want to be asked certain types of questions.  )

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10. 60

    wingedcentaurposted 14 years ago

    I agree with everything that has been said here. Different people joined HubPages for different reasons and have different amounts of time to spend on the site. Writers who've been here awhile and get dozens and dozens of comments on almost every hub they write because they have hundreds of 'followers,' may find it hard to keep up with approving all the comments, much less responding to them.
    
    However, having said that, I would point to two hubbers, Paraglider and Shadesbreath, who have been with HubPages three and two years respectively, and have over eight hundred and over one thousand followers respectively -- as examples of true gentlemen on HubPages, in many ways, but especially with respect to answering comments.
    
    I follow those two hubbers, I read their stuff. They get dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of comments on everything they write, and deservedly so! Now, as far as I can tell, those two make it their personal policy to answer each and one of the comments on those hubs.
    
    They are busy men. They have careers, school (in the case of Shadesbreath I believe), children, families, friends, relatives, and the like; and yet, having signed up with HubPages, they take the trouble to answer each and every comment they get (as far as I can tell); they even answer the innocuous comments like "Nice hub," or "Very interesting or informative," or "Good job," that many hubbers say is alright to simply ignore. They may not be able to answer each immediately but they do eventually address every single comment.
    
    Having said that let me say that there are different ways a hubber might 'answer' your comments. I have had it happen to me: that I made a comment on a hub, and then revisited it to see how the hubber responded, only to find that they have not done so over a period of many days and weeks.
    
    Now, these are hubs that have already drawn dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of comments and responses already. They were written quite a while ago, and maybe the hubber is tired of them already or forgot what they wrote or have changed their position.
    
    So, they never responded on the hub, but they did 'answer' my comments by joining my fan club. Apparently they saw some 'value-added' in my commentary. This happened for me on at least two occasions that I remember (where the hubbers did not answer on the hub but became 'followers' of mine); and this happened for me an additional three times I can think of now (in those occasions the hubbers did respond on their hubs and then immediately joined my 'fan club').
    
    So just be sure to leave good, positive, constructive, value-added comments on hubs and you may find that they are 'answered' in a variety of ways.

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11. 79

    thisisoliposted 14 years ago

    I always try to respond to comments, sometimes I am just too busy though, remember for some people this kind of stuff is a full time job! (And a few hours on top too, My working week is 6-7 days a week with 12 - 14 hour days!

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12. 61

    Randy Godwinposted 14 years ago

    I think answering questions in a few of my hubs are almost mandatory! 
    These are how-to repair articles and the questions add so very much to the knowledge gained by others reading them.  I consider these comments and questions as being part of the hubs themselves.
    
    Readers can go down the list of questions and comments and find the answers to similar problems they encounter.  Many have thanked me for helping solve their problems, so this makes me happy too!

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