How to Post a Comment

This post is for some lawyer-friends of mine who say they have the desire to comment on this weblog but find the task too daunting.  In a few days, I'll permanently file this post and its how-to-comment instructions at The Help Desk, where you can find other helpful hints about this weblog.

The instructions: 

1.  Subject to Rule 8, all comments are welcome.  Comments make the weblog more interesting, serve as a check on my more outrageous statements, and give participants a sort of ownership interest in the weblog that they wouldn't have otherwise.

2.  You can view comments by clicking on the "Comments" link that appears at the end of every post.  The number in parentheses shows how many comments have already been left.   

3.  To make a comment, click on the "Comments" link.  You'll be taken to a new page where you'll see a set of boxes for posting your comment.  If there are already a lot of comments, you'll have to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the boxes.

4.  Type your name in the first box.  It's okay to use a fake name.  Type your e-mail address in the second box.  It's okay to use a fake e-mail address,  but it must be in proper e-mail format, e.g., angryperson@angryperson.com.

5.  The next box is for your "url."  That's where you put the web address of your weblog if you have one.  You can leave this box blank.

6.  In the large "comments" box, type your comment.  When you are finished, click the "preview" button to see how your comment looks or click the "post" button to post your comment.  (Be patient at this point.  Sometimes it takes the weblog a little while to accept the comment.)

7.  What if you post a comment then find out it contains an error?  What if you want to take your entire comment back?  As long as you promise not to make it a habit, you can e-mail me and I'll fix your comment or delete it for you.

8.  Comment spam is not allowed.  If you don't know what that is, don't worry about it, but I did posts about it here and here.

That's it--very easy.  If you would like to practice your commenting skills right now (or show others how it is done), I'll throw out the following questions:  (a) Do you think weblogs are a fad that will soon die out as readers become frustrated by the huge number of available weblogs?  Why or why not?; (b) How would you change this weblog  if you were the proprietor?  What would you like to see more of?  Less of?; (c) What two football teams do you predict will meet at the Super Bowl, and who will win?

Comments

[sarni]

I would like to see more analysis of blogging as a phenomena - eg. examination of blogging communities that have grown up (esp the fact that different people gravitate to different programs - eg. Xanga, LiveJournal, TypePad etc), or examination of blogging from a philosophical front.

As far, I don't think I've come across any indepth, insightful pieces into blogging as a social trend - but I might be looking in all the wrong places. :-p

[JR]

When a post is about comments, how is a guy supposed to refrain from leaving a comment?

"What two football teams do you predict will meet at the Super Bowl, and who will win?"

I am not sure about that, but I have a prediction for the 2005 World Series - Cardinals beat the Red Sox in four!

[fakename]

but it must be in proper e-mail format, e.g., angryperson@angryperson.com.

Fake emails, like other fake URIs, are better done with the example.com domain, not random domains that belong to other persons, and not random domains that don't belong to anyone at the second they were used.
Otherwise you risk causing headache for the people hosting the domain, or get connections to places you didn't expect when someone goes and register them later...
You can never tell who will decide to register your angryperson.com ( http://www.regrettheerror.com/2004/10/comic_porn.html )

[Sue du Nym]

Will this be on the final, professor?

[Dylan]

Is this thing on?

[Federalism]

9. Before you click "Post" hit Control+C or otherwise copy the comment. If the comment is long and involved, copy and paste it to a word document in case your comment does not go through. It happens, and it's aggravating.

[Comment]

I have a comment. Am I doing this right!

[haikuEsq]

all along
doing it
all wrong

[Evan]

Well, that's a nice batch of comments, I guess. I like the trackbacks too (a lesson for another day).

More importantly, for those keeping track at home (but not my home, because the people there I call on my cellphone), I made it safely to Pasadena. Like a fool, I waited until the last minute to book my room at the Ritz (where the Vioxx conference is taking place), and they only had the slightly-more-expensive "suites" left. It's in some separate "cottage" and turns out to have two bathrooms, a full living room, and a fireplace.

So to make a long story short, I guess the party will be in my room. I'd really like to post a picture of the fireplace, which is somewhat embarrassing, but I've got to get to work--that is, meet some people in the bar.

At least I got the Internet connection working . . .

[Federslism]

I made it safely to Pasadena

California?

[David Giacalone]

Giant fireplace. Full-sized living room. Hotel bling bling for Evan "Gary" Schaeffer! I hope George Wallace finds your little cottage.

[Soup]

Sounds like life is good in Madison County. You hiring?