I remember when I first started blogging I would visit and leave comments on blogs that I admired. Some of the blogs had over 200+ comments on every single post. Sometimes I wondered if they really read my comments, but I left them anyway.
I recently decided to start moderating comments, which means I have to read them before they are approved and published on my blog. I did this for a couple of reasons...
1) I was getting SO many spam comments it was outta control. So how much you ask? Like 20-30 comments per day that were purely spam. That seems like a lot. The funny thing is the spam comments were for links to things like, "How to remove man boobs" and "Where to buy Viagra cheap." I mean if you are a real spammer you obviously are targeting the wrong crowd here.
2) I wanted to really read each and every comment. I understand that we live in a world where everyone is busy and when someone takes time out of their day to comment and leave their opinion or thoughts I want to really read it. Plus, if it wasn't for my readers I wouldn't have much of a blog.
On a recent post I received a comment that was too good not to share.
Here is the comment (she is talking about her tattoos):
"I have my husband's name, exactly as he wrote it on 2/14/11 - my last valentines day with him - on my inner right arm. He passed away 12 days later. I also have a dragonfly on my right shoulder. The dragonfly story was very meaningful to us as we were going through his illness. Do I regret them? Not for one second. I would like to get another that says "Feed the right wolf". An old Indian was sitting with his little grandson. He told the boy he didn't feel well. The boy asked, "Why?" The old grandpa said he had two wolves fighting inside him. One was good; one was evil. The little boy asked, "Which one will win?" The old Indian looked at his little grandson and said, "The one that you feed." That story was told by my pastor after my husband passed away, and it changed my life. I always try to remember to feed the right wolf."
Even reading this again for the 20th time my stomach still gets those little nervous butterflies. Such a powerful reminder and I want to thank this person for taking the time to share such a wonderful message.
32 comments:
Thank you for sharing this! I love the saying "feed the right wolf." That may have to be my motto for 2013!
Love that quote! And I am glad to hear that you are reading each and every comment (I only get 3 to 4 on my blog posts so it isn't nearly as daunting!).
And before I turned back on the word verification I was getting a TON of spam comments, too. As much as I hate the word verification process, I hate spam comments even more.
I know! What is with the spam? I get a ton. Great message
Oh the spam! Gah...I get so many a day too - this morning I woke up and had over 30 spam comments - and some are so gross!
And how fabulous is that quote - wow - that one is going to stick with me...feed the right wolf...that's what I have to do!
Love this Lindsay!
Jo-Anna
wow cool!
Feed the Wolf....such a great message for the new year! I am definitely sharing this with my students. Thanks for sharing Lindsay!
Oh I so love that quote! And also thank you for reading our comments, that means a lot to me and i'm sure all your other readers!
Woaaa so powerful indeed!
boo for spammers! I love reading your blog and it's touching to know you care enough about us here in cyber space (do people even use that phrase anymore?) to read our comments!
also, i tried chia seed pudding for the first time the other day based on your recipe/recommendation and i have to say, YUM!
Wow.
I think this is great Lindsey. I think it's really important to engage with your readers:) xoxox
I'd never heard "feed the right wolf" or that story before. I love it. I've been thinking a lot late over how we see what we want to see... if we're looking for negatives, we see more negatives than positives. If we're looking for positives, we see more positives than negatives. I'll be saying "Feed the Right Wolf" to myself a lot from now on. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for posting this comment, I think I've been feeding the wrong wolf for a while...this will change, and soon! xxx
OOOohhh... I love that story about the wolves. I've heard it and retold it many times to youth groups, Bible classes, discussions with the hubby, and I'm sure I'll tell it many times to our children. It's a great one!
As for the spam comments, I've been getting some of those. Not many, maybe a couple every week. BUT, they are ALWAYS for the SAME post. Which is almost 2 years old I think. Why is that? Why is that particular post targeted? I don't get it!! Right now, it's just perplexing and mildly annoying. I'm hoping they don't increase in number. I'm trying to decide on if I should delete that post or not... maybe that would help?
This is brilliant... I'll have it written in my quote notebook right now :)
Thank you so much for sharing the comment. I am definitely saving this story for whenever I need to remember to "feed the right wolf."
Wow. That is something I will never, ever forget. And thank you for taking the time to connect, however briefly, with your readers. It makes those of us who are just getting into the blogosphere feel a little more welcome.
-Sarah
What a lovely reminder that reader left. I like that motto. Ugh.....the spammers are starting to increase on my blog too and it's beyond obnoxious although the "how to get rid of man boobs" one may have been entertaining!
What powerful stories! I keep telling my husband I'm going to get a tattoo of his name because he's changed my life for the better. I'm still not sure if he's on board so I love the idea of a signature. Thank you for reading all the comments and as a new paleo/primal eater, THANK YOU for the Snickerdoodles!! You've saved us, haha.
I like that idea, I often think the same thing so it makes me not even comment. I want to do the same for my readers, so they know I truly love their thoughts. xo
I LOVE that saying as well. I kept getting tons of spam on the same post from way back, I finally just deleted that post, and now I only {knock on wood} get random spam comments here and there.
Happy Wednesday!
Spam is no fun! I'm not sure if Blogger has anything, but on Wordpress there are comment moderation plugins you can download.
I started moderating awhile ago and never went back. I also try to visit each blog that leaves a comment on mine. It's not always possible, but I attempt and that's what's important.
what a wonderful comment :) such a sweet story! it is important to cherish each and every comment and i love your message about it! XO Brynn
That story is amazing Lindsay. I actually copied and pasted it, so I can read again later. It reminds me a little of a popular Italian phrase: "In Bocca al lupo" which means: "Good luck, break a leg, or literally, "Into the Mouth of the Wolf." In response you're supposed to say, "Crepi!" Or, "May the wolf drop dead."
Loved this post. Love when your share your thoughts in your always heartfelt, sincere way. xo!
loved this post. tried commenting the other day but my phone wouldn't cooperate.
thank you for sharing such a beautiful comment. so touching, and that sign is great. earlier in the week you replied to my little comment about my cat and coco oil, and i thought that was really sweet! lastly, thank you for sharing all your wonderful skin care tips. i am loving your diy's!
I can understand that, my blog gets thousands of Spam Comments a week, What have you done to help combat the problem?
Wow...what an inspiring comment. I love when readers take the time to reach out and REALLY comment, you know? I'm guilty of not doing it all the time, but it sure makes me appreciate those that do. :)
Lindsay, I woke up to 31 spam comments on my blog this morning. Fortunately, I have comment moderation so they were merely in the spam folder and not on the blog. Can someone tell me why spammers bother to post their nonsense on blogs with comment moderation?
Comment moderation is so much better than word verification (I've found some blogs that have both - not necessary.) for me because, like you, I want to really read all my comments.
Love the wolf story! And my condolences to the commenter who sent it, in case she comes back to read comments.
Great story! Gave me goose bumps!!
I love this post and I'm so glad I found your blog while searching online for blueberry paleo muffin receipes!! Yeah! (and I don't think you can ever over use the word awesome)
Amber
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