You all should have blogs or something.
July 12th, 2010 | by TJ |As much as I like blogging, and as much as I like reading a really good blog post, what really keeps me entertained in the whole blog-realm-world-sphere-dumbbuzzwordthatnooneactuallyuses is a really good comment thread.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Of course I enjoy a good blog post as well. When I’m scrolling through my reader and come across a really good post, or something I find hilarious, or something totally interesting, I usually hit the share button, which, you know, shares the article. If you follow me in Google Reader, you see those, but if you don’t, the most recent shared items pop up in the far right sidebar as well. You should read those things.
Sometimes, though, when I’m reading a post, I just know that the post is going to generate some really awesome comments, whether in discussion form or people sharing their experiences or anecdotes. This happens on personal blogs and other types of blogs, and when I come across one of those, I usually open the post in a new tab for later. I often end up with a number of tabs that stay open for days, while I alternate back and forth to different blogs, taking my time to read through every single comment. Every single comment.
I think I deliberately angle a lot of my blog posts to generate these kinds of comment threads, because like I have said over and over again, when something suddenly dawns on me, or I have a weird thought process about something or a certain way of doing something, I am certain that I am not unique in my strangeness and always bring it to the Internet for confirmation, commiseration, and equally ridiculous thought processes. You guys pretty much never fail to deliver in comment form. Notice I said “pretty much never.” Sometimes you do, and, I’ve got to be honest, that’s pretty disappointing, guys.
Anyway, I thought I would share with you some of my most favorite recent comment threads. Again, don’t get me wrong – I love good blog writing but good blog writing is easy to find. Now, landing yourself right in the middle of an excellent comment thread – that is not as common.
- In this post on Jonniker’s blog, she talks about some astoundingly rude encounters. Seriously, the two examples she gives are just… I don’t even know. I double cringed, once for those involved on each end of the rudeness. But the comment thread, you guys. THE COMMENT THREAD. Unbelievable. I read every single once, and I just noticed while grabbing the link that the comments have expanded since I last read them and will be leaving that tab open so I can thrash with sympathy/agony over the rest of them.
- Ok, so this is old and it IS my own blog, but it’s my blog and I can link to my own blog on my blog if I want to, and if you haven’t read the comments on the WINCEABLE! thread, you are in for either a treat or hives, depending on how seriously you take this kind of thing
- Just the other day on MetaFilter - You were doing it wrong. Very simple premise – what have you spent large portions of your life doing wrong? Some of them are really funny, because how could anyone ever think or do that? But others, you will find yourself totally agreeing with. The whole thread is fantastic.
Anyway, Internet, those are just a few of the comment threads that had me reading every single comment, and, I think, a good selection of examples of how a good post is not always so much about the post itself, but about the responses that come from it. Also, basically, this is a thinly veiled plot to get you to direct me toward some awesome comment threads, because they are like crack to me and I need you to feed my habit. Have you found any engrossing comment threads recently?
By brien on Jul 12, 2010
Do you ever subscribe to comment RSS feeds? When I come across really good comment threads (or, more frequently, when I want to see if someone responded to my comment) I just subscribe to the comment RSS.
Not all blogs have them, and it’s annoying when you come across one that doesn’t. But your blog does, and so does Jonniker’s.
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TJ Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
You know, I’m not really in the habit of doing that, unless I’m waiting for a specific response. I tend to stick with the 700 open tabs, because that’s not asking for a devastating browser crash or anything.
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By juliana on Jul 12, 2010
I have been totally sucked in by “You Were Doing It Wrong”.
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By Kirsten on Jul 12, 2010
Like Juliana I’ve been sucked into the wrong thread. Only 1/4 of the way through, but I’ve gone to all the other threads linked in with it, and TJ, I will have you know, I’m incensed that people would tell me I’m wrong for pronouncing/reading “Joe is dry (read: boring).” as red, rather than reed. This very topic has started an argument in my house even. We’re throwing around things like grammatical terms and sentence structure rules and defense of the QUEEN’S ENGLISH, for the love of god!
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By Ashley on Jul 13, 2010
I was mesmerized by the all three of the threads you mentioned. In reading through “You Were Doing It Wrong” I managed to click through and find one debating the merits of all the various ways people, um, wipe their butts. It is SHOCKING and also hilarious.
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By Natalie on Jul 13, 2010
TJ, I’m going to hold you responsible when I get fired for excessive internet usage. Both threads are awesome. Also, you linked to Noah the other day and I started reading his mom’s blog too.
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By Chaninn on Jul 13, 2010
Loved all 3 threads! LOVED THEM! (I had read yours when it was first published and there were a fraction of the awesome comments, so Yay more comments!)
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By Adlib on Jul 15, 2010
Thank you thank you thank you for introducing me to Jonniker’s blog. Her story about the vet in another post (felt bad for doggie though) was hilarious!
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