Inattendu
The other day, I discovered something about this blog that resonates more deeply by the hour. A visitor lodged a complaint in a comment to a totally unrelated entry. There was a reason for this and the commenter and I have since worked things out through a calm exchange of emails. But a handful of the Daily Blague's regular visitors were very put off by the comment, and they told me so - via email. They did not post their objections. One friend went so far as to call the comment a "comment-killer."
Comment killer? There's such a thing as a comment killer? Not on most of the blogs that I read regularly. I'd have thought that the only thing that could kill comments was an inert entry, so boring or inane or arcane or otherwise unappealing that readers wouldn't even reach the "Comments" link. It has always been my understanding that comments generate comments, and I am quite sure that had the complaint been posted at La petite anglaise, say, or kottke.org, other readers would have piled atop it in a chorus of excoriation. Why did my friends take another route altogether? They stepped around the offending comment as if it were too disagreeable to acknowledge publicly.
I had already noticed that comments posted to The Daily Blague are longer, sometimes much longer, than comments elsewhere. You could argue that commenters here are only trying to keep up to the standards of the entries. In fact, I have heard that argument several times. But it creates a distinction between this blog and other equally literate and intelligent blogs, where the writer's proficiency does not discourage the posting of clunky, sometimes not very intelligibe, comments.
Am I doing something wrong, or am I doing something that I don't understand? Something new, in other words - or something that will be new when I figure it out. My dear Kathleen insists that I am doing something new, but we can't seem to say what it is except in terms of comparative adjectives. But the fact that what would easily have been expressed as public comments at another site came out as private messages here suggests one thing very forcibly: this is a quiet blog. This is a well-behaved blog. This is perhaps the blog where you can take a break from taking a break - from rushing, that is, the rapids of clicking from one site to another and then quickly to yet another. This blog is the opposite of a video game.
As M le Neveu says, "You're old and interested in old-people things." Indeed, and no regrets, either. Except, of course, that there aren't many old people in the Blogosphere. Many, I said, not any.
On most days, running this blog is, for me, a matter of composing entries and then uploading them through Movable Type software. I don't really have to think much about operations - and I like it that way. Every now and then, a bit of a design change is nice, but last year saw three global overhauls, with another this spring, and if you pore over a random bunch of pages at Portico, you're sure to come across traces of each one. It will be a while before I'm tempted to rethink. Meanwhile, relations between Web log and Web site have given rise to more organizational projects than I care to think about, much less take on, but these projects are only tangentially "technical." I can live without technical challenges. That's why I've been so maddened by the rash of comment-spam attacks that all three of my blogs have withstood in the past couple of months. My latest response - if an attack begins while I'm at the computer - is to head straight to my Web Host control panel and change permissions on the Comments file. I still don't know how effective that is. But something new did happen this morning: an attack of trackback spam! This required me to change the permissions on a different file, and I don't know what's going to happen when I change them back. I could live without comment spam. It's odious. You never see it, because it's always posted to older entries, and thanks to a plugin by Chad Everett, they're all clumped together pending approval, and they can be deleted in a flash. One would really prefer not to have to bother, one would.
Comments
As the author of the offending comment, I wanted to publicly apologize for creating any discomfort. The readers of this blog may not require this gesture but it is offered nonetheless.
The Daily Blague is a wonderfully intelligent and quiet little blog. Whatever is happening on the other end of the commenting/email continuum, I cannot account for (obviously), but what I can offer in the way of a quick witticism I will.
But not today. (Winks.)
Hojoto
Posted by: mezzogregory | June 7, 2005 01:16 AM
Haven't the tediously relentless imbroglios in Washington exhausted our contentious impulses, at least in this space? Spam and attacks on the Internet need to go the way of the clever answering machine greetings from the early days, with scratchy background music and dopey jokes. The tone of this site is most certainly set by its author, and it is one of serious reflection and consideration of meritorious topics. Something to rise up to. How refreshing! As for the offending comment, congratulations to you and Mezzogregory for duking it out like gentlemen offstage, and, for the apology posted above. I don't know about you all, but I sure feel better! To be honest, besides presenting a petty argument, the errant comment was not so much offensive as off topic, as you so perspicaciously point out.
Posted by: Susan | June 7, 2005 09:21 AM
I was surprised by the peevish tone of the complaining comment. As someone who is not an avid blog-reader, I was taken aback by the need of the writer for reciprocity as if that is part of the blog protocol: you show me yours and I'll show you mine mentality. Perhaps it is. In truth, I wasn't sure what your reaction would be, thought it remarkably candid of you to allow it on the Blague, and then, zap, it was taken off and apparently resolved privately. I had thought this was something the offended party ought to complain about privately, not publicly and I was put off by the dirty linen, so to speak,in public.
I am old-fashioned, in that if I have a problem with a friend or colleague, I try to settle it privately. And I'm glad, like Susan, that it was.
And I commend the apology. And perhaps I am out of step with this new age.
As for the Blague, RJ, I find it a refuge. I certainly don't comment every day but I do read it religiously. It is, again as Susan points out,
a site of serious reflection, one I feel not necessarily given to the one line response or a flip answer. The tone is set by you, and I, for one, applaud it. I have visited sites awash with witty one liners, and I prefer this one for the considered responses of the readers. You should feel complimented by the fact readers take their time to respond and think before writing.
Posted by: PPOQ | June 7, 2005 12:29 PM
"I'd have thought that the only thing that could kill comments was an inert entry, so boring or inane or arcane or otherwise unappealing that readers wouldn't even reach the "Comments" link."
You're frightening me, RJ ;o)!
Posted by: JR | June 7, 2005 03:19 PM
All's well that ends well and kudos to Mezzogregory for his apology...it's nice to see that there are a few grown-ups in the Blogosphere.
Posted by: Ozma | June 7, 2005 05:13 PM
In my own experience, apologies in the blogosphere are few and far between, so it's very refreshing to witness decent behaviour online.
And when I want to experience decent behaviour on a blog, and rich and thoughtful prose, I always stop by here. I probably don't comment enough, but that is due in part to being so impressed with RJ's writing, that anything I could add would pale in comparison.
Posted by: patricia | June 7, 2005 07:05 PM
I remember remarking in a private email to RJ sometime ago that DB was like throwing a cocktail party in Grand Central Station, and mentioning that he was brave and hoped that he could control the situation.
Things seem to have worked out well as they always almost do when RJ entertains as I know from personal, though somewhat dated, experience. Mr. RJ is the consumate host and demonstrates as a host what I view as a management principle of the highest order: you get what you give and you get what you expect. Set a tone that relaxes and challenges. Treat your associates fairly and expect the best. You will much more often than not receive the best from everyone.
For those who are impressed by RJ's writing, I can only say the person and the writing are the same, and there is quite frankly at first always just a taste of imtimidation. RJ is a formidable intellect and reader, a real challenge for anyone wanting a dispute. But, once you realize that he is far more interested in conversation than argument the perceived intimidation vanishes.
Comment, that's what the man wants. He will do three things: let it stand, clean it up, or delete it. I personally have learned from all three responses.
DB is in a way a magical place in the blogosphere, it provokes, as PPOQ says, readers to take their time to respond and think before writing. It is a place of very decent blog behavior. That I believe is RJ's goal.
As for comment spam it has ruined my own blog for awhile, but we're working on a fix.
Posted by: George | June 7, 2005 09:20 PM
In the teeth of a crippling case of blushing, I have to thank everyone for the bouquet of kind words. And I have to say how immensely proud I am to have such a circle of friends. That includes you, MG!
I thank George for making it clear to Patricia that there is no 'paling by comparison' here.
Lordy! Thanks, guys.
Posted by: R J Keefe![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.portifex.com/DailyBlague/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 7, 2005 10:45 PM