I Am The Guy Who Reads Your Blog and Never Leaves Comments (AKA The Lurker)

by Andrew Meyer on July 18, 2008

the lurker

I read tons of posts every day. Most of them excellent reads providing me with inspiration, perspective and knowledge I didn’t have the previous day.

And, I never leave comments. I read and leave. Vanishing deep into the backwoods of the blogosphere with the only trace being one more lifeless, hollow unique visitor stat. Regular victims include Seth Godin, Fred Wilson, Louis Gray and Tim Kawakami.

To all the bloggers out there that I have “read and run”: Sorry.

I’m here to say that there is hope for us lurkers reducing our lurking behavior and continuing the conversation via the comments instead. Why the optimistic outlook? Because I’ve been a lifelong lurker and I’m starting to leave a few comments here and there. On blogs, especially ones with Disqus (Proof). On FriendFeed (Proof). On Twitter (They call them “Replies”).

I can’t tell you what exactly has caused me to reduce my lurking behavior but it is reducing. And, that should be a welcome sign for conversation starters all over the web.

Tagged as: blog comments, personal trends

  • b
    buzzyeah:strat mgmt::you: voth ;) jk...only in the sense that you encourage public opinion and commenting and blogger/reader discussion/interaction
  • Haha my life is complete. I've been waiting for someone to equate me to Dr. Voth with a SAT-style exercise since first taking a class from him in college. :)
  • I wasn't aware that every blog was meant to be a conversation. Hate not being a "good blog citizen" but I tend to wait until I have something valuable to offer before commenting, which may explain why so I seldom do.
  • Jackbaty, I have similar feelings about not leaving a comment unless you have something valuable to offer.

    Most of the blogs I follow I do so because they give me news or inside opinion on a subject I find extremely interesting but have very limited knowledge on. Following their RSS feed for a couple months is kind of like taking a college course. And, just like college some professors (bloggers) want to lecture without students asking questions (commenting) and some professors stimulate open, lively class discussion and play mediator.

    I guess this post was more referring to those college professors (bloggers) who stimulate open (almost chaotic) class discussions and me admitting to being the quiet kid in the corner who never says a word all semester long even though I might having something interesting to say.
  • baz
    I think people would comment more if the comments weren't hidden below the post, but put alongside them, to the right of the text for example. This could lead to comments being linked to specific points in the text, maybe with visual links between comment and text, sort of like speech bubbles. Instead of quoting in the comment, you would simply highlight some text, and then link your comment from that. Just a thought.
  • Baz, hmm these are some interesting ideas for blog comments. I'm sure more innovative commenting will be explored as comments get more recognition as an equal if not more interesting part of the conversation.
  • FF makes commenting a much easier process, and I actually enjoy doing it because it is very immediate and you can see how the comments progress easily. I also comment on other blogs, too, but it is a time-consuming process. But you get the rewards in the long-term (apparently!).
  • Blog commenting is the new lurking!
  • I am a different breed of lurker.
    I lurk solely on social bookmarking sites without ever bookmarking anything.

    I probably waste a good 20% of every day on them but don't participate in bookmarking whatsoever.

    A+ on the new blog design btw ; )
  • Disqus and FriendFeed have changed the way I participate on blogs. I used to be a lurker too, because my reader didn't allow me to comment. Now I can.
  • I think both Disqus and FF are changing the way I participate also. They add a potent mix of ease and accountability that I didn't have before.
  • I hear you on the read and run. That's something I will have to work on, definitely, but just as Louis, I read a lot of RSS. Perhaps if it was possible to leave a comment on the blog from GoogleReader or which-ever client you choose. You brought up a decent point.
  • It would be handy if you could leave a comment on Google Reader items and have them pass through to the source's comments. Disqus and other comment platforms will have to really catch on before Google Reader collaborates with them and makes it a feature.
  • May your soul be cleansed! Your honesty in this post is refreshing, and reminds me that I too often "use" without giving back and contributing. Our input brings us new connections, I'm glad you came out from the shadows, so we could meet you. Today is a new day my friend- now go and do good!
  • Haha, thanks. I feel like I just shared a really dark secret with a friend. One that I hadn't ever told anyone before. That or like I just got baptized or gave my testimony.
  • This post cracks me up. I read a lot of blogs every day, via RSS, and that means I don't comment everywhere either. But I try to be a good blog citizen, and participate. Sometimes that's on the blogs themselves, and other times it's on FriendFeed, but I do read a lot and look forward to seeing you contribute on all the blogs you're reading.
  • Thanks, Louis. I definitely plan on kicking my conversation participation up a few notches. Which probably means a couple thoughtful comments per week sprinkled on blogs I read on a regular basis.
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