Thanks for the Comment

Posted on December 10, 2015 by cordeliasmom2012

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Recently, Opinionated Man had a run-in with a man who had left unfavorable comments.

OM’s commenter was not a blogger; however, he and OM went back and forth for some length of time in sort of pissing contest.   Don’t bother looking for the OM post – it seems to have been deleted either by OM or by WordPress.  I wanted to link to it here, and couldn’t find it today – but I’m sure many of you saw it.

At any rate, after reading the extended comments chain, I entered a comment of my own asking why OM was engaging this particular detractor.  Even with my small readership, I’ve had comments to the effect that my writing is poor or my subject matter is boring.  Sometimes if a comment is particularly offensive, I’ll just delete it and pretend it never came in at all.  But I allow most comments to stay, whether positive or negative.

At the end of my comment on OM’s post, I indicated that when I receive a bad comment, I usually just say, “Thanks for the comment“ and leave it at that.

And thus, the point of this post.

Today, I wrote a comment on a blog I have been following for some time and whose owner I respect and consider a blogging friend.  The blogger replied to my comment, and ended his reply with “Thanks for the comment.”

Say what?  Even though I knew that sentence was meant sincerely in this case (the blogger in question is a friend, dammit), it still shook me up a wee bit, considering that I had just posted that same sentence on OM’s blog as a way to get rid of bad commenters.

Am I bad commenter?  Or just a bad blogger?

Oftentimes, I will end a reply to a comment with “Thanks for the comment” – and 99% of the time I sincerely mean to thank the commenter.  Sometimes I receive a comment that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but is from someone new and I want to acknowledge their ability and willingness to read my silly blog, so I simply say “Thanks for reading and commenting.”

Now I’m in a quandary.

Do I stop using that phrase altogether, or do I find a way to delineate my sincere “thanks” from the sarcastic ones?  Maybe when I have a negative comment, I should reply, “Thanks for the comment – ha, ha” or something to that effect.  Replies to positive comments could then be, “Thanks for the comment – you’ve made my day”  (actually, that could work for the bad comments, too, couldn’t it?)

Hmmm.  What to do?

Please excuse me while I take a short wine coffee cookies blogging break to ponder this very serious matter.

Thanks for reading – and if you respond, thanks for commenting.

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I love to hear from my readers.  You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com or notcordeliasmom@aol.com

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Images by Cordelia’s Mom

 

 

 

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65 Responses to Thanks for the Comment

  1. Elyse says:
    December 10, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    Thanks for the post. (Sorry I couldn’t exist)

    There are a lot of things to worry about, but someone saying thanks isn’t one of them IMHO. I just take it at face value and move on. Sometimes folks want to comment and don’t know what to say. Sometimes their boss just walked into the room. Sometimes they just want to acknowledge your comment. You know if someone thinks you’re a bad whatever (blogger/writer/commenter/whatever)! So don’t go looking for grief (it has a way of finding us without assistance)

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  2. Thumbup says:
    December 10, 2015 at 5:12 pm

    You’re welcome!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. vanbytheriver says:
    December 10, 2015 at 5:34 pm

    I’ve often wondered why some bloggers pre-approve all their comments. Maybe that’s part of it ? I use “thanks for the comment”, usually when someone posts for the first time. Now…I wonder ????

    Oh…and thanks for the post ?? Someone beat me to it ! ☺

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. AmyRose🌹 says:
    December 10, 2015 at 5:50 pm

    I have a few odd commenters who when they do write, I really rack my brains on how best to answer. Sometimes I answer with frankness saying in a nice way I really didn’t appreciate the critical nature of the comment. Or I avoid what was not appropriate in the comment and instead focus on what was. Another tactic I use is humor. Humor goes a long ways but you really have to be careful with that because humor could “sting”. Ahhhh … my friend, Life is too short to be biting nails over “what should I or what should I not comment?” If I really don’t like the tone at all, I delete the comment when I get to answering it. I hope this helps. 🙂 >3

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  5. writingbolt says:
    December 10, 2015 at 6:11 pm

    Ah ha. Your strategy for dealing with negative or unfavorable comments backfired when you felt “dismissed” by another blogger who used it on you. You could not discern the intent of the line. Is that karma?

    I think your strategy is okay. But, you may have to ask some people to clarify their opinion of your words.

    Like

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  6. Victo Dolore says:
    December 10, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    Gah!!!!!!!!! I struggle with that phrase, too. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Al says:
    December 10, 2015 at 6:40 pm

    Don’t stop using your catchphrase 🙂 I tend to say “Thanks” when someone posts on mine, I can see why it jumped out at you though. It seemed like it was a rip-off or piss take of what you had just said on the other one.

    I was going to say thanks for the post, but so many others beat me to it 😉 So I’ll say

    Thanks for the blog :mrgreen:

    Like

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  8. s0uled says:
    December 10, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    I just like the comment ( realise I wrote in singular, as I’m a newbie) :p

    Like

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  9. Pingback: Thanks, But No Thanks | Not Cordelia's Mom

  10. Paul says:
    December 10, 2015 at 8:10 pm

    I think the punctuation at the end of the sentence can differentiate the two meanings. If you are genuinely thanking someone for the comment, put an exclamation mark. If it was a negative comment, just put a period. A single period has so much power and disdain built into it.

    Thanks for the comment! (Positive)
    Thanks for the comment. (Negative)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  11. Dan Antion says:
    December 10, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    I thank most people for their comments because I am so happy to have them and I want them to know that. Sometimes, I’m in a hurry and I can’t really respond the way I’d like to, but I always, at least say thanks. It’s always genuine, because I delete crappy comments or I respond without engaging. I do not thank them.

    Like

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  12. Just Plain Ol' Vic says:
    December 10, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    I have to admit, I have been very lucky with my interactions. Nothing too contentious so far.

    Like

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  13. Marilyn Armstrong says:
    December 10, 2015 at 9:26 pm

    I think you’re overthinking this. Really.

    Like

    Reply
  14. Ritu says:
    December 11, 2015 at 1:34 am

    I use thanks all the time! Sincerely! If someone was to send a comment negatively to me, I’m not sure what I would do… Just a big smiley face??!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. wgr56 says:
    December 11, 2015 at 3:41 am

    There’s really nothing wrong with “thanks for the comment.” Taken at face value, it means exactly what it says. Anyone who would object to the words is reading into it. I haven’t received any bad WordPress comments that I can think of, but if I do, I wouldn’t respond with “thanks for the comment” because in fact I would NOT be thankful for it. Instead, I’d say something like, “I’ll give your comment all the consideration it deserves,” which is nice and polite, yet insulting at the same time. And with all that being said, I wish to thank you for the reblog the other day. Much appreciated!

    Like

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  16. sassandsauce says:
    December 11, 2015 at 4:34 am

    Now I really want to stalk your previos posts and check whether you’ve said, “Thanks for the comment” to me!
    I won’t though 😀

    Like

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    • cordeliasmom2012 says:
      December 11, 2015 at 8:41 am

      I think I’ve said “Thanks for the comment” at least once to everyone who has every written anything on my posts. Usually, I meant it sincerely – if I said it to you, be assured it was because I truly appreciated your comment.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. adamjasonp says:
    December 11, 2015 at 7:27 am

    You could say, “Thanks but no thanks for the comment.” …But then again they may respond.

    Like

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  18. lbeth1950 says:
    December 11, 2015 at 7:40 am

    I must be a dope. I would have just thought it was real. You can thank me anytime. I’ll probably smile. If you want to insult me, you’ll have to tip me off.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. markbialczak says:
    December 13, 2015 at 9:40 am

    Thanks for being my friend, CM, and for never, ever chiding for not putting Not in front of CM.

    Like

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  20. joey says:
    December 13, 2015 at 4:17 pm

    I have never used “Thanks for your comment” in a snarky way. I always mean it. I ignore the comments I don’t like, usually bait. There are times I’d like to freak out and rant and tell commenters to go fly a kite, but I don’t.
    I will heretofore be suspicious of people who thank me for my comment. O_O

    Like

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  21. pouringmyartout says:
    December 14, 2015 at 11:40 am

    I am an expert on comments… I have one post with more than 44,000 comments… I answer them all…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  22. Pingback: CORDELIA’S MOM’S CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER (’cause we all love newsletters so much) | Cordelia's Mom, Still

  23. New Bloggy Cat says:
    December 21, 2015 at 9:31 am

    It’s strange though a blogging friend that you’ve known for some time just replied, “Thanks for the comment!” (｀・ω・´)”

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