TODAY’S QUESTIONS

This week I am again joining with Dr Tanya at Salted Caramel to answer the following questions which were supplied by fellow blogger Sadje of “Keep It Alive”

Blogging etiquette

How long should the comment thread be? For example, if some blogger likes your post and says so, you thank them. Then they say that you’re welcome or it’s a pleasure, afterwards most shift to emojis or smiley faces. It can go on for quite some while. So I would really like to know what is the acceptable cutoff number.

Well, I don’t think that there needs to be a hard and fast rule about this. I think that as long as a discussion is ongoing it is fine to leave the comment thread open. I think that many of us find ourselves continuing pleasantries on the thread, the likes and smilies can go on for a while like a telephone conversation that you can’t end. It’s harmless but I don’t think it is rude to stop after you have each liked each other’s like. Other readers can scroll past those comments if they wish.

Reblogging etiquette; I reblog the responses to my prompt as I state in my prompt post. But if I want to reblog a post which I like or was moved by, should I ask them first? What is the accepted protocol for that?

I consider a reblog as a compliment or a way to share something of interest and when I do so I always preface the post with a paragraph saying who wrote it and why I am sharing it. I also put Reblog in the title so it doesn’t look as if I am claiming the work of another writer. Normally if I’m going to reblog I do it from the person’s page and leave a comment to the effect that I am going to reblog it. Of course if the author contacted me and asked me not to I would take it down but I assume if the reblog function is visible the writer is fine with it. Of course stealing someone’s post and putting it on your own blog with no explanation or acknowledgement is just plain stealing. Quite a lot of us experienced this a year or so ago when our posts started appearing on a site without permission and we all had to complain until it was taken down.

What should you do when people don’t respond to your comments on their posts? Should you stop commenting on their post or give them a reminder about your comment?

I don’t expect people to respond to every comment. Bloggers who have a huge following may not have the time to do that if they are going to have any time to write. I do appreciate it if I’ve asked a question and of course it is always nice to be acknowledged but if I just commented “I like this post because…” or “Great photos” . I don’t mind if they don’t reply specifically. I certainly would not give a reminder. I do try to reply to all comments on my posts but sometimes it may just be with a like to acknowledge the person.

Award posts; These are the trickiest regarding etiquette, as most people don’t even acknowledge that they were nominated for that particular award. What should be the proper way to deal with this situation?

We had some discussion about this recently I think. I don’t usually do them and if I do I don’t follow directions to share to x number of people. If the people who come up with these awards don’t like that I am sorry. I do however, mention the name of the person who sent me the award and link to their blog or the blog that originally started the chain. I think that is good manners. Some people have “Award Free” stickers on their blogs but these are often ignored as much as “No Junk Mail” signs on your mailbox. In short, if you do awards I think you should acknowledge the person who nominated you. If you don’t do them and receive them then I guess it would depend on how well you know the person who sent it.