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Like, Comment, or Leave?

So, having it brought to my attention that some people just do not do ‘likes’, I have thought about this, deeply, most of the day. Thinking deeply does not come naturally to me because it means I have to make my mind up about something and that is not an easy thing for me to do.

When I visit a blog, I expect to have three commenting options available – like, comment, or leave without doing either – but now I see that can be reduced to only two.  But the reality, for me, taking away a like button can reduce you to no options at all, forcing you to leave with your visit just another blip in the stats.

And that person then has no idea that I appreciated their post, I liked their picture, poem or story, whatever but I simply felt I had nothing to add that hadn’t already been said by someone else (often ten someone elses) and I didn’t feel the need to make another comment along the same lines.

I understand that person would be justified in thinking I might not like (care about) their post enough to comment.

Sometimes I do not comment when I see that person is busy, or travelling, or they already have lots of comments and they are the sort of people who respond to each.  These times I regard my like as my calling card slipped under the door. “Hey, I stopped by, liked what I saw, didn’t want to bother you while you are busy, bye.” 

Most times my like really means “hey, great photo, or post, I’ll be back“, and I will be.

I don’t expect people to hit like unless they like something, but until now I never knew that some would not do that on principle.  Is it a kind of snobbery? Does using a like smack too much of Facebook?

If I take away the right to like, am I really saying: “‘Piss off if you cannot be bothered commenting because I don’t want your miserable like. I don’t want a shadow, only fully engaged people are welcome here!”

What does it say to a follower who comments but wants to like on this particular visit because they are busy that day? Let’s face it, this blogging is bloody time-consuming once you get into commenting on comments in posts.

But to each his own, and all that.

I do respect the decision by persons to withhold the like button, but I don’t have to like it.

I suppose.  🙂

 

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29 thoughts on “Like, Comment, or Leave?”

  1. Yes, I always hit the “like” button if I like the post. How much effort does that take? I know how much time gets put in these posts. Been there. This year after taking Blogging 201 I realized how important it is to comment also when I like a post. Why did I like it? Can’t I share that? Yes, I can. Great post!!!! Right to the core of posting!

    Like

    • Thank you CadyLuck Leedy (sorry, I haven’t been diligent enough to catch your name) thanks for your comment. And I do so love comments, too! don’t get me wrong. It is a personal thing, which is why I made myself decide on how I felt about it and put it out there. 🙂 It is what works for each of us, but the needs (neediness?) of others should be taken into consideration. Maybe I’m just needy!

      Like

  3. Carol Ann's avatar Carol Ann says:

    Being new to blogging, I am a never ‘Like’ person because I thought it really would appear on Facebook, for which I have great disdain. I read your posts when I do not have the time to read others on some days. I simply like your attitude and honesty…your view of your specific reality and your general personality. So, hereafter, i will ‘Like’ your posts if it will make you happier.

    Like

    • Hello Carol Ann, I am touched by your lovely words. Some blogs do use a facebook like button which goes to facebook. It will be in the sidebar with the other widgets. Now I feel like a bit of a sook, crying out for likes! Okay, a big sook. 😀 Thank you for liking in future — only if you do like, of course.

      Like

  4. Good words, echoing a few disjointed thoughts that have been bouncing around in my brain these past few months as my blogosphere connections grow but, darn it, hours in the day HAVEN’T increased. I want to read everything! I want to comment on everything! But often, a simple “like” will have to do. And I click that button with sincerity. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  6. You’ve got it in a nutshell, Christine I “like” lots of posts, but sometimes I just cannot come up with an original comment, and to repeat “looks great” after everyone else just makes me feel stupid.
    Sometimes it is that i just like it – no real reason, maybe a whim of the moment, but that was real at the time.
    Blogging does take too much time (which is why I only follow a few). If someone is offended that I don’t comment everytime then that is their problem, life is too busy for that kind of ridiculous stuff.
    Heck, I don’t always comment to my family about everything I like, or why I like it, why would I do it on a blog!
    If someone hits my like button, I take it as it is – they liked it – and that makes me happy.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Hi Christine,
    I appreciate that you took the time to read and comment on this subject and also to reblog my post.
    You make a good point, which I cannot disagree with, and which is exactly the same I have mentioned in my post. There is not enough time to read all posts and leave comments. And as I said, It is perfectly ok to just read and not even comment on my posts.
    My point is related to those who like a ghost page, being the same who like a 1,000 words post, one second after it is published. Can I possibly pay attention to all likes I get? Not. Just these flashy ones who happen on my face.
    People who followed me for a reason are highly appreciated, even if they never comment. Just a like from them has never been a problem for me.
    I know that when removing the like button, I do a disservice to them, but as I said, I don’t mind if they don’t leave a comment.
    Here is the rationale:
    a) Likes occupy the limited space of 20 messages of the mobile app, and that is where I read it (as I am not often in front of a computer) and I miss the comments of all other people who connected with me. I just don’t want that to happen.
    b) For the same lack of space, I can’t even see who has recently followed me. You are an example of it. I never knew you followed me until today.
    c) Likes are connected to Facebook stats, if you have a Facebook icon on your blog, you are sending data to FB. If I can disallow FB to do this, by removing the Like button, I am happy.
    d) I don’t often check stats, and I am yet to learn what the Like button says to me, because it means everything and nothing.

    Once more, many thanks for reaching out and for engaging and enriching the discussion.
    Best,
    Lucile

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Hi Christine, it’s complicated, like or not! I think it’s only wordpress that has the like button, I’m really not sure if it’s good or bad to have it. Have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Instagram has its like button – only it’s a pretty little red heart . I use it all the time, sometimes without speaking. But Elizabeth, you always leave lovely kind comments, and they are appreciated. You have a great week, too. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I’m with you, Christine. 99% of the time I leave a response and a like. Sometime I just click like for any and all the reasons you said. Sometimes I have nothing to say but like to leave a ‘calling card’. 😮

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Same here, Christine! I use the like button a lot, which means any and all the reasons you said (like Tess). Sometimes, as I read the comments, I click like (if it’s available) as I would say the very same thing! To me it’s not like a Facebook “like.” Blog post content is very different! Christine

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Great post Christine. Some blogger have tons of comments, some people rarely leave a note. I happen to like “likes” otherwise how would I know if you stopped by? It would be nice to know what everybody thinks, but as you say not everybody has the time. I do try to leave my “calling card”.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I’m on the same page as you with this issue. I’ve actually stopped reading blogs that don’t have a *like* button. It implies they aren’t interested in engaging their readers at a very basic level.

    Liked by 1 person

    • That’s an impression I get too, Joanne. It sounds like Lucile uses her mobile, so I do see her frustration with random likes, but still I feel it limits what our frequent visitors can do. Thanks for commenting on this.

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  13. Because strangers visiting a blog for the first time might decide whether or not to stay and read a post based upon seeing a bunch of Likes versus seeing none or only a bare few, I consider it thoughtful to click Like when I like a post–even when I have commented, as well.

    Plus, I like getting them, myself. : )

    Liked by 1 person

  14. sue's avatar sue says:

    ok – when I have clicked on “like” I get a block pop up from WordPress.com wanting me to sign up, log in to my account, email address or user name, if I am continuing with the options below, I agree to their terms of service, then continue or continue with google, email me a login link and lost my password?

    Its not that I don’t “like” your post, it’s that I don’t want to sign into WordPress.com etc. etc.

    Sometimes I pop in just to check if there have been any comments or to leave a comment of my own. I don’t want to be bothering you by making a connection that you may think you have to reply to. I know you are busy, I love all your photo’s and the comments on your posts.

    So just remember you can get cross with all the other blips that don’t respond, but not at 1 little blip cos it’s me.

    XOXO
    Sue

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hello Sue, this is a really old posting of mine, but the sentiments still stand. We each have a blog setting where we choose how to handle comments – one of those options is to only allow comments if the commenter is logged into WordPress. I don’t use that, as I trust Askimet to weed out spam. I never get cross with anyone, I hope! Thanks for your kind words.

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