Short, short comments
By Joanie
@Freelanzer (10743)
Canada
November 3, 2015 11:05am CST
I like that there appears to be no restrictions on how short a comment can be here on Mylot. I have seen a number of one word comments as well as some extra long ones I must admit I have been guilty of both but I try to avoid the one word comments. I do love to read the longer comments. Should there be a minimum length for comments? What is your preference when giving and reading comments?
36 people like this
44 responses
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
3 Nov 15
It is nice not to get a message each time you are off one character
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
4 Nov 15
@boiboing @freelanzer i remember comments ending with [filler][filler] at the b site. it was strange and kinda messy to see. chatabout also has a minimum count so member expand contractions. at pp, though, i think short comments are allowed but will not earn. i think i'd prefer something like that than seeing [filler].
2 people like this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
@hereandthere I think that will be a good thing if short, short comments do not earn, even though there are no limits. It would be nice to know for sure if this is the case then perhaps we may not see so many short, short comments.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
3 Nov 15
I find it is really difficult to make a general judgement on that. I've seen good comments in both styles. I've even seen long discussions go on and on and then one word say it all. Like a trump card.
I've also noticed people can do lip service and you know they are only trying to accumulate points. Well, in a way that is human too. Does it make a difference to the overall enjoyment?
Sure it could be a decision that the owners could consider but I think personally there more important things to look at. Not putting down your suggestion with that last sentence, I just think people can think about how others see their comments. If you get a one word comment, I don't know ask them what they had for breakfast or something?
4 people like this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
3 Nov 15
Agreed, interesting comments are exactly that interesting comments.. I find length has little to do with it..
3 people like this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
@Drosophila @Bluedoll It all depends on what the topic is and how to respond to add value, which is the operative word. So maybe just saying "Thanks" may add value, but I think it isn't asking too much to put that in a sentence.
4 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
3 Nov 15
Having a minimum number of words or characters for comment may cause more trouble than it is worth. Members will sometimes have to rephrase a short response simply to accommodate the minimum amount.
It is not unusual for someone to have a brief message to offer. Personally IO would avoid using one word, but would see no purpose in rephrasing a four word response if the resultant meaning was the same.
3 people like this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
I guess if one has nothing much to say then they say what they can
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
4 Nov 15
@much2say - More users like you are needed here.
2 people like this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
It just shows how interested one is in discussions if they consistently come up with one word comments. Or it could be that they really have nothing to say but think they need to say something
3 people like this
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
3 Nov 15
I tend to have a rule for myself personally. If I can't write more than a couple of sentences for a response, is the topic really something I want to be posting to? Heck, if I can't write more than a paragraph of about three to four sentences, I'm not sure if I should respond to a topic.
There's a happy medium with responding to topics. No one is asking for a novel length responses, but I think a few sentences wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to be honest. A short comment doesn't really address a person's opinion. A longer comment might cause the main purpose to be lost. Medium is the way to go.
3 people like this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
3 Nov 15
I only say what I feel like in comments; sometimes I feel more, other times I feel less so that is reflected in the length of the comment.
@crazzydolphin (3636)
• United States
3 Nov 15
I prefer to have longer responses when I am commenting to others, but there have been a few times that I had a shorter one. I am not particular either way as long as what is being said has something to offer honestly.
3 people like this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
3 Nov 15
Long or short, it has a lot to do with how much one is able to add to the discussion.
2 people like this
@crazzydolphin (3636)
• United States
3 Nov 15
@Freelanzer That is very true. Sometimes the discussion does not need anything more than a short comment and writing a long one would be very difficult.
2 people like this
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
4 Nov 15
@Freelanzer,No,I don't think so.Let us be left with our choice.Some of us lack time.Some are in a hurry.I think,they should not be forced to write a fixed number of characters as their comment.
1 person likes this
@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
5 Nov 15
@Freelanzer Yes,just a 'thanks' or 'all the best' doesn't yield anything.A full,meaningful sentence does.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
I agree no one should be forced but a one word comment should not earn the same as a full sentence
1 person likes this
@GoAskAlice (5827)
•
4 Nov 15
@Beatburn I won't speak on the earning aspect of it. The earning algorithm is not something I have a lot of inside information on. As for length however, if a few words are sufficient, then that is what would be called for. It's about quality and relevance, not character count. Obviously, simply commenting "thank you" to every reply would not be considered quality. Nor would irrelevant replies such as "I don't know".
4 people like this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
I am not sure if the quality of the comments affect earnings, but it would be nice to have an answer to that. I guess it would be unfair if someone who always leaves one or 2 word answers make the same earnings as someone who wrote a longer more valued comment
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
4 Nov 15
according to the guidelines:
Discussions, responses or comments that offer little or no value - Answers like "I don't know" or "I don't care" help no one and will be removed.
Sometimes I have a lot to say in a comment, other times not so much, it depends on how many before me said the same thing.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
4 Nov 15
@Freelanzer Those are straight from the guidelines that I put there. I don't know how often they are removed or if they are or not...I'm just quoting the guidelines.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
It would be good if they are removed but I don't see "no value" comments being removed as I see many that remain in the threads for a long time. The ones you gave above are just a few examples but there are meany more like "OK" "good" "Yeah"
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
4 Nov 15
Now, I feel the mad urge to be as concise as possible when articulating my point..
2 people like this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
It is all a matter of choice, there is no limit on MYlot. It just depends on what we get paid for.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
But should you get the same earnings for a one word comment as a full sentence or more comment?
1 person likes this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
5 Nov 15
@Freelanzer I don't see why not if the comment is pertinent and well thought out. Although whether or not Admin have the time or inclination to determine that, who knows??
@Liberti (264)
• Mead, Washington
4 Nov 15
One word comments really are just selfish and lazy ways of getting your money and not giving back. True some posts are not easy to leave a good comment but many are. People who don't want to take the time to leave something more than ONE word are just using the system and I would not be surprised if MYLOT changes some rules if there are none right now one one word or two word comments. Things like Thank you, have a good day, Interesting. Nice are not conveying much if you liked the post or not. It is like picking up a best seller book and seeing the dust cover and then acting like you read the entire book and all you can say is NICE?
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
The thing is, if you write here you should have a good enough vocabulary to convey your thoughts in a discussion in more than one or two words.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
@Freelanzer Don't think I don't agree with your post and the comments in the tread because I do. I am though trying to illustrate a point here. Maybe you will agree, maybe not but as long as you understand my point, I'm happy with that.
I hope you see me writing in your post as someone that is adding comments for the purpose of expressing an opinion. I hope you see it that way.
It is my opinion that myLot does not have rules but guidelines and strives to let members govern themselves I think it is good to remind people about silly one, two or comments that are just fluffy. "Nice post I thought it was nice". We can also ask questions like if someone writes a silly comment can ask what they mean for example. But if we really don't want some comments, tell the person or delete their comments. Anyway, thanks, its been a cool discussion.
@Liberti I put a one word comment into this thread. Are you calling me selfish and lazy? I don't think I am because I do write long comments as well?
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
@Bluedoll I appreciate your comments and I am not advocating one way or the other. As I say I have been guilty a couple times of writing short, short comments. I think you are a good example of contributing good comments. I always enjoy reading your comments which are well thought out. But I also enjoy those that may be shorter but meaningful. Some comments have suggested that we may not earn for the short, short comments. I don't know if this is true, but I think it would make sense that your comment above earns more than a one word comment. Just saying.
@TimBurWrites (469)
• United States
19 Nov 15
I love long comments that continue the discussion set forth by whatever my post is about.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
20 Nov 15
Same here, it is like reading a whole new discussion with a different viewpoint
1 person likes this
@TimBurWrites (469)
• United States
20 Nov 15
@Freelanzer I'm hoping there will be more of those here on MyLot than was in Bubblews.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
4 Nov 15
@Freelanzer
I am not sure if they add any value to a discussion or not.
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
I think short is fine, I just wonder about the one word responses and if they can add value to a discussion
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
4 Nov 15
I do not exactly like short comments. I have seen that some users post comment, which is just half a sentence or one or two words. I cannot understand they psychology. I keep thinking - are these kind of users unable to understand the crux of the discussions? Are these kind of users too lazy to write few lines? Are these kind of users don't feel that writing 3-4 lines will make their response look better and will be appreciated?
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
4 Nov 15
@Freelanzer - Yes, your both the observations appear correct. However, if a user cannot think of writing a full sentence on a discussion, what for s/he is here? Quantity is less important than quality for users like me. Perceptions may differ from user to user.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
Perhaps the one-worders really can't think of a full sentence response or perhaps they are trying to leave as many comments as possible and many different discussions. It may be a question of quantity over quality.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137819)
• India
4 Nov 15
If comments are meaningless though not a violation they will not earn anything.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137819)
• India
4 Nov 15
@Freelanzer One really does not know how the earning algorithm works here but it could be that meaningless and worthless reponses/comments may not earn - just my thinking.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
Well that is good to know. I am not sure if short comments with no value earn as much as the longer better comments.
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
4 Nov 15
I write some long and write some short it all depends really, I don't might either is ok with me.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
Short with meaning is good but one or two words is stretching it a bit.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
4 Nov 15
I think it depends on who wants to leave short comments but they might just read the posts comments they sometimes leave what they can.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
5 Nov 15
@Freelanzer Thats probably true in alot of ways don't have time to stick around.
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
I think sometimes people can be in a hurry and want to leave as many comments as possible so they make it short.
@carexing25 (1822)
• Philippines
4 Nov 15
it's better without limitations. sometimes i ran out of words even if I really like to leave a comment so i put emoticons instead
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
4 Nov 15
Well according to Mylot rules, the comment has to add value, not sure if responding with emoticons adds value. But we all do what is best at the time.
1 person likes this
@carexing25 (1822)
• Philippines
4 Nov 15
@Freelanzer yup that's the most important that's why i prefer to just hit the "like" when I got nothing to say but sometimes i couldn't help but attach the smileys to the comment box..