Month: November 2006

As bloggers (most of us) we know, or should know, that comments are generally seen as a method of conversing. So when I post something on this blog, anyone who wants to chip in with some advice, a story, or a continuation of the theme is free to do so (within the commenting guidelines of course). All good, right? And yes, I’m over-simplifying, but that’s the crux of the matter, no?

Personally, I generally try to only comment if I have something to say, a specific viewpoint on the topic, or have something constructive, helpful and within the spirit of the post to add. But sometimes, and this is more often than not, I find myself just wanting to say “Well said”.

Now, that’s not really adding to the ‘conversation’, is it? It’s not moving things along, so by my own self-imposed (if vague) rules I shouldn’t really add the comment. But that, in turn, goes directly against on aspect of blogging that I’m fond of quoting, it’s the whole “just getting it out there” thing the act of which is beneficial to a lot of people. Sometimes you just want to say something, and you aren’t that bothered if no-one comments, the mere act of writing the post, and publishing it for the world to see, is cathartic enough, comments are a bonus.

Admittedly, in those instances, you could just turn comments off but that’s far more hassle than it’s worth.

Once you have had a blog for a while, you’ll find you build different relationships with different readers. Obviously the people who comment are the first to get a reaction, most of the time. After that you may get a few emails from the occasional person now and again, and finally, and in my experience this is the least popular form of interaction, you even start to chat with them via instant message, at which point they are no longer “them” or even “a reader” but you have establishment a new acquaintance, a new buddy, a new contact.

It becomes obvious, then, that the value of a comment lies largely in the relationship between the writer and the reader but, whilst regular comments are always welcomed, don’t we all get a little tiny thrill-shiver when someone new comments on your blog?

Anyway, back to the matter in hand. If all you are adding to a comment thread is a simple “here, here!” or “well said!” (“you go girl!”, whatever…) then does it really warrant a comment? Wouldn’t another mechanism be useful? A checkbox or a separate “I agree” link which counts those who liked your post, but don’t really have much to add to it? Not only would it allow people a quick and easy way to register their preference about the post (hmmm would you need a “boo, rubbish, get off” link as well?) but it would give the writer one thing that is can be easily missed, if people don’t comment, how do you know if people are actually reading what you write?

Of course, none of us do this for the fame or the money, few of us will make it into print, let alone end up with a book deal (but I will suggest that those that have, have deserved it), but wouldn’t it be good to get just a little more feedback… validation… whatever.

Would YOU vote for this post?

Apologies for the recent spate of grammatically incorrect post titles, for some reason my brain keeps uttering them in a foreign-tinted accent, ya know mon? Most unsettling really, and personally I blame … umm … someone else (obviously, it’s not MY fault).

However, the question remains, I had planned to redesign this little corner of the interweb but didn’t find the time, far less the inclination, to do so. Why? Read on MacDuff, afore ye lies the answer, or at the very least several ponderings, questions and other general wonderingments.

You see, anytime I think of redesigning THIS site I become a client of myself and lord knows I’m a terrible customer. I know what I LIKE but what I really need to figure out is what I NEED.

This is in complete contrast to a recent client who, upon seeing an early mockup of a site I was designing for him, exclaimed “That’s it, it’s perfect!”. I tried to point out that it was just an early sample, a way of agreeing layout and basic structure but no, he liked it so much that it’ll become the final design (ish). Brilliant. Brilliant for me, brilliant for him. Brilliant! (ahhh, does anyone else miss The Fast Show? Hmmm DVD for Xmas would nice, must add that to my wishlist).

So, to try and figure out what it is I need from the design, I sketch out some thoughts, nothing radical, and that simple act sets my mind thinking… or more accurately it sets both sides of my brain against each other in a weird sparring match.

* wibbly wobbly dream sequence *

[Michael Buffer*]

“LAYDEEZZANNNGENNNLEMNNNN!!!

You join us tonight for a 52 round battle to decide upon the new design of this website!! In the red corner we have “Blog Reader Gordon” with a record of 0 wins, 0 losses and 143 draws. In the blue corner, “Blog Writer Gordon”, with an identical record of 0 wins, 0 losses and 143 draws.

This is a no-disqualification bout, with the winner decided on points by the ring-side judges. So, without further ado…

LLLLLLET’S GET READY TO RUMMBBLLLLLLLLLLE!!!

[/Michael Buffer]

* wibbly wobbly wibbly wobbly *

Back in reality then (sort of) in the red corner the “blog reading” me constantly harps on about text sizes, easy navigation and placement of content, and “blog writing” me sits in the blue corner, rolls his eyes and starts to question whether anyone ever bothers clicking on the photos anyway, so why have them?

The blue corner receives a lot of attention, as the design of this site has a direct link to how *I* want to use it. I’ve covered this before – the headings are large to make them more prominent and try and focus me on writing better, like – and the overflow/miniblog/sidebar bit has grown over the past couple of designs as I use it for ‘quick posts’ more than just links.

The red corner usually sits quietly to one side at these moments, biding his time until I’m almost settled on a certain layout, before leaping in to point out that, whilst it’s all well and good to be ABLE to cram all those links up the top of the page into one line, it might not suit the readers and would hinder navigation. Blue glares at red, and the rest of my brain goes on strike. Repeat ad nauseum.

This battle rages in my head for weeks, in fact it’s probably fair to say that it’s a permanent part of the “blogging Gordon” you all know (and probably hate as I’m so talented, dashing and debonair that I make you puke, right?).

Sometimes one side comes out on top for a while, then the other side fights back, casualties piling up all the while. Then, suddenly, a blinding light sweeps all before it and everything becomes clear. For it is the God of Design and he has descended from on high to lay down his decision (after he’s laid down his shiny new MacBook and paused his iPod). His voice thunders forth:

“Use the template, Luke, trust your feelings” he roars, somewhat confusingly.

I ponder this proclamation for some time, even download and try a few to see how they ‘fit’ with red and blue, before deciding that ohh no, not I, I will survi… um.. will not use templates but rather will persevere with this internal (infernal) battle and see what it produces.

And that’s why I’ve not posted the redesign yet.

It’s absolutely nothing to do with being a complete twit who deleted his new design template.