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reasoning...it takes way too much of my time to even think about them, never mind curate them".

This morning when I posted on TechCrunch, there were already 104 comments...consider Mr. Arringtion spending the time to go through and respond to each and every post and even more, consider that we are only talking about responses to just one Post here. Is this something that would be logistically possible? I really don't think so.

My personal position is that comments on a Blog should purely be a matter of preference (and of practicality). Take the Google Blog for argument sake. Consider how difficult it would be to monitor and respond to the many Readers, and even if this was being done, think how cluttered the Blog would be.

From my perspective, I think its very important to a Reader that the Blogging experience is "clean" - not too cluttered with comments and counter comments. Too many comments are a turnoff. Who has the time to read the Publisher's comments and then browse the comments of Readers, who, in many instances are just responding on a whim...never taking the time to research the topic. Talk about meaningful dialog.

Additionally, some Blogs are posting at least one piece a day...sometimes ,up to three based on my experience. I can only say that there is a point at which the Reader's experience will be negatively affected and the quality of responses/comments, if any at all, hitting rock-bottom.

Consider Michael Arringtons' position and what it would really take in terms of resources and what it would mean organisationally to have effective dialog. At Google's size and level of profitability, what's a few more Dollars to implement such a structure...but for smaller Blogs, consider the attendant problems in managing additional staff, consider how the personality of the Blog would change and how one's precious bottom-line would be affected.

Some Blogs, like TechCrunch, are clearly pursuing this strategy, and Google is clear - Reader's comment's are a possibility for the future. Michael Arrington may even lead a successful lobby to have the Dictionary meaning of a Blog changed, but for me, at the end of the day, it does not matter that Reader's comments are allowed for a particular post - what is important is the quality of the Post.

If the Blog so chooses to allow Readers comments, it's not a question of how many but rather a question of the effectiveness of the two way dialog.

One final note, Michael Arrington will do well in listening to the results of his own poll. Of the 1,845 Readers polled so far, over 70% maintain that "comments are not a requirement for Blogs". There is almost a split between those who think it enhances the quality of the Blog and those who think otherwise.

Learn more about this author, Adrian Keys.
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