Comments... or lifelines. Review on Commenting on Reviews

Want to see the best side of Mouthshut ? Go to the comments section.

Want to see the worst side of Mouthshut ? Go to the comments section.

Yeah, that?s the way it is. You will see both heaven and hell in the comments section. You write a review and post it. So far, so good. But the most happening place gets to be the comments. That is where the members express themselves freely. Fisticuffs and bouquets- all come your way in your comments.

These are not any guidelines to tell anybody how to comment since I am very bad myself when it comes to commenting skills. And when I write the following, I am laughing at myself for being such an unimaginative commenter (er, is there a word like that ?)

When and how do you comment ?

1. I have to leave comments here. This is the review of my friend.(You will leave the most boring comments if you are thinking this way. Neither the reviewer nor the reader is going to gain anything)

2. I may or may not know who this person is but this review has made me think. I?m compelled to leave comments here.(your best and most interesting comments are going to be written in this way)

3. Wow ! What a review ! I have to tell the reviewer he is super !(Most positive and buoyant comments are written when you feel this way)

4. This is a new member. I better leave comments here. So that h/she feels encouraged. After all I was also new at one time.(Polite and courteous comments. They mean much as they will give positive feedback to a new MS member).

How do you receive comments :

1. You do not reply at all(You can bet your comments section will dry up soon. Now don?t wonder next time why you?re not getting comments. I used to make this mistake initially.)

2. You go Thank you, thank you, thank you :

(Ho?hum. Maybe you can be a bit more imaginative ? I am guilty of this transgression too. Sometimes I don?t know what else to write.)

3. Thanks?.but what about this ? and what about that ? And do you remember that ? :

(your comments section will be rocking. A healthy discussion will make everyone feel alive and interested.)

Comments which are unnecessary and can be done away with :

1. Change this or that. Move your review to this category or that. Edit this or that. Then let me know and I will re rate your review.(Like I will DIE if this person does not re rate my review. Big deal !)

2. Your review sucks big time ! You have done it ! Why did you write this review ? You are pathetic ! You don?t know what you are talking about ! (Yeah, like I need you to tell me that. Thanks a lot, bigmouth. )

3. Good review. Keep writing. Keep writing. Keep writing.(Keep writing ? Kab tak ? Till kingdom come ? )

Now on a more serious note, a few important points :

1. Be polite. Always.Nothing should irk you so much that you leave behind your basic manners. Just because we are not facing each other, it does not mean that we forget how to talk with another human being. There is a considerable amount of anonymity on the net yet it never pays to be impolite.

2. Criticism should be constructive.Your criticism should come in such a manner that it helps the reviewer see your point. It should not be an attempt to humiliate or make anyone feel small. Sarcasm and snide remarks do not help anyone, not even the person who makes them.

3. Do not get personal in your criticism.That looks cheap and sick. Talk, argue, fight. Yet, keep some limits, especially if you have a contrary point of view. Do not make personal attacks. Otherwise the comments section looks like a fight on a road where there are a few interested onlookers watching on. You got something to say that may not be taken down well ? What are M2Ms for ? Send a quick note and discuss the matter out.

Comments on a review make the reviewer?s day. It makes writing a review worthwhile. So go ahead and comment, as much as you can.

P.S. Once in a while, ?Good review?.Keep writing? also works. (I comment like that all the time).