Comments on: The Debate Over Comments and Trackbacks http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2007/01/10/the-debate-over-comments-and-trackbacks/ Helping you learn more and do more with WordPress Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:58:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: James McKay http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2007/01/10/the-debate-over-comments-and-trackbacks/#comment-147472 James McKay Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:48:03 +0000 http://lorelle.wordpress.com/?p=1483#comment-147472 I experimented with a few different approaches before settling on trackbacks first followed by comments. For the trackbacks, I only show the title of the referring post and the date at first, with an option to show the excerpt using Javascript. It means the trackbacks appear initially as a single concise block, which your eye can skip over more easily to get to the comments. The thing is that comments and trackbacks serve different purposes. With a comment, you're taking part in an ongoing discussion about the core topic of the post, and there's much more of an impetus to stay on-topic. With trackbacks, you're creating a fork of the discussion on your own blog, which targets a different audience and very often completely flies off at a tangent. I experimented with a few different approaches before settling on trackbacks first followed by comments. For the trackbacks, I only show the title of the referring post and the date at first, with an option to show the excerpt using Javascript. It means the trackbacks appear initially as a single concise block, which your eye can skip over more easily to get to the comments.

The thing is that comments and trackbacks serve different purposes. With a comment, you’re taking part in an ongoing discussion about the core topic of the post, and there’s much more of an impetus to stay on-topic. With trackbacks, you’re creating a fork of the discussion on your own blog, which targets a different audience and very often completely flies off at a tangent.

]]> By: Abhijit Nadgouda http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2007/01/10/the-debate-over-comments-and-trackbacks/#comment-147075 Abhijit Nadgouda Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:10:17 +0000 http://lorelle.wordpress.com/?p=1483#comment-147075 It is difficult to decide. I have also seen that sometimes comments refer to trackbacks. In such cases trackbacks become part of conversations. I guess I am still confused :-) Would it make sense to put trackbacks in the sidebar? Comments can then follow the post, and trackbacks are still available. It is difficult to decide. I have also seen that sometimes comments refer to trackbacks. In such cases trackbacks become part of conversations. I guess I am still confused :-)

Would it make sense to put trackbacks in the sidebar? Comments can then follow the post, and trackbacks are still available.

]]> By: Edrei http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2007/01/10/the-debate-over-comments-and-trackbacks/#comment-146606 Edrei Wed, 10 Jan 2007 22:37:05 +0000 http://lorelle.wordpress.com/?p=1483#comment-146606 Well, what I did was add a "Jump To Comments" on my side bar in the single post. In retrospect, I should also add the Jump To Comments right next to my Trackbacks as well which come before comments. It's a simple solution and doesn't require fancy javascripts, and you know what they say about simple solutions. Well, what I did was add a “Jump To Comments” on my side bar in the single post. In retrospect, I should also add the Jump To Comments right next to my Trackbacks as well which come before comments.

It’s a simple solution and doesn’t require fancy javascripts, and you know what they say about simple solutions.

]]> By: engtech http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2007/01/10/the-debate-over-comments-and-trackbacks/#comment-146453 engtech Wed, 10 Jan 2007 21:04:16 +0000 http://lorelle.wordpress.com/?p=1483#comment-146453 I like trackbacks first with javascript to "hide" the trackbacks until you click the "show trackbacks" link. I like trackbacks first with javascript to “hide” the trackbacks until you click the “show trackbacks” link.

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