Friday, January 25, 2013

comments on strike


I have noticed a distinct drop off in the number of comments posted on this blog.


And I am not surprised.  After all, even though the blog is about my life, it is primarily a blog about my life in Mexico.  And there has not been a lot of Mexico since November.

But it may be something more.  This past week I received several email from readers who comment frequently.  They all had the same refrain.  They have not been able to post comments.

In November I upgraded to the new version of the Disqus comment engine.  Apparently, that cut off a number of commenters because their Internet Explorer was not the most recent version.  So, I switched back to the older version of Disqus.

Somewhere in that shift, it appears that some of you are suffering from the "garbled in transmission" syndrome.  But I am not certain how many.  And, if you cannot comment, it is difficult to let me know you are having troubles.

It sounds like a good time for a poll.  We have not had one of those recently.  Here are your options.

  • I comment.  I have no problems.
  • I comment.  I currently cannot leave comments.
  • I do not comment.  And I have no idea what you are talking about.
Before you make a choice, could you do me a favor?  Try to add a comment to this post.  And then make your choice.

After all, your comments are often the most interesting aspect of this blog.

The poll is on the right.

Note:  I have no idea why the poll decided to give its instructions in Spanish.


62 comments:

Steve Cotton said...

According to my statistics this week, 29% of the readers still use a version of Internet Explorer.

sparks said...

Interesting that IE works with some Disqus sites and others not ... yours it does not. Guess I'm less interested in your NOB activities but switch to Firefox if I have the urge. Disqus also quickly forgets me so have to login

Irene said...

This is a test comment as you requested. I hope it works.

Steve Cotton said...

It worked perfectly.

Leslie Limon said...

I read, but I don't always comment, because most of the time I'm reading from a mobile device that doesn't let me comment on Disqus, and I know how much of a hassle it can be when a comment goes to the Blogger commenting system.

Steve Cotton said...

Thanks, Leslie. For the compliment -- and both comments.

Jose RPHS said...

I comment. I have no problem....that said, remembering the disqus password when I'm using a device other than my home computer is a challenge that I frequently fail.

John Calypso said...

Gotta go with Joanne - Anyone still using IE is missing the boat (and more). I have NO TROUBLE commenting (and almost ALWAYS do) - but I also use Disqus. AND I voted ;-)

Robert Carter said...

I'm on an Apple iPod touch and can't comment through Disqus on the mobile site. I have to go to the web version to get Disqus. My comments are only viewable on the web version ( I think).

Steve Cotton said...

And I am always pleased when you do.

Steve Cotton said...

That seems to be consistent with at least one other reader's experience. I wish Disqus would be more mobile friendly. But Disqus does work on my Android telephone.

Steve Cotton said...

Remembering almost anything these days is a challenge for me.

Andean said...

I sometimes comment on your blog and other bloggers Disqus run blogs. But for some reason yours seems the only one I have trouble posting on especially when I use my iPad--noone elses, which is odd.

Andean said...

I'm not on an iPod. It's an iPad.

Steve Cotton said...

But it appears to be the same Apple-sauce.

Andean said...

And my question is why is it only on your Disqus blog? The Apples are spread all around blog world, and they are welcomed.

Tancho said...

I tried with the IPAD awhile ago and gave up, not a problem with the laptop and Firefox, haven't used IE in about 7 or 8 years, after they made you upgrade it all the time....

Steve Cotton said...

I look forward to the experience.

Steve Cotton said...

I would hate to lose out on your pithy comments from the mountains.

NWannabe said...

I have same problem as Tancho with iPad

NWannabe said...

Not sure if that other message went or not BUT I am having the iPad issue also since you switched

NWannabe said...

Y mucha problemas para mi

Gary Denness said...

Let's try commenting in the latest stable Chrome release...

Marc Olson said...

I appears that I have no trouble leaving a comment here.

A few readers have had some comment troubles on my blog in the past (I do not use Disqus), but I never have been able to identify a pattern.

Gary Denness said...

In IE10 (Win 8) the comment box is replaced with a 'sorry your browser isn't supported' box. Tut tut Disqus. IE10 has been out a while now, and it's not too bad a browser.

I like Disqus, a lot. So, so much better than Google's standard commenting system. And every now and then I think of upping sticks to a self hosted Wordpress blog and installing Disqus. I could add more features. But then I change my mind, because I do appreciate the simplicity and stability of Wordpress' standard product.



Poll options are in Spanish? I see English. But Google is weird like that. It used to annoy the hell out of me when I went into a net cafe in Mex City, signed into Google and then got search results in Spanish. I've selected results to be in English a million times! But every time I use a different PC....


I also hate cash machines that make you type in the pence. What the hell? Did ATM's ever dispense coins?? Ever?!

Andean said...

I am sending this comment from my iPad, the only difference is I am using the "View web version" which you see at the bottom of your blog. Let's see if it gets sent to the dungeon or appears immediately as it does when I use my Apple laptop (that I happen to love).

Shannon Casey said...

I comment but now your blog locks up my computer. I have to ctrl/esc to exit and then go back and the second time it seems to work.

Steve Cotton said...

One of the joys of blogdom. Plenty of mystery.But I am glad you have found an option. I will give it a try myself.

Steve Cotton said...

We will see if there is a pattern. I suspect I will not be able to do much about it.

Steve Cotton said...

Voilà.

Steve Cotton said...

Apparently, Disqus needs Internet Explorer 9 if the Microsoft option is chosen.

Steve Cotton said...

Maybe not as much as you think. For some reason Disqus dumped you in the pending basket. I keep adding you to the approved list. Does Disqus know a secret?

Steve Cotton said...

Apparently, choosing "web version" offers relief.

Felipe Zapata said...

Well, looky here. You write this, and half the universe chimes in. As for the topic of the post, I have no problem commenting here, but I have a Disqus account, which likely helps.


And, as you know, most readers never leave a comment. Shame on them. It's like going to a live theater, seeing a good performance and not clapping.

Felipe Zapata said...

Wordpress is far superior. But the transition from Blogger can be quite sloppy. I would just start fresh at Wordpress, and include a link to the old Blogger if anybody wanted to delve into the dusty shelves. Few people would.

Felipe Zapata said...

Your niece, plus me.

Kim G said...

I haven't commented much lately, but that has to do with your Oregon rather than Mexico theme.

But I commented yesterday or the day before without problem. I use Firefox v18.0 on Win 7 Home Premium on a Tosh laptop. And I agree with the "horrors" comments on IE, though I will aver that it's better than it used to be.



Saludos,


Kim G
Boston, MA
Where we've also noticed a dropoff in the frequency of Mexico Blog posts in general. Not yours, but others'.

Kim G said...

I'm with you on the typing in the extra zeros on ATMs and have often thought the same. Coins? I've been using ATMs since the 70's and they've NEVER offered coins.



Freakin' lazy programmers!!!!

Kim G said...

P.S. It seems that a few weeks (maybe a couple months) back, you stopped accepting anonymous comments. So in a bit of a huff, I did sign up for a discus account, which has worked flawlessly ever since.

Steve Cotton said...

I drove away in a Huff once. Terrible gas mileage.

Steve Cotton said...

I have noticed the frequency issue, as well. Iintend to do my part starting with the Oaxaca and Chiapas trips.

Steve Cotton said...

I wish more people would comment. But it is as it always has been.

Steve Cotton said...

She is a wise young lady.

mic neil said...

Well that didn't work. Trying again

Christine Dubois said...

I have been busy planning my own trip to Mexico

Steve Cotton said...

I wonder what is up with that? I may need a new format.


Good to hear from you again.

Gary Denness said...

IE10 is a huge improvement on 9. The horrors seem to be condemned to the past, for now. To be honest, I'd actually use IE10 in preference to Firefox. But not in preference to Chrome or Opera.

Gary Denness said...

I've swapped Platforms three times now. I'm reluctant to do it again. The RSS feed breaks, and you'll lose a few readers. Your Google Pagerank and general net visibility disappears and has to be rebuilt - you'll get fewer new people dropping by and not commenting! Some formatting will go awry. Links may go wonky. And, depending on how you've attached videos and images, some of those are going to break as well.


Is Wordpress better than Blogger? It's actually a lot less powerful, customisable and flexible. WP is good at simple, functional and polished. It's rubbish at search though. But if you want to go the simple and functional route, that can be done in Blogger.


Importing from Blogger into WP is reasonably simple, although give yourself a fair bit of computer time to get it all done. And I personally would definitely go that route. It keeps everything in one place. It'll help establish your new blog and get a decent Pagerank. I suspect that you, like me, enjoy referring back to old pages now and again.


Would I switch to WP if I were you Steve? In all honesty, no. There are pros and cons to both platforms. You either have to put in a whole load of work, or abandon a whole load of work, for not an awful lot of real gain.

John said...

Dear Steve,


I have not en[IRGHJ GHIFSH 29DFJQ0 osting m2345 on your blog//'/s ave I not been able to recrei49=2 2948t9284ments 1rom others.

Steve Cotton said...

Nice.

Steve Cotton said...

It is one of my favorite features.

Steve Cotton said...

Tell us more.

Steve Cotton said...

Thanks, Gary. It helps.

DonCuevas said...

Testing, testing, uno, dos, tres.

Saludos,
Don Cuevas

Steve Cotton said...

Esta bien.

jennifer rose said...

Those who write clearly have readers. Those who write obscurely have commentators.


Albert Camus

Joanna van der Gracht Powell said...

I too have had issues posting comments on your blog and others too. Let's see if this one makes it... By the way, I have enjoyed your stories of the move. All that decision making makes me realize I don't want to have to do that, so I'll stay where I am.

Steve Cotton said...

That, of course, is the reason Camus fell back on the faulty premises of existentialism. If he had remained a Socratic, he would have enjoyed the banter.

Steve Cotton said...

For some reason, Disqus keeps putting your post in the pending folder - even though I have put you on the approved list several times.

Mommy with Commuter Husband said...

I have had probs ...

Steve Cotton said...

Yikes! Have you noticed a pattern?

Mommy with Commuter Husband said...

Well I went out to Disqus and updated my profile and merged a couple profiles so perhaps my problems were self-inflicted!