CommentLuv now live on 40Tech, and Commenter vs. Commentator
September 26, 2009 by Evan Kline 
19 Comments
It is time for another digest of recent content on 40Tech’s Posterous site, where we post content that is too brief for this site, but too long for Twitter. Since the last digest, our Posterous site has taken a look at the following item:
CommentLuv – With avatars not working properly with the Disqus commenting system on 40Tech, we’ve deactivated Disqus, and gone back to the standard WordPress commenting system. One side benefit is that we can now use the CommentLuv plugin. CommentLuv allows a commenter (commentator?) to plug his or her own blog, by automatically detecting the latest post on the commenter’s own site, and posting a link to it along with the commenter’s comment. If you noticed any comments disappear, it is nothing personal – it probably got lost in the Disqus deactivation (I noticed only one comment missing – one of mine).
If this headline interests you, check out the 40Tech Posterous site.
On a completely unrelated and somewhat trivial note, I’ve been wrestling with the use of the words "commenter" or "commentator" to describe those who leave comments on blogs. Most sources suggest that "commentator" is the proper word, but "commenter" gets some love, too, and actually seems more sensible to me in this type of setting. Can anyone shed some light on this?
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Simply put, a Commenter is someone who makes comments on something (discussion, remark, observation, criticism). A Commentator is described as a person who makes commentaries or, more often, a person who “discusses news, sports events, weather, or the like, as on television or radio”. In common vernacular, a Commentator is always the latter.
Now, if people are being facetious, or investing in commentary about the quality of the comments of most commenters on web (i.e. the commenter is more interested in the advancement of his or her own platform than in the engagement of discussion or true observation relating to the topic at hand — which can be described as a running commentary of sorts, via several online venues) , then I can see the use of the word Commentators. It should be recognized, however, that those people are now commentators themselves, unless they are making one-time remarks on the subject. Further, their use of the word Commentator in this case in no way changes the actual meaning of either Commenter or Commentator — at least not until the idea takes off enough in vernacular language that the definition becomes changed in formal language.
So, in conclusion, a Comment or Commentary on Commenter quality as Commentary does not necessarily constitute calling Commenter Commentators — except as a Comment or Commentary.
:P
*head explodes*
LOL – me too… I tried my best, but since I’m tired I simply couldn’t keep up with all the comment**** words…
Personally I call them “commentator” even though I think it sounds wrong.
I think I’ll stick with “commentator” for now, with a little bit of luck, if enough people start using “commentator” for people who comments on blog posts, then maybe we can change the meaning of the word and “commenter” will no longer exist :)
… and then we don’t have to ever read that comment commentator commentary comment comment comment from Bobby again… comm…mmen….comment…. *kaboom*
.-= Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..Winter Is Coming – Control Your iPhone Touch Screen With Dots Gloves =-.
I think I may settle on “commenter” because it is shorter and fits my sidebar better if I use a “Top Commenter” plugin. Yes, very scientific.
@Klaus “with a little bit of luck, if enough people start using “commentator” for people who comments on blog posts, then maybe we can change the meaning of the word and “commenter” will no longer exist”
…I’m pretty sure I said that… :P
Yeah, I think it’s commenter as well.
I plug CommentLuv every chance I get. Not only is it great for the commenter (not only plugging their blog, but doing so with minimal effort), but it’s a great way for the blog author to stumble across cool blogs. In fact, it’s how I stumbled across this blog …
.-= Kosmo @ The Casual Observer´s last blog ..Inside Kosmo’s Brain =-.
I’m really liking CommentLuv. I may be testing out JS-Kit Echo on my testing site. Fortunately, it looks like CommentLuv may be compatible with it.
Intuitively, I’m going with Bobby, without letting too much pressure build up in my brain.. And you too, Evan, since luckily your sidebar could only hold “commenter.” :)
.-= christie´s last blog ..Personal Development for Smart People =-.
I’m glad your head didn’t explode trying to follow Bobby. What actually got me thinking on this, Christie, was your site, and Tech Patio (you both use “commentator” in your sidebar).
*comments*
@Bobby,
Oh, so maybe I actually understood your post after all, I just wasn’t aware of it :)
@Evan,
I think I picked “commentator” because Christie has it at MiscBytes, I wasn’t sure what to call it and I figured she would know since she’s american :) Luckily I have enough width in my sidebar to fit “commentator”, otherwise I would probably go with “commenter” too.
.-= Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..Winter Is Coming – Control Your iPhone Touch Screen With Dots Gloves =-.
@Evan, @Klaus – that’s just the default thing the plugin says, “Top Commentators,.” so I figured they must know what they’re doing. Hahaha.. maybe time to slim that down.
.-= christie´s last blog ..Personal Development for Smart People =-.
Ah, I didn’t realize that was the default. Maybe they know something we don’t? I still prefer commenter, though.
I am glade you are a commentluv blog now. I hope with the plugin your comments go up. Greg Ellison
.-= Greg Ellison´s last blog ..What do you think of Problogger.com? =-.
Let’s hope! I have seen an increase in comments, and in traffic, since activating CommentLuv. It is always hard to tell, though, what the causes of traffic spikes are, but CommentLuv seems to be helping.
That’s great news for the “commenters”. And thanks Bobby for the clear and mind-blowing explanations. ^^ You know I’ve been seeing those 2 plurals for a long time now and good to see they are finally been separated clearly (or not?). This could have been a well shared post and go viral, even.
Best of luck 40Tech, enjoy the visit and definitely love the CommentLuv idea.
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker
.-= Ching Ya´s last blog ..13 Facebook Applications to Promote Your Blog =-.
Heh — Glad you enjoyed it Ching Ya! I certainly had fun writing it! :D
I like this CommentLuv business, myself. I wish that it worked on Joomla effectively, then I could add it to my business blog.
Great site and congrats on the ranking. This is a great plug-in I use them on my site as well it is a great way to get new fresh unique content as well as rewarding people with great backlinks. Keep up the good work!