Was It a Question? It was an Exclamation!

Remember the game we've all played where one person whispers something to another and that person whispers the message to another? By the time it gets through half a dozen people or more, the end version is nothing like the original.

Jeanean's post yesterday, Seth Godin Says the Individual Blog is Dead! and the more than 75 comments show that this same thing happens in blogging.

That all-important exclamation point changed the meaning completely, and people reacted as much to the punctuation as the words.

In his blog, "Death of the personal blog?" Seth was askingif the individual blog was dead, not stating that it is.

Many comments were made without following the thread. I personally sent Seth an email and he responded to the post by saying:

"Wait! I didn't say it was dead. I ASKED if it was dead. My answer as "no."

But even then comments were made that didn't acknowledge his response.

I think it is pretty special that a post can be written about a Seth Godin blog and the blogger can get great attention. This was a perfect opportunity to have a wonderful Active Rain discussion, and it' would have been even more wonderful if there were not so many random comments – It is more meaningful when we take the time to read what others say before making our own comments.

We're part of a powerful community of bloggers here with Active Rain. Don't we owe it to each other and the community to read first before commenting?

How special that Seth Godin commented on Jeaneans's post!?

Hmm...was that a question or an exclamation?

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