House Rules
The commenting functionality on this site bugs me. From what I have been able to ascertain, I have very little control over what goes on in that area, which is odd because there is almost complete flexibility in every other area of the site.
As an example, I can either allow anonymous comments (aka spammers' and trolls' delight) or I must approve each one. I really do not want to have to approve comments but I felt that was the better way to go. (There is a third option of making everyone register with my site and then requiring people to sign in to comment but I thought that was rude. Life is hard enough without one more login name and password to remember.)
This site also does not allow me to decide if the email field is mandatory or not. Right now all anyone has to do is leave a name (or alias) and comment away. I would prefer to have an email address so I can respond to the comments. Which brings up irritation number, what are we up to now, four? No, three, I think. Okay, irritation number three is that I do not receive that handy email when someone comments, with the subject line filled in and the comment to which I am responding in the body of the email. On my former site, if I wanted to respond to a comment, I only had to hit Reply, type a quick note and click Send.
Without that 'just hit Reply' email set up for me, my response to you from this site would probably read something like this, "Hi! Thanks for your comment on my post. That sounds exactly like me! Don't tell anyone! :)", which sounds innocuous enough until you think I am responding to the comment you left four hours ago about a serial killer and I was responding to the comment you left two and a half weeks ago about someone tripping over a dandelion. So now you think I am confessing to mass slayings and trying to make you an accomplice, and I was really just admitting to being a klutz.
So. Not. The. Same. Thing.
I have given this much consideration (I guarantee far more than it warranted) and have decided that if I feel the need to respond to anything, I will do so in the comments. If you ask a question you may want to check back there at some point, or not, given how invested you are in the whole thing. No pressure.
But just so we understand each other, none of my emails will be confessions of murder. Especially not with a smiley emoticon attached. That is tackier than a comment from a troll.
blogging in About Writing 
Reader Comments (7)
For the record, I would be perfectly happy to register for commenting. It really isn't like one more login and password, etc, to remember, because I use the same one everywhere when I'm commenting. Plus it always feels more personal that way. Just floatin' it out there for future reference.
xoxo
Really? That makes me feel better because I may have to change how I do things, given some new developments on the work front. Look for a House Rules, Part 2 post tomorrow.
I'm still on moderation mode, though I've never not allowed a comment. For some reason, I don't get trolls. I don't get it. I mean, I make people mad. I know I do. Someone called me an ignorant douche on MamaPop. So I have that.
Love the new blog, btw. Hi!
yeah, i wouldn't mind registering, either. however you want it...it's your house!
I just want to say that I hit this link on your Facebook page as a fluke and I am glad I did. The About Me section is beautiful! I cried thinking about all of those things which you are (and I am too mostly) but yet am so much not anymore. If it wouldn't be too weird, we should get together sometime, we really do live less than 20 minutes from each other. Send me an email and it would be great to have you over for dinner some evening.
MayoPie: Thanks for stopping by. I'm a little surprised you don't have trolls, too. You practically invite them in for tea. :)
Alissa: Yes, but is there much you wouldn't do for a friend? I didn't think so. Love you!
Christopher: I edited your comment just a bit. Hope you don't mind. We don't need to open that can of worms. :) Would love to see you and will send you an email soon!
I have sooo not delved into the depths of the blogging sites. I let anyone comment and have yet to have a problem. I do prefer to have the email address, as you said. It's frustrating when someone routinely stops by and says lovely things and I can't figure out who they are or how to find them. I'm a blog-follow-backer!