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Umm, we were all asked to participate in blogging because we have similar interests within an industry. Another blogger says something that's of interest and we respond. We're not posting frivilously. We're certainly not hiding our identities (which would as easy as typing in false information and posting). We have nothing to gain by commenting within each others' blogs (if everyone else is getting paid, I didn't get THAT memo!). We simply find each other interesting, and we try to share that with each other and the world.

Did I miss something here? I thought this was normal behavior amongst people with similar professional interests...

"all the comments I saw came from the other "blog writers"

Strange, as I'm not one of The WHIR bloggers, yet I've posted comments, and I read all the entries made by all the WHIR bloggers.

To quote you, Mitch... need an example? http://www.thewhir.com/blogs/paul-hirsch/index.cfm/2006/10/12/The-power-of-a-community#comments

Personally, I find it absolutely <sarcasm>hilarious</sarcasm> that people within the same industry comment on each others blog. The shock and horror! <Rolls eyes>

And not to mention he just got some free exposure out of it :).

Regarding the free exposure, I have no problem with that. I've spoken to Mitch a few times, and he's a nice guy. I made a point of linking to him at the top of the post.

My concern was more that if he had misinterpreted our collaborative commenting as something more sinister, then maybe somebody else had as well. I wanted to make sure our intent was clear to everyone.

I also really like that this post in particular is drawing out a few user comments.

Ah ha! Now I know who Mitch is! We're not intimately acquainted or anything, but I'm familiar with him from WHT

Hey there silverfreak :-)

I hope nobody, including Mitch, thinks there is an underlying motive.

Personally, I've read a great detail of interesting information on the blogs so far (Isabel needs to learn to manage her entry count though. :-D).

I think it's only natural that the fellow bloggers post comments, as they are bound to have an interest in what their fellow bloggers are saying, probably more so than the general readers.

Maybe Mitch was just stating this fact and had no negative meaning in his blog entry. Mitch, if you're reading, I have to believe the other WHIR bloggers commenting was bound to happen. Personally, I'd much rather see plenty of comments from them and nobody else, than nobody at all.

Now that's over with, maybe you'll come and join in with your own comments.

Hey, I think maybe you read a little too much into my feedback. To help clarify some things, I've posted again to <a href="http://www.mitchelaneous.com/2006/10/26/more-whir-blog-feedback/">hopefully help clear the air a little</a>.

To sum things up though, I didn't mean anything negative by what I said - just giving some feedback on the product and showing you how maybe somebody from the outside looking in might see things. Hopefully nobody else who gives you feedback will get the same warm reaction I got. :)

Anyways though Liam, no negativity was there - if you saw it that way or if anybody else saw it that way, then I apologize.

Sorry, seems like my HTML didn't work there - so I will be sure to use your neat little trackback form too. :)

Let's conduct a survey: does writing about comments result in more comments on posts? 7 out of 10 link baiters agree!

I think the cross-commenting is good, and encourages additional comments.

Mitch, you referred to our collective efforts at having intelligent, public conversations as "stuffing comments" and " commenting on each others different posts so they look more busy," which completely belittles the contents of our exchanges and the spirit of our efforts. Did you expect a group hug and a cup of hot cocoa with mini-marshmallows in return? You've claimed this wasn't your intention, and I appreciate that clarification, but understand reading over your post, there's very little room for interpretation otherwise. I hope you can see that.

I guess it is a bit odd and funny that such a large and well respected publication like The WHIR would get so little response to its blogs. My best guess is because the whole WHIR blogs concept is new and it hasn't been publicized much (at even at all?). Or maybe we sum everything up so nicely there isn't anything left to say. Or maybe we suck and this whole thing is a monumental bust.

But your hypothesis that we're just trying to "look more busy" is wrong. Our efforts are genuine.

Any and all suggestions for Blog promotion are welcome here. I am open to any ideas. Feel free to email me at candice@thewhir.com
Thanks!