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Comments count. They can even save lives.

8.03.2012

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This post is my contribution to the UN Foundation’s Shot @ Life Blog Relay for #blogust.  EVERY SINGLE COMMENT HERE raises $20 to help save the lives of children in need. I know you’re all awesome at commenting, so I hope you’ll read on!

UPDATE 8/8: now EVERY COMMENT ALL MONTH LONG will count towards $20. Even second comments, provided they’re fresh and new. Amazing!

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Anyone who knows me knows I love blog comments. Above all, (and yeah, I’m biased) I love comments on this blog. More than Twitter conversations. More than Facebook threads, all of which will disappear somewhere forever one day.

But here, I adore our discussions with a fiery passion and I return to read them often. I mean, how many places on the internet can you find a breastfeeding/formula feeding discussion that never once gets nasty? (Pat yourselves on the back!)

Seeing the same names pop up over and over gives me as much of a thrill as those who admit to delurking for one reason or another. It makes me feel like we truly have a community here and I’m not just some crazy person shouting on a soapbox in the middle of Picadilly.

But I have to admit, there are few commenters I have extra special heart for. In fact, some of them have been here from the very beginning–for six (eep) plus years, offering support and guidance and dissent and tough love and of course, friendship. One of those women is Asha Dornfest.

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I started following her popular site Parenthacks almost as soon as I found the online parenting community. We met at our first Blogher Conference in 2006 (sniff, it’s our anniversary right now) and meeting her for the first time was like reuniting with an old friend.

A few months ago, I gave a presentation at Mom 2.0 called “All Hail the Commenters.” It was a 7 minute quickie on any topic I wanted, and I discussed how important commenting remains on blogs, especially in an age of fleeting social media. I’m remiss in how late I am posting the presentation here–I’ll do that soon–but in it, I described the archetypes of awesome commenters, from the Crazy but Harmless, to the Thoughtful Dissenter, to the Class Clown, to the Authentic Cheerleader.

Asha fell into that latter category.

Any time I see a comment from her appear here, my heart sings. I see her beautiful face in my head. I imagine her sitting at her computer, reading a post–maybe twice–and formulating her thoughts.

To be clear, I so appreciate any person who takes time away from kids and work and writing and Bravo marathons and other essential responsibilities to leave a comment on a blog and create discussion and meaning for the community. But knowing Asha personally, her husband and children and the details of her own busy life, just knowing that she’s been here, reading, thinking, and throwing a thought into the pool, brings me a special joy.

Most of all, because she herself has built an entire community that couldn’t thrive without comments–click over and you’ll find an entire database of tricks and tips culled from the wisdom of parents that write to her.

Comments and participation quite literally create her community. She has no blog without them.

It’s no surprise that this is her blog model. She’s one of the most giving, generous, open people you’ll ever meet. She’s among the first bloggers that I joined forces with years ago in an informal advisory board structure. We got on the phone once a month or so to offer advice, resources tips on opportunities, and general support. We all put one another’s ads on our blogs, too. Just because it seemed like a good thing to do. And at the time, her blog was the biggest and most popular of all.

That never seemed to matter to her. Asha is always there for those who need it. I channel her more days than she’ll ever know when I make decisions in my own life, and think about how to engage with people.

Read her column The Accidental Expert and you’ll see this is a woman who lives to give back. To me, that attitude is exactly what keeps this entire blogosphere thriving.

I feel fortunate to be among her many recipients.

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Now here’s something really cool:

As it turns out, my Mom 2.0 presentation in some way inspired the thinking behind this Shot @ Life Relay–and that kind of blows me away. So I feel an extra obligation to make this effort successful.

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Please leave a comment: tell me about one person online who inspires you, or one commenter who always makes you happy–on your blog or elsewhere.  Because every person who comments means a $20 donation, which will immunize a child in need with 4 life-saving vaccines. Also, every person you acknowledge will feel super-special and happy and man, don’t we need more of that in the world these days?

You can leave a comment on the other posts as well. Check out yesterday’s wonderful post by  C.C. Chapman, whose portrait of Clarence Smith Jr. is fascinating. And tomorrow, I’m passing the baton to Amy Graff of Babycenter. Stop by. Leave a $20 comment. You can do it all month long. You will literally give a kid a shot at life.

Edited to add: thank you so so SO much for each and every comment here. For the ones that raised more than $4000 (!!!) yesterday, but even for the ones that don’t. Today you can head to Babycenter and leave a comment on Amy’s post for it to count towards fundraising; and you’re always welcome back here just to say hi or honor someone who inspires you.

411 shards of brilliance… read them below or add one

Next Comments →

spacer Catherina August 3, 2012 at 8:36 am

Cannot believe I am the first commenter spacer

My inspirational person of the day is 13 year old G, whose first wish, after extremely painful surgery and treatment for an acute complication, was “let’s get those nurses some pizza”. What a lovely, unselfish young man, who does his mama proud! (and no, he is not mine spacer )

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spacer Sarah August 3, 2012 at 8:43 am

All the snarky funny smart commentators on Jezebel!

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spacer My Kids Mom August 3, 2012 at 8:45 am

It was Asha who introduced me to blogs too, and eventually inspired me to begin adding to my own, tiny corner of the blogosphere.

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spacer ats August 3, 2012 at 8:45 am

I am always inspired by Karen Walrond + Kyran Pittman + so many others- often you my love! xoxox

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spacer Bruce August 3, 2012 at 8:45 am

Thanks for participating in and having a hand in creating idea for Shot@Life. Sorry not a mother or parent. Richard Bryne -Free Technology for Teachers- is a person who inspires me with his sharing about tools for teachers.

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spacer Mom101 August 3, 2012 at 8:51 am

You don’t need to be a mother or a parent Bruce – just a human. It seems you qualify in spades. Thanks so much for participating.

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spacer DelilahSDawson August 3, 2012 at 8:46 am

I have a constant commenter, beta reader, and Facebook friend named Kathy Epling who always brightens my day. We’ve never met in real life but bonded over BPAL perfumes back in 2004 or so. In addition to always offering support and encouragement, Kathy runs her own bookstore, Tiger Lily Books in Garberville, CA, where she provides outreach and free books to the local homeless community. It’s amazing, the people you meet online who always make you smile.

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spacer Mir August 3, 2012 at 8:48 am

I feel like a mother trying to decide between her children, picking just one commenter, but I have to say that Megan from Doing It Wrong has been inspiring me for years, and I always feel happy when I see she’s left me a comment. She’s one of those authentic cheerleaders like Asha, and her words have held me up more than once.
Mir recently posted..A little perspective goes a long wayspacer

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spacer Motherhood Uncensored August 3, 2012 at 8:49 am

Asha totally wins as most thoughtful commenter. Or really, most thoughtful person interacting on the Internet. Though you’re up pretty high too, lady.

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spacer Mom101 August 3, 2012 at 8:55 am

Thanks mama spacer

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spacer Birdman August 3, 2012 at 8:52 am

I love comments as well, but I think that having a humour blog that is not nearly as funny as the Bloggess, means that I don’t get as many as I’d like. I’m getting around 10 spam per real comment, and I respond to every one. I think that Youngman Brown (youngmanbrown.com) is my favourite commenter, only because I know that he doesn’t comment unless he means it, and he never sugar coats. If he doesn’t agree with my opinion, he makes sure that I know it. I guess it’s because he’s a stand up guy, and speaks out about how he feels, and what he believes in. I understand that my style of humour is crass, vile, and sometimes even rude(Notice I didn’t put “funny” in there?), and that some people don’t want to associate themselves with it, but he doesn’t mind, even though it’s not the style in which he writes. I guess I just admire the guy. Oh yeah, I ramble a lot.
Birdman recently posted..Therapy Thursdayspacer

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spacer Elissa Moses August 3, 2012 at 8:52 am

Very impressed with your work!

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spacer Shelly Kramer August 3, 2012 at 8:54 am

Well hello there,

As I sit and read your post, so many faces came swimming through my brain. I write mostly about business and contribute to a variety of different business blogs, so my community, collectively, is different than yours, but still very much a part of my daily life, Liz. And, as you’ve experienced, a huge reason for my success. But as a result, I write about much less personal things than you or others tackle.

Which led me to my conclusion: you, my friend, inspire me. From the moment we were lucky enough to both be speakers at Mom2.0, to getting to know you, discovering our mutual love of food and laughing about the life of a woman in advertising, especially when she’s managing to raise young children at the same time, how fun it’s been. I’ve enjoyed you offline and on, and reading your blog and the topics you tackle has been such a pleasure. So, there you have it. Your answer. Today, my friend, it’s you!

And thank you, for all the inspiring moments. I’m sure there will be many more.

Shelly
@shellykramer
Shelly Kramer recently posted..Social Business Intelligence: Key to Integrated Marketingspacer

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spacer Mom101 August 3, 2012 at 9:13 am

Shelly, you’re making me cry. Thank you. Fortunately I didn’t put on any mascara yet.

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spacer JK August 3, 2012 at 8:54 am

B, from ‘stfu, parents’. Because sometimes we need perspective and laughs!

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spacer Myrdin Thompson August 3, 2012 at 8:55 am

Sadly no one ever comments on my blog..,I probably needed to attend blogher this week to figure out how to change that! However I do have lively conversations on Facebook, but agree that they get lost in the vortex of “timeline.” thanks for helping bring attention to the power of public (polite) discourse and for supporting Shot@Life. Comments do count! And in this case they have the power to save a life! That’s pretty cool, it’s Friday and we just changed the world!

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spacer Sarahviz August 3, 2012 at 8:55 am

Your words, Liz, are always, to me, the voice of reason in this here chaotic blogosphere.
Sarahviz recently posted..Everything I Need to Know I Learned on Vacationspacer

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spacer Karen E. August 3, 2012 at 8:56 am

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help save a child’s life. Today, that makes you my blog-hero of the day.
Karen E. recently posted..Moms Who Vax: Nicholas’s Momspacer

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spacer rowgirl August 3, 2012 at 8:56 am

You Liz…but I’ll branch out too….

Emilie at www.onemominmaine.com From her efforts towards running or triathlon goals to her great food and pictures of her gorgeous part of Maine. Being a girl from the coast, they inspire on so many levels. Thanks Emilie! She’s got a great collaborative project at Sparrow Mag too!

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spacer candace alper August 3, 2012 at 8:57 am

Liz, I loved your 7 minutes about comments at Mom 2.0 and it left me ready to go home do it more. To be sure, I still read more than I comment, but I try to comment more often. I hope that you’re having a fab weekend at BlogHer!

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spacer Amanda August 3, 2012 at 8:57 am

I’m new to blogher stuff, but love it already. So far I love mochamomma.

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spacer Mom101 August 3, 2012 at 9:10 am

You have good taste, Amanda.

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spacer Joanna August 3, 2012 at 8:57 am

I just love it when @TheNextMartha (twitter.com/theNextMartha/) comments on blog. I adore her and I love that she reads and engages with me.

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spacer Kathie August 3, 2012 at 8:58 am

Thank you for writing a blog and for recognizing and inspiring others! spacer

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