Ack, the comment form. Several of you have emailed me about the embedded comment form not working for you, and don’t worry, you’re definitely not the only one. I’m not very computery, but I have two suggestions that have solved the problem for some people:
1. Make sure you’re waiting for the word verification. The word verification isn’t visible as you’re commenting, but after you click to leave the comment the page reloads and then the word verification is there. So if your computer is slow or if the internet is being wonky, you could click out of the page without realizing you hadn’t filled out the word verification yet, and the comment would seem to have been eaten.
2. Switch browsers. I find I can’t do some comment forms in Safari but if I switch to Firefox they work fine.
Has anyone found any other tricks that worked?
I WAY prefer the pop-up comment form, which seems to work better for most people. But! Blogger doesn’t let me see/block the IP addresses of commenters, and that’s been making me want to switch to another blogging platform. Luckily I am married to a computer guy, and he spent, like, two full free evenings writing me a program that I could use with the Blogger platform to see IP addresses—but, sadly, it only works with the embedded form.
The happy news is that it turns out that four of my most contemptuous and presumptuous commenters are THE SAME PERSON! Yes! So I’d thought my foes were legion, but it’s just one person and I’m pretty sure I could take her in a fight. (I bite!) Unfortunately Paul couldn’t figure out a way to BLOCK the IP address, so it’s possible I’ll switch to a new platform after all, but that may take me years to get around to doing and in the meantime it’s nice to know how far away the meanies live.
That person is a dilrod!
I love your blog Swistle you always seem so calm and controlled. :)
When I post a comment, it tells me that the request couldn’t be processed, but if I hit the “Post Comment” button again, it posts it. Not sure why, but it always takes two tries for me.
And that’s in regular ol’ Internet Explorer, BTW.
The other thing I’ve tried that has worked is selecting my profile, then clicking preview instead of post comment. That allows the word verification to show up, and doesn’t make the comment gods angry that I’m trying to comment without verifying.
If you have a computer guy to help you out I would highly recommend WordPress.org. You need to put it on a server and there’s some technical stuff, but if Paul can take care of it for you it’s a good platform.
My husband loves WordPress. I’d like to switch to it but then he’d think I’m copying him and he’s not the boss of me.
My husband loves WordPress, too. I’d like to switch, but I don’t know if it would mean I’d have to change my url and I don’t want to inconvenience my two readers.
Anyway, I’m glad to hear that your League of Creeps is only a couple of noisy bullies in the back of the bus. Keeps the jaundiced jerks in their proper place. It’s like peacocks. They fluff their tails up to appear bigger when they’re being aggressive, which, in my experience, is quite often. Damned birds.
It takes me at least 2 tries, also, sometimes three, but if I keep at it, eventually it works.
I FINALLY figured it out yesterday on my computer (I use firefox)
I had to go to TOOLS, then OPTIONS, then PRIVACY and check the box that says ACCEPT 3rd PARTY COOKIES. Voila! I could comment again. Weird.
The blogger embedded comment form has NEVER (~2 years now) worked for me in Firefox. Ever. It just eats the comment.
I read the blog in Firefox (my preference) and if I have something to say, I copy the URL and open IE, paste it in there, and then comment. That’s what I’m doing now and what I have to do like 10 times a day b/c the embedded comment form seems to be the preference for blogs I read. I don’t mind too much, except it does get annoying b/c my IE won’t save my blogger stuff b/c it’s saved in Firefox, so I have to re-type a lot of info. But I type like 95 wpm so it takes an extra .002 seconds of my time and isn’t worth stressing about.
HOWEVER I’m happy you found out that all of the hateful ppl is really just THE SAME hateful person. I was always curious how so many ppl could hate the Swistle.. but now we know it’s just 1. And that makes much more sense b/c they’re stupid and jealous and apparently have NO LIFE to split into four and come up w/ fake anon comments to torment you.
I always find commenters who deliver hate mail are pretty lame. I mean, if you hate something so much, why are you reading it? Seriously, isn’t there a better way to spend your time? Um. Maybe in this case there isn’t since the person had to take the time to make themselves look like four people.
So, the jerks with nothing better to do than troll are actually only one pathetic person willing to invest four times the effort into picking fights on the internet?
If it wasn’t so sad, it would be a bit of a compliment.
I love that it’s only one person and that you now have the IP address.
One person was pretending to be four people???? Wow. Now THAT is someone who has waaaaay too much time on her hands. Who puts that much energy and finds that much value in being an asshat?
Though…at the same time…you almost have to admire someone’s supreme committment to asshattery. Almost.
Man, I want a stalker with a mutliple online personality.
The SAME PERSON????
Am scandalized.
But also? Makes sense.
Miss Grace installed Disqus commenting on my page and I really like it– the format takes some getting used to but it does let you see and BLOCK ip addresses. All my mean comments from one person… teh crazy, angry, stalker ex.
No problem commenting for me… famous last words, of course!
And I’m with the rest of your followers on the asshat and her asshattery. Good grief. Now I’m feeling slightly inadequate that I don’t have a hater. Again, famous last words…
Don’t you love having a computer-y husband? I used to think I should marry a fellow dancer/bodyworker. NOT ANYMORE.
Glad to hear that your meanies is only ONE meanie.
Heh. You remind me of myself – might take years to switch platforms. My top post is all about my comment woes – might give you some ideas. My comment woes are currently repaired. I can block specific IP addresses, but the platform I use costs. All depends on how you want to use your blog, I guess.
Good luck! Barbara
You know, I think one time I responded to your anonahole commentor(s) and SAID something to the effect of it being the same person, because, YOU KNOW? They sounded alike and the comments were usually close in order.
Very interesting to know for sure, though and it BOGGLES my mind that your husband can just..you know..WRITE A PROGRAM. Holy hell. I can barely REBOOT if I have a problem.
xo
I use disqus commenting with my blogger hosted blog. Comment moderation/ip blocking is SUPER easy. I installed if for @superjules too.
Oh I see @superjules already said as much.
The thing I find annoying about blogger hosted embedded comments (you didn’t ask, but I’m sharing): If you’re using ff addon to comment through your google reader (which I do), blogger embedded commenting form takes you out of reader all together to complete commenting process. Which is annoying.
You’re worth it though.
I am still amazed anyone would find a single mean thing to say to you – you’re sweet & real.
I think the comments went wonky this weekend–I’ve heard other people getting complaints too.
After this past weekend, I’m seriously considering switching to Word Press. If only the very IDEA didn’t make me want to take a nap.
When ever I see multiple mean comments on teh same post I assume it’s the same person.
I’ve been using Google Chrome for a while and have never had any trouble leaving a comment on your lovely blog. :) But I’ll second the recommendation for Disqus — it’s worth the effort to install it AND you don’t have to drag your entire blog over to a new platform.