Commenting Problems Update (Personal Blog Edition)

An update on the commenting problem is that it’s not fixed and it looks as if it never will be—unless it suddenly and unexpectedly resolves because of some software update or whatever. If you’re having trouble commenting, either persistently or intermittently, know that you’re not alone: I am still getting plenty of emails and Twitter comments about it. We can’t seem to fix it. (I still can’t comment on MY OWN BLOGS unless I’m replying to someone else’s comment from the dashboard.) We have repeatedly contacted the web host. Paul is a computer guy and has repeatedly investigated/tinkered. I have gone into the commenting settings and tried to change things that might help.

Nothing helps, and we can’t even find a pattern: last time I wrote about this, I asked for feedback that Paul could use to diagnose the issue or to help the web host diagnose it—but there was no pattern. Some people could comment from their desktop computers but not from their phones; other people had the opposite issue. Some people could comment as long as they went to the site directly, but not if they followed a link (like from Twitter/Facebook); other people had the opposite issue. Some people could comment on the regular blog but not on the baby names blog; other people had the opposite issue. Some people could comment before, but now can’t; others couldn’t comment before, but now can.

It is discouraging and disheartening and maddening. All I can do is advise you to try what is working for other people: a different browser, phone/desktop instead of desktop/phone, link/direct instead of direct/link. I really am holding out hope that there will be some update on the host or on WordPress or something, and that’ll turn out to be the missing piece that fixes it all.

36 thoughts on “Commenting Problems Update (Personal Blog Edition)

  1. StephLove

    I’m sorry this is an ongoing headache for you. I used to only be able to comment directly from the site, I think, but the problem seems to have cleared up for me. I have no idea why.

    Reply
  2. Kristin H

    Computer problems are SO FRUSTRATING. I don’t know how anyone does that work as as career. It would drive me mad.

    Reply
  3. Suzanne

    This is so frustrating. There should be an answer! An answer that is FINDABLE.

    For what it’s worth (nothing), I am finding that several blogs I read regularly are impossible to comment on. Most of those are blogspot blogs though. Very irritating all around.

    With your blog, I’d say 85% of the time my comments go through normally. The other 15% of the time they disappear into the ether. I try to see it as the universe reining in my tendency to write 10,000 words.

    Reply
    1. Jessemy

      We should all share something we appreciate about this blog!

      …aaaand my favorite thing about Swistle is her refusal to air-brush her stories into some idyllic story of family life. Realism, humor, gratitude, truthfulness ;)

      Reply
  4. Gigi

    I’ve not had any issues commenting (yet – crosses fingers) but today when I clicked on the post from my dashboard, it took forever to load and now, when I’m looking at the post all the formatting is wrong/off (plain blue background, no sidebars, etc).

    Reply
  5. Alice

    No problems for me, either historically or (assuming this works) currently.

    Using a Windows computer and Firefox. I come via link from another website.

    Reply
  6. Julie

    Hello, I use an iPhone and click through from Bloglovin’ (that name makes me
    so embarrassed, why on earth did they call it that?!). Can comment without any trouble.

    Reply
  7. Allison

    I’m so sorry – this would make me cry. Then again, I was folding laundry yesterday and a big heavy sweatshirt was inside out and THAT made me cry, so I might just be at the end of my rope with winter. But still. I hope it gets fixed for you.

    Reply

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