Commenting

One of the great things about an online community is the chance to have conversations with other community members about the things that matter to you.

Beneath every blog post, you'll find a link that says "add new comment". Click on that link, and you'll be taken to a simple form where you can comment on the post.

So, for instance, you can ask the original writer to clarify a detail or expand on what they've written. You can cheer them on, challenge a point they've made or offer information. Click the "Preview comment" button to see how your comment will appear, or the "Post comment" button to publish it.

Here's where it gets interesting, because the original writer can comment as well by clicking the "reply" link below your comment. So can any other community member. You may well find that your comment sparks a long, involved conversation (or "thread"). (You can also join other people's comment threads, and you can respond to comments on your own blog posts.)

Here are some ways you can comment effectively on ChangeEverything.ca:

• How would you open a conversation with a neighbour you haven't met yet? These are all friendly ways to break the ice online:
• Cheering someone on – A few words of encouragement can be invaluable, and can inspire others to join a change. And if you've joined the writer's change, let them know why.
• Pointing to useful resources – If you know a web site, a government service, a good book or some other resource that can help the writer with their change, don't hesitate to share.
• Giving advice – Got some expertise on the change the writer's blogging about? Your experience or insights could be just what they're looking for.
• Offering to help – If you can help the writer get closer to making their change, lending a hand (especially in the real, non-digital world) could make all the difference.
• Shorter comments are usually better. If you feel the need for something longer, try writing a blog post and leave a comment linking to it.
• Don't be surprised (or offended) if someone takes a while to respond to your comment. They may be trying to write a thoughtful response, or they just may not have a lot of time to participate on ChangeEverything.ca.
• Feel free to disagree with someone's arguments or correct factual errors. Just keep the tone respectful and avoid personal attacks, and you'll keep the conversation productive.
• If you feel attacked personally, try not to respond in kind. It's almost never worth engaging someone who's acting like a jerk. If you do decide to reply, stick to the substance of the discussion.
• It's rare, but it may happen: a hateful, abusive or threatening comment. If you see one, let Kate know as soon as you can, and we'll step in.
• It bears repeating: we love it when people offer to help each other achieve their changes. That's what this site is all about!

Need some practice with comments? Feel free to use the comment link on this page to add, edit or delete them. And if you have any suggestions for powerful commenting, please let us know with a comment.