In my ignorance, I thought that if someone comments on a post here in response to an earlier comment, the author of that earlier comment was automatically notified by email that someone had replied to them. I happened to check my assumption with Mr. C., who was engaged in a brief exchange of comments yesterday, and thus discovered that my belief was mistaken.
This is vexing because it means the chances are people won't know that the points they've raised have been answered or taken up or perhaps some further information has been offered by others or by me - e.g. a fairly lengthy response about the appropriate age-group for a book on this post, and details of a painting and news of a forthcoming exhibition on this one.
It seems then that if anyone has commented or is interested in following a developing thread they will have to manually check back on the post in question from time to time - unless there is some other way of doing it that I haven't come across, in which case, please let me know!
~~~~~
(Lightbulb moment no. 2 is on the books site).
Yes I thought so too. I'll have to re-check why I made that assumption. It's less vexing for me than for you becuase I often go back several weeks to read other comments anyway.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 November 2011 at 03:46 PM
Sometimes it can take me a while to answer a comment, especially if it requires thought or finding information, but I was blithely thinking that no matter how long I took to respond, the person to whom I was replying would get the message!
Posted by: Cornflower | 20 November 2011 at 04:34 PM
I think all my questions were anwered and I got the email. Strange!
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 November 2011 at 04:39 PM
If some answers my post in particular, I get notified. So I see your replies to me Cornflower, for example.
If someone replies to the topic itself, after I have commented, but not in reply to me directly, then I dont get notified.
When I finally comment on a book I have read in an old topic, I aleays assume that only you, Cornflower will ever see the post.
Posted by: Sandy | 20 November 2011 at 05:47 PM
I make it a habit to check back.
Posted by: Nancy | 20 November 2011 at 07:31 PM
I think it's up to the commenter to say if they want emails to notify them of responses - I'm not sure, but I think this is an option if you sign in via Typepad, but not otherwise.
I am with DP and don't think it's a problem, but if one was aware of a response to a comment it might lead to more interaction on Cornflower BG posts perhaps?
Posted by: oxslip | 20 November 2011 at 07:41 PM
Curiouser and curiouser. I've checked all my settings behind the scenes and looked at the information on the public side of Typepad (hoping it would confirm your suggestion that it's up to the individual), but I haven't found the answer yet.
Posted by: Cornflower | 20 November 2011 at 08:03 PM
Oxlip is correct, when I joined typepad I set the following options to TRUE:
Send me an email when another user...
...replies to one of my comments
...marks one of my posts as a Favorite
...reblogs one of my posts
...starts following me on TypePad
These settings (each can be ticked individually) can be found under Account/Notifications
DP
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 November 2011 at 09:20 PM
Eek, what happend to your html markup!
This should appear in italic, this in bold.
All the html tags are now being stripped from the posts.
???
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 November 2011 at 09:21 PM
Thankyou!
What happens if someone hasn't registered with Typepad and just signs in? (I've referred the whole question to the Typepad support people so hope to get a comprehensive answer).
Posted by: Cornflower | 20 November 2011 at 09:25 PM
I think I twiddled a knob or flicked a switch or something. I shall go back down to the control room and twiddle it the other way....
Posted by: Cornflower | 20 November 2011 at 09:26 PM
Signs in with what?
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 November 2011 at 09:29 PM
I tested this just now with Mr. C. He is not registered with Typepad in any way, but when he opens the comments here he is 'recognised' to the extent that his name and email address are already in the appropriate boxes so that when he posts his comment it appears under his name but with no link to a profile, say.
Posted by: Cornflower | 20 November 2011 at 09:32 PM
I have all the notificstions ticked in the Typepad menu, including 'replies to one of my comments' but this only gives me a mail when someone replies to me in particular. Another person simply commenting on the topic generates nothing.
For example Dark Puss, did this reply of mine generate an email to you ?
Posted by: Sandy | 20 November 2011 at 09:33 PM
No, and I wouldn't expect it to. I guess you need some sort of "proper" hypernews forum facility for that to happen.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 November 2011 at 09:36 PM