>I am going to flag a lot more. I am tired of having random spam comments pour in.

I've had the same thought lately, especially when streaming on dlive and seeing spam pop up in the chat there it's so annoying. Hoping they will add some ways to mute users from that chat.

I hope I won't have to flag many comments in the near future.

Yeah, you do it properly . Our post visitor's feedback and our response to them are the best hints to invest our time productively.  Many thanks for your great efforts. 👍👌👏

Here's my comment-related commemt, haha. 

Comments are quite under-rated and under-utilised. And when they are used it is all too often by spammers, as you pointed out.

>It seems that because I often upvote comments, people think it is a little tap and I have attracted a lot of Spam. 

I generally upvote most comments on my blog too. I don't have nearly the voting power you have but I get tired of the short spammy comments like this one.

>Very Excellent Thanks for sharing I appreciate your great effort

Now, you may be thinking that's not too bad, right? But the comment was hastily made on a post by a friend of mine who wrote about a loved one who had passed away!

>Now, one thing for the larger accounts. Answer some of your comments, acknowledge your audience, reward them for taking the time and making the effort to visit, read and comment upon your posts. Too often I see large, heavily rewarded accounts with almost zero engagement with the audience and if there is, it is only on the large rep accounts. Sure, it takes time and effort to comment a bit but, don't preach community and engagement if you aren't engaging with the people who visit and comment on your own content.

Sorry to quote back so much of your own writing but that there is a big beautiful blockchain golden nugget!

You have a new fan. Thank you for all you do.

This was a good post with some  great info. I wrote a post a while ago about what makes a good comment and how to construct meaningful ones that have some meat to them. Likewise I have been making an effort to reply to most all comments on my posts that have or add value. Like wise even though my upvoted is only worth a couple cents I like to show the users who do comment well that I appreciate them. Basically everything  you covered here.  Your post should set people on the path to good comment habits.

Master Taraz... I still read even if I do not comment.  I missed the grade school lesson of being focused on self image.  Neither do I crave rewards.  I do however attempt to comment as a reminder of polite conversation.  Sleep well with big dreams.

I have a quite simple policy regarding commenting:
Am I (hopefully) generating more value for me and (!) the ones I am engaging with?
If yes, go for it - if not, walk away.
I'm reading a lot of different articles about a variety of topics, but I'm only commenting on a few selected ones, because I think, no serious author likes the usual "good post" spam and I'm simply not able to contribute something meaningful all the time - that's when I silently walk away :)

I think, that's not the worst way of handling it.

I will add one thing - as a smaller account - commenting means engaging and engaging means enjoying. If you enjoy your time here it becomes less monotonous, and you're likely to actually stick around for longer before the whole experience becomes stale. 

If you're sticking around for no reason but money, and you're treating steem like a big pond and you're there with a fishing rod hoping to get a bite, you'll be gone in a few months at most because you'll realise that the fish just aren't biting and it isn't enjoyable anymore. 

That's why I try to comment more than I post - and I don't say things like "Great content sir! Upvote!"

I believe engagement with your followers and on posts you enjoyed reading or learned from is important, maybe even critical in a social environment, otherwise it's not social or rewarding at a deeper level at all, it's just a milk cow, at best.

You included this recommendation for those who address you:
> I am not your boss, Sir and certainly not Dear. I sign my posts Taraz so that or the @tarazkp tag is fine. Perhaps this is cultural and an acceptable way to greet people in some places but, it is not a great one for an international community.

I am also an adept of the familiar model, mostly coming from the Anglo-Saxon cultures, but... different cultures, different habits, and sometimes they are very well hardwired.

In some cultures, it's very rude to call a person by his or her first name, unless you are close, thus "sir" is used by many. Just like French won't say "tu" if they just met you, they'll say "vous", otherwise it's considered impolite.

About "dear" I agree, it shouldn't be used to address someone they hardly know. And even if you are close, "my dear friend" is acceptable, while "dear" is not, unless they want to move in with you.

I won't but I can literally copy the whole text of this post, change the value of votes to mine and publish it without anyone doubting of its originality. That is because I believe in the essence and strategy given in this post about commenting. People know me for egagement through comments. I preached commenting to newbies and minnows a lot. 

It's wonderful to have people like you on the platform. I am sure that reading this post will help people, so I am resteeming it.

You pointed out something I just figured out today, and it's good to have that reinforced. I had been thinking that my upvote was worth maybe a penny, and later in the day not even that (as my VP decreases). So I would upvote posts but rarely comments. Then I realized today that upvoting a comment moved it to the top of the comment stack. So that meant more people would see it. So now I'm trying to do that, though my VP is getting killed. I think I'm at less than 50% right now. 

I also really appreciate your statement that doesn't apply to me in the doing, but does mean a lot to me in the receiving. Those folks who have been on here a long time who still take the time to respond to comments, and more than that, to respond to comments from absolute strangers discovering them for the first time, well they really make it much more hospitable here for us newbies.

Thanks always for your generous and helpful posts.

@tarazkp, if what @tuwore says about you is true, I thank you for being that kind of influential and pay-it-foward Steemian! It's an honor to meet you here!

I am a 46-day old "small account" who LOVES to meet new people and learn about their talents, dreams, ideas, their lives on the incredible platform! My first month here was spent tumbling down amazing rabbit holes only to find more awaiting for curious investigation! I definitely comment, upvote, resteem way more than I post and it's a wonderful experience! My vote is "less than dust" but it's enjoyable, period! I don't know if this is right or wrong but I am meeting amazing people in the process.

I thank you again for caring about the newbies and encouraging us on this journey. 

I will be following both you and @tuwore, Upvoting (less than dust - hehe) and Resteeming this post

I have been actively reading the comment section of posts and commenting for the last few weeks as I found this to be a way of learning how Steemit works and forming friendships, it is also nice when that comments gets appreciated with an upvote, but I do not expect it. There is a wealth of information in the comments section, and some of the comments I have read are better than some of the main posts.  I have also found some great like minded people to follow, yourself included. I also appreciate that you respond to comments, there are some that do not, and it can feel like you are being snubbed, especially if that user has a small following. I always upvote those that respond to me because it shows my appreciation of that person replying to me even though my vote carries little to no financial amount - that is why my voting level is very low!

if i have chance 2 upvoting i 'll do for you.
i like your post.

<blockquote>
I am not your boss, Sir and certainly not Dear. I sign my posts Taraz so that or the @tarazkp tag is fine. Perhaps this is cultural and an acceptable way to greet people in some places but, it is not a great one for an international community.
</blockquote>

Hah. I get those, too. Perhaps I should start gently discouraging that, too. It can be a polite way to address people in some corners of the world but it tends to make me uncomfortable to be called sir. What sir am I except when being a patron in a restaurant in Pakistan perhaps? :) The only people in real life who address me as dear or any equivalent thereof are my wife and my daughter ("Dear Daddy ..." especially if she wants something) and I like it that way. I certainly do not appreciate being called dear by some neckbeard online or IRL.

>Read other people's comments and comment there, it is a very valuable resource...
 
I usually don't do this before but I just did... I  didn't even read this post before I did.

There is always something to learn from every of your post.

In respect to the smaller accounts which I think I fall under... I don't reward other comments because like you said 
 >my vote is worth dust...

But I will take your advice on this on. Thank you.

> What would be great is if people can discuss with each other in the comments section too. This would be a win/win as **it takes a little pressure off me** but more importantly, it builds strong relationships between users.

Well said your Majesty my **dear Sir Boss** @tarazkp. :p }:) 

I can see your new celebrity status already has robbed and kidnapped you most of your cheerful free time of quiet tranquility as to be able to keep ahead capturing every bit of feedback within that avalanche of comments that today get your increasingly in popularity posts. Hahaha

It's not a big surprise for those who follow you and *religiously* read your content since a long time ago, that they notice **now,** that naturally your attention and interests must have diversified beyond write & produce great content and regularly check the tsunami of occasional nonsense here & there that your posts lure along the comments section nowadays. 

For example, in addition to your usually tight working agenda in the walking life. I know that lately you are also spending online lotta more time engaging in realtime interaction on chatrooms. *And also lurking but trying not to fall into old gamer addictions one more time. LoL*

Therefore, having said all the above, now I have no choice but grab your attention towards a handful of my **always entangled** and ***thoughtful comments*** that evidently they all have slipped below your radar. And that as you will understand. I can not afford the luxury of you leaving **unharmed** without reading em all. }:)

**In chronological order:** [Comment 1,](https://steemit.com/steemit/@tarazkp/the-coordination-of-steemit-s-present-for-the-future#@por500bolos/re-tarazkp-the-coordination-of-steemit-s-present-for-the-future-20180222t034026126z) [Comment 2,](https://steemit.com/steemit/@tarazkp/learning-from-others-a-few-little-tricks-to-improve-your-experience#@por500bolos/re-tarazkp-learning-from-others-a-few-little-tricks-to-improve-your-experience-20180221t052959775z) [Comment 3,](https://steemit.com/steemit/@tarazkp/my-latest-onboarding-reboarding#@por500bolos/re-tarazkp-my-latest-onboarding-reboarding-20180220t042359254z) [Comment 4,](https://steemit.com/philosophy/@tarazkp/the-threat-to-bank-and-government-crypto#@por500bolos/re-tarazkp-the-threat-to-bank-and-government-crypto-20180220t012437589z) [Comment 5.](https://steemit.com/philosophy/@tarazkp/the-impossible-game#@por500bolos/re-tarazkp-the-impossible-game-20180220t004210106z) That's It, just a handful as promised. :)

> Stop staying up late and getting up early, it's not good for you XD Hope the small one gets better soon :)

Oh! and yes. I certainly concur with @ryivhnn and her great advice. **¡Sleep well mate!** There is no better rejuvenator and repairer of energy than a prolonged time in the loving arms of Morpheus.

Cheers!! :)

 extraordinary &  encouraging!

What surprised me most about steemit at first was that I was more likely to earn on commenting then on my posts even though a lot more work goes into my posts. I'm hoping that changes one day as more people read my posts, because it's discouraging when nobody or hardly anybody reads them.

I loved how you explained your intentions. Yes, when you are generous enough - people will flock to take advantage.

The best thing for newbies is to stick with the commenting for while and build their reputation. Once they are good, they should post more frequently. But never stop commenting, because it means you are engaged - ideas are discussed and the thought process is levelled up.

So there you go. Thank you Taraz.

Ahh the perils of being large enough to attract spam XD

Boss and Sir seem to be cultural (I heard a bit of usage of "boss" growing up as my dad often got called that by colleagues and even friends, sir/madam was a generic politeness thing at airports and hotels).  Dear...I'm not quite sure what to make of o_O But none of the tiny handful of cultures I'm familiar with assume that level of familiarity on first contact (or even several contacts after that).  The only thing I can think of is that it might be a violently mistranslated honorific?

Stop staying up late and getting up early, it's not good for you XD Hope the small one gets better soon :)

<center>[![goatsig](https://technonaturalist.net/sites/default/files/styles/sensible_display/public/art/2017/11/goatsig-t.png?itok=Ml3FDq7c)](/@ryivhnn)</center>

Helo @tarazkp ....this post came up while I was already asleep. Saw you say it's already 2am, please what country are you in? Coz it seems your a little bit ahead of me with respect to time zone.

Well speaking about commenting. When I started newly on the platform, I was never a fan of commenting and woukd only read posts and disappear. But with time I wondered whatelse I would be doing on the platform if I don't engage in simple decent conversations with the content creator and boom, I started commenting. Over time I have been able to develope some kind of relationship with people here that commenting on their posts feel like we are having a convo over a cup of coffee and it's fun. I have come to meet some great minds, motivators and poeple who inspire me and getting to convers with them in the comment section just makes me feel glad. 

This is something I won't stop doing anytime soon and I hope we have more people who will be engaging as you are on this platform...A few people who I respect so much for their ability to reply comments and engage in conversation with this who comment on thire posts are @humanearl, @surpassinggoogle, @anomadsoul, @acidyo, @donkeypong, @abh12345, @kaylinart, @stellabelle and a few other steemians.

I really like this. I comment on people's posts far, far more than I post articles. But most of my comments never get a response at all.  I don't expect a response to every comment that I make, but I DO want conversations. I don't seem to get that nearly as often as I would like though. Thanks for encouraging dialogue.

I think @tuwore hit the nail on the head. I think I found your blog through your brother, @galenkp who I've been following for a while. The entire time I've been following you, your articles are complete thoughts that dive into deeper issues than most authors. It gives your audience cause to think. If they're not willing to take the time to think, it is much easier to tell in the comments. 

I could see how your rewarding of comments would bring spammers. Who wouldn't want to get $0.14 rewards if they're just starting and the author is handing them out. It's a shame to do so though, because although I have certainly benefited financially from following you, I think there's even more value in what your write. 

I often open your articles in another tab when I see them as I don't want to forget about them or miss them. However, I don't read them until I have the time to properly focus on what you're saying. Otherwise my comments will be generic garbage. Because you're so consistent on rewarding, I want to make sure that my comments are *worth* the reward. Otherwise, I miss out on learning something, and you might get disillusioned and either flag me or just stop rewarding altogether. Any of those options aren't desirable. So I take the time. Hopefully it shows.

Also, thank you for the rewards you give. I've been running contests to help newbies from time to time. Having funds to give away to encourage engagement is helpful. 

Hope your daughter feels better soon. And that you have a comfortable couch. :)