Notifications of comments of bloggers who had provided their email ID on their profile page used to land in the Primary of tab of my Gmail. These had in the "From" field the email ID of the commenter.
Notifications of comments of bloggers who hadn't made public their email ID used to land in the Social tab of my Gmail. In the "From" field, instead of the email ID of the commenter, it was <noreply-comment@blogger.com>.
THE FIRST CHANGE
About a fortnight back, I sensed something was wrong when I found that all the email notifications were landing in the Social tab and none in the Primary tab.
When I checked carefully, I noticed that Google had removed the email ID from the notification of even commenters who had made public their email ID and replaced it with <noreply-comment@blogger.com>.
The immediate consequence was I could no longer email directly my reply to the commenter. Instead, I had to post the comment on my blog.
Actually, I never knew I could email my reply directly to a commenter until I noticed it on Liz A's blog, Laws of Gravity.
I realised it was simpler and switched to this method by providing my email ID on the profile page. Ever since I have found this quite a convenient way of interacting with the comments on my blog.
I found the change that Google had effected quite strange and wondered what could have been the trigger.
WHY THE CHANGE
When I went to the Help page, I found that one of the bloggers, Linda, had already flagged this change.
It seems Blogger is now sending my blog's comments via email notifications as no-reply via blogger.com I used to be able to reply to my commenters through email. Now, they are all coming in as no-reply. They do have their email address in their Blogger profiles.
To this, a Google employee, Jonn, replied:
This was an intentional change made for privacy reasons, as there is no verification process for public contact emails on Blogger.
That's a fair observation by Google, but it didn't make sense since the commenters themselves have made public their email ID on the profile. There is no need for a verification process since no one other than the blogger can make their email ID visible on the profile page.
THE SECOND CHANGE
However, Google took note of the point made by Linda and modified the original change. Jonn's reply continued:
That being said, after hearing your feedback I am adding a new (very similar) feature which will set a "reply to" address in the email, so that when you reply to the email it will send it to the commenting user's contact email address.
Incidentally, the restoration of the option for the blogger to email the commenter directly is not easily visible.
One has to click the drop-down arrow to see:
from: Name <noreply-comment@blogger.com>
reply-to: Name <email ID>
BLOGGERS UNAWARE
This might have been a small change, but it did impact the way bloggers interacted with commenters. Google should have notified bloggers about these changes.
However, I am glad that Google listened to the feedback and quickly restored the status quo, albeit with some modifications.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteOh that's amazing that you post this on the very day that I discovered the drop-down re-entry of correct email address! I wondered if I had just missed finding it before, but now it seems that it is another tweak by the G-team, for which - like you - I am glad. Though I do understand that Google are seeking to improve levels of personal privacy/security, and am on the whole supportive of that. YAM xx
Hi Yamini - Yes, this tweak is quite a fair one. Google, like many other top-notch players, does give lot of importance to privacy. And it's good that they do that.
DeleteThanks for telling me. I noticed that I could no longer reply via email to the bloggers who had made their email available, so I've just been replying in the comment thread. But if there's a way to go back to replying via email, I'm going to do that. I'll have to look for this, but probably not until I get back from my trip this week.
ReplyDeleteHi Liz - Yes, they have restored it.
DeleteI never even noticed this Pradeep as I reply to my comments by hitting "reply" on my blog page and responding to each one as I work my way down the page. The only emails I receive are ones that come through from subscribers who reply to the email in their inbox because they don't want to leave a public comment. I always find it interesting to see how others use their blog options.
ReplyDeleteHi Leanne - That's a good way to manage comments. It avoids the problem of toggling between email and the blog. It's fascinating to see how different bloggers have their own unique workflows.
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ReplyDeleteKatie doesn't reply much but I do on my own human blog. Thank you Pradeep.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katie.
DeleteI think I also searched for emails in the primary account but got all messages in the social account. I received notifications of various posts on social media for a long period of time.
ReplyDeleteThese changes are often unsettling.
DeleteHi Pradeep - I've always replied on my blog ... and over the years (16 of them) I've just adjusted as things have changed ... not being very technical - though I note friends' notes on blogging life ... eg Yam and you. The thing that 'worries' many is the 'loss' of where bloggers go - when things change ... I can't get to grips with Feedly ... but that's me and my incompetence ... I'll be setting up a private email notification for my posts to those who no longer get notification. Hope this makes sense!! Cheers - I just cope ......... somehow! Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi Hilary - Like you, I also replied on the blog until, as mentioned in the post, I saw Liz emailing the reply directly to the person who left the comment.
DeleteRegarding bloggers 'vanishing', yes, that is indeed a 'loss' that 'worries me as well.
Technology can be challenging, especially at the rate at which it is changing!
Setting up a private email notification system is a good idea. That ensures blog pals don't miss the new posts.
Though I had a vague sense of some change, it has become clear enough now only.
ReplyDeleteI feel Blogger should make more changes. Why only Google account or anonymous? Why not other identities?
Hi Tomi - That's a good suggestion. Other than Google account and Anonymous, one can type out one's name, and if there is website link that can be added. But no other social media account.
DeleteYes, Blogger needs a lot of improvement. A lot of people prefer Wordpress for the many options it has.
I have a Wordpress account for my reviews, Pradeep, and I hate it. It is so complicated and not user friendly at all. You cannot comment anonymously either. Followers have to have a WP account too. I wouldn’t recommend it. I stick to Blogger for my personal blog because it’s still easier for my followers to read and comment on, and it’s easier for me to use as well.
DeleteHi Val - Thanks for that insight. I agree with you. WordPress, though quite popular, has quite a few drawbacks. Blogger might not be very fanciful, but it serves the purpose well.
DeleteI've always replied to comments directly on my blog. Emails tend to get lost unless I notice and flag them immediately. Sometimes it seems that changes are made just for the sake of change!
ReplyDeleteI always felt that if I replied via email, the person who commented (like you in this case) would not miss my reply. Otherwise, they will have to come back to the blog to see the reply.
DeleteOf course, each person has a choice depending on what is convenient for them.
Thanks. I did not notice until I read your blog post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment.
DeleteI never noticed these changes. Some times I feel I should take printouts of all my previous blogs and bind them (before all my blogposts vanish)
ReplyDeleteYes, we are keeping all our creative work in someone else's place ... Better to have them with us only, no? I never thought about it till now!
DeleteIt's heartening that we have not been deleted from relevancy (yet... LOL). Blessings to you and yours, my dear.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Darla.
DeleteHope your day is going well.
ReplyDeleteYes, Thank you. :-)
DeleteI wasn't aware of this but what I did notice was when I replied to comment and I received the usual email containing my reply but instead of the sender being marked 'Me', it had my name.
ReplyDeleteYes, Andrew, Google tried to make some changes. But there wasn't a proper announcement regarding it. That put me off!
DeletePradeep, I rather see the problem as Gmail’s, not Blogger’s. Gmail is a bit random and I often miss mails because Gmail decides to put someone’s mail to me in a different space. I will always keep to Blogger as it’s still the easiest, most user friend,y blog platform available.
ReplyDeleteHi Val - Ah! I didn't think of this angle to the problem. You seem to have a point there. Gmail can mess up the classification of our mail.
Delete