Call and response is a way of doing music and has heavy African influences. It can be heard clearly in blues, R&B, jazz, and Hip-Hop. One can hear it clearly in blues music, as the first verse usually repeats itself like:
I’m a crosscut saw, baby just drag me across your log.
You know I’m a crosscut saw, just drag me across your log.
I’ll cut your wood so easy for you, you can’t help but say, “Hot Dog!”
–Albert King
Or from Hip-Hop:
Just throw your hands in the air
and wave ‘em like you just don’t care
and if you’re not a square from Delaware
and yo momma ain’t on welfare
somebody scream, Oh Yeah!
Oh Yeah!
After the call, there is typically an expectation to hear a response. I was thinking about this and it hits to the core of why I like certain blogs better than others. I just love the whole call/response things. I prefer to frequent blogs where the author will make a post, people will make comments (responders), and the author will respond in kind. I just like the whole community of it.
Should a blogger not really be into responding, instead only making posts and then remaining silent, I eventually will move on.
Does this appeal to anyone else, or do you mind that the blogger is silent after the initial post? Here, there’s always going to be a call and response paradigm! I just like to talk!
Related posts:
16 Responses to “Call and response”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Nobody wants to feel like they are talking to “the hand”. Sometimes a comment is just a comment though, and seems like it was put there with no response expected.
Certainly not every comment gets a response. Sometimes there’s nothing to add. There’s not point in adding a response to something like:
Great shot!,
I agree.,
Good food for thought, etc.
I’m talking more of where you have made a counterpoint or perhaps even asked a question that might clarify something and all you get are crickets. I’ve had this happen on a few blogs and have later just unsubscribed and found other, more engaging blogs.
I like the back and forth as well. I crave it.
We are of like minds, my friend. I love to exchange ideas and just chat.
I certainly enjoy the interaction but I am neither here or there if I leave a comment and get no response. I follow a few bloggers who don’t respond to comments but their posts are always worth it to me so I’ll always come back. And I still leave comments if I think I have something to add or whatever. But there is no denying that the interaction afforded us by the Internet, the ability to make friends with like-minded people from anywhere and everywhere through blogs, facebook, twitter, emails or whatever medium is great fun.
I guess I like it both ways depending on the content. If it makes me think or if I learn something I will keep reading. Some things start conversations some don’t.
Like the reference to Call and Response it took me back to my 9th grade humanities teacher Robert Hilden circa 1967-68 who introduced me to Jazz, Blues, abstract expressionism and photography. Pretty much shaping the direction for the rest of the journey. I’m sure there is a post in that somewhere it is a good story. (not really on point though)
Just a thought Paul
Some conversations don’t translate well to being written, the nuance of spoken words and side references in a verbal exchange sometimes carry the whole of an idea more than the actual words. Tangents and delivery sometimes are more revealing to me than the actual words.
True. As I have found out, language is very imprecise. There are whole levels of interpretation that happen, sometimes unintended, when having a conversation either in person, via e-mail, or on a blog. Tangents do lead to interesting side conversations.
Language itself may be imprecise, but as Ray stated when written you lose all non-verbal communications — body language, hand gestures, etc.
Many POWs have claimed that what kept them sane and able to go on day-after-day was somehow establishing communications with other POWs — morse code by tapping on the walls, passing notes, etc.
I think everyone likes or perhaps needs to be heard and the clearest sign of being heard is when you get a response. That’s why it’s so important to reply to your commenters. Nice post Paul.
I enjoy the back and forth interplay; one learns so much more that way.
I’m definitely like the responding blogger more than the silent. I always quit coming back after a while if he or she never responds. A definite show-stopper is when someone seemingly continuously responds to others and ignores yours. I’m too sensitive to this and starts to think I must be so uninteresting.
Good post and question, Paul.
Quite iften I start typing replies to my comments but then i realise i’m repeating what i originally posted, or what they posted, or just saying ‘thanks for responding’ over and over again and i think it sounds shallow so i delete it. I hope people don’t think i don’t appreciate their input – quite often the comments are the best part of my posts!
I try to respond to most, but know I end up missing a few or need to do bulk thank yous just because of time constraints or that it is really, really late at night. I do like the interactions, but also wonder how many people come back to look for responses. There is not a good way of collecting data on this. The follow comments via email is a good idea if people want to keep up with a particular post. But with all the other emails, RRS feeds, etc, etc – I can see where time and overload become issues.
Good post Paul. I like the call and response analogy – I learned something today.
But, sure, I see the time constraint quite a few of us suffers from, and I understand also that some posts are more articles than discussions. There are no easy answers on how to approach this…. I guess you’d better do what feels best, both as a writer and as a reader.
Agreed Ove. But I also try to be considerate that it takes time for people to also visit and leave comments. So I try to reciprocate as much as I can, I can’t say I aways get to every one.
This is all pretty new to me, the blogging, even thought I’ve been on here just over a year. I’ve not dialogued much but have started to find a place. It requires me to have opinions and ideas regardless of what others may thin of them. I find it enjoyable to read these as well as participate in them. Again, Paul, another good post!