Don't Respond to a Joke with a Retort—The Ultimate Commenting Technique

I have a question. I can't seem to get into the habit of writing. What should I do? → Answer: Try writing every day, even if it's short or not very good. By the way, I'm on a 650-day streak. I'll do my best today too! → ...Why are you making this about yourself? Are you just bragging? This is Yasu, and I sometimes see comment exchanges like that.


Whether it's on note, a blog, or X, commenting or replying to other people's articles is difficult. For me, it's harder than writing the articles themselves.


Since I write articles myself, I know how incredibly happy it makes me to receive comments. Basically, I'm happy no matter what people write.


Well, to be honest, I'm happier with empathy than with opposing opinions. That's true, but I'm still grateful for opposing opinions rather than being ignored. Both are honest feelings.


The kind of comment that makes a writer happy is a "harmless retort."


In the comedy world, they say things like "poison is essential for laughter" or "humor hides within the hurt," but we aren't comedians. Plus, we're amateurs.


"I found 10,000 yen yesterday."
"No way! That's impossible!"


That is a retort. The joker takes an absurd stance, and the retorter takes the side of common sense. But retorts are basically harsh. In text-only exchanges, it can be mistaken for anger. That's why a gentle, harmless retort is better.


"I was looking at Yahoo on the internet."
"You mean Yahoo. You read the 'hoo' part literally."


That's gentle. That's a retort, but it's a good one. However, some retort comments I see tend to be like this ↓


"I was looking at Yahoo on the internet."
"I haven't heard the word 'internet' in a long time. I can't believe people still use it in the Reiwa era!"


Is that what you're focusing on?!
No, I'm making a joke out of it, but I actually see comments that are that off-base. Since they're joking, if you're going to comment, please make them happy.


If you thought even for a second, "Why should I be the one to make them happy?"—well, it's more fun that way, isn't it? Good things happen when you make people happy. I don't know for sure, though (there it is).


Responding to a joke with another joke is quite difficult.


"I was looking at Yahoo on the internet."
"I'm a Goggle person."


That's easy to flop. Responding to a joke with a joke has a high chance of falling flat. It also gives off an "attention-seeker" vibe. Plus, if you hit the wrong switch, you risk overshadowing the original article.


Sigh, I think about things like this so much that I can hardly write any comments.


Thank you for coming to read today as well. I think the recommended way to write comments is "empathy" and "gentle retorts." Without revealing too much about yourself.


[Image cooperation: Sachiwa]
[1299 days since the salon started]

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Kiyofumi Noto
A money expert for the 100-year life era who loves the Japanese spirit (7th book "The World's Safest Textbook on US Treasury Bonds and Dollar-Denominated Corporate Bonds" is now on sale!). What is "US Treasury Bond Investment" for Japanese people? Number of channel subscribers: 18,000! Total viewers: 1 million!
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