Disabling The Default Comment Setting May 16, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Blogging, Life Balance.trackback
After the “great feedback” it received last week, WP launched an update to subscribe us, by default, to comment threads whenever we post a comment.
After summarizing the experiment WP has been running for the past week or so, Beau Lebens explained the launch of the new default setting . . . AND how to disable it:
By default, posting a comment will now subscribe you to receive follow-up comments via email for that specific post, keeping you updated on the conversation.
This is indicated by the checked box in the comment form.
If you have a WordPress.com account, you now have a global setting to change this so that by default you will not be subscribed.
If you don’t have an account, then you can create one over here.
To read the whole article: Stay In The Conversation.
If, like me, you do NOT want to be subscribed to comment threads by default, go to E-Mail Delivery Settings . . . scroll down to Follow Comments and UNCHECK the box.
Then SAVE your changes.
What an EASY way to keep weeds out of our garden!
After changing the default setting, you can still follow comment threads on intriguing posts by checking the box when you post your comment.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Spirit Lights The Way 
Thanks for posting this. The response I had received when I complained was less than satisfactory.
I wonder what type of “great feedback” WP received? Everyone I interact with HATED the change of default setting. 😉
I’m glad that WP has now added a quick fix for those of us who want to revert back to the previous default setting.
Thank you so much for posting this, Nancy. I have been driven to the brink of insanity trying to figure out why this was happening to me.
As soon as I saw it, I ran round to my global settings to change the default. And then posted this to share the fix with others.
I often subscribe to comment threads . . . but I want to do it on MY TERMS not by default. 😀
And, the notification feature allows me to keep up with replies to comments I’ve made on other blogs, like this one, which I find perfect for me. The e-mail is maddening.
Sanity reigns! 😀
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for sharing this info. I hate the automatic enrollment in following comments. I have no idea who WP received the great feedback from because I have yet to find even 1 person who loves the change.
Same here, Janna. I haven’t bumped into a single “fan” of the default subscription feature ~ I know I would rather choose to check the box than remember to uncheck it.
Done! Thank you!!!!!!!!
Unchecking that box improved my day today. So nice to be back in the driver’s seat. 😎
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You’ve helped Stop The Madness! 🙂 Debra
It’s FUN to be the bearer of GOOD NEWS . . . 😀
much needed info Nancy.. been struggling with it for so long now…
I get the sense that WP used us as free “guinea pigs.” Glad they’ve now given us a way to opt out of forced conversation.
I actually enjoy reading other people’s comments. However, in popular threads like your previous post about these comments, the sheer volume practically crushed me to the ground. I am finally reduced to unchecking the “Notify me of follow-up comments via email.” It is with some reluctance that I do this, since most, if not all, of your followers give great comments. Ah, well, when I’m not so busy…
I often subscribe for a time to threads . . . and then unsubscribe:
Dashboard -> Blogs I Follow -> Comments
Oh dear…is it just me?
I click on e-mail settings…the hand appears…nothing happens.
Scroll down to “Follow Comments” . . . uncheck the box.
Scroll down to “Save Settings” . . . click.
That should do it, Granny.
I am a little confused. When I clicked to comment here in this box, the box below that says notify me of follow-up comments via email is still automatically checked. are you saying that all of our followers still need to go to the dashboard to get those automatics blocked in case we forget to “uncheck” the box below? I am leaving it checked for now so I can read [and hopefully comprehend 😉 ] your response. thanks!
When you change your global settings as described above, you will no longer be automatically subscribed to follow up comments.
So the next time you visit a blog and comment, the box will be UNCHECKED unless YOU check it.
Your followers need to change their default settings one by one . . . you can’t do it for them.
Thanks for this post… all of a sudden I was getting tons of email I didn’t want.
I’m so glad that WP realized that we don’t ALL want to have the same default setting.
Yes, that certainly is better! Thanks for the info, Nancy
It’s nice to be able to choose which conversations to follow without accidentally, by default, being subscribed to them all.
Hi,
Yes I have been following this in the forum, and there are a lot of complaints. Regardless of what WP said, I have not come across anyone that thought this was a good idea.
Thank You for visiting my blog.
Same here. Glad that WP has provided us with a suitable solution for those who didn’t see the change as a “good thing.”
You’re a doll! THANK YOU!
It’s nice to be able to return the default to its pre-experiment setting. 😀
Thanks for posting their quick fix, Nancy! I’m sending it to friends, too.
Glad to be the bearer of glad tidings! I’m sure our mail boxes will all be breathing a bit easier.
Thanks Nancy – a simple answer to a big problem.
When I saw their post . . . I raced around to change my default setting. Much better!
Thank you! There is nothing worse than leaving a comment and then groaning because you realise that you’ve forgotten to uncheck the comments box! 🙂
It is so nice to have the default back the way it was. 😀
Thanks for the link Nancy – I’ve changed my setting.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Here’s to being back at the helm with the conversations we choose to follow. 😎
whew…that will be a relief…
So. Much. Better.
whoops…I must have mis-clicked some other spot…a veryyyy quiet email afternoon…no updates on comments, but no posts from other blogs either..so back in I went….and managed to fix that….seems good now!
Yup. If you check the bottom box at the global settings link . . . you get NO e-mail from WP. Sounds like you’ve got it sorted out.
Much better. Thanks for tagging me.
You’re welcome! Enjoy your new found FREEDOM.
WP received great feedback?! hehe. I don’t believe this, as most of us prefer to receive announcements of posts by our favorite writers but not to subscribe to all comments as it fills up the mailbox. Thank for the link, I keep on forgetting to unsubscribe to comments. 🙂
I laughed at that too. I didn’t see anyone who liked the change. But, water over the dam, since they’ve now given us the keys to change it back. 😀
One quick click and it’s FIXED!
[…] on how to opt out of comment reply notifications on a global level. Check out her post Disabling The Default Comment Setting for all the details. Follow this link to opt out of all default comment notifications by unchecking […]
Thank you very much… my friend Andra sent me over here.
You’re welcome. Glad Andra is spreading the word.
Hi Nancy! Thanks for the heads up! I had read about it on Tita’s blog and did the same thing you did, ran to change it. I am still conflicted whether to put the option back to follow comments for each post back on my blog. I’ll be thinking and figure it out. I really prefer and usually do come back to the blogs I comment on and read the thread of comments. But I like to click on over when I feel like it… 🙂
I love having the box available to check when a thread intrigues me. If I get a slew of e-mails for a single comment thread, I delete them all (without opening) and then head round to read through the comments.
Not found many who like WP’s latest “good idea” strangely they are claiming it improving most popular. Thanks for the info about email settings I keep forgetting to uncheck the comments box.
I agree. I question the popularity of default subscriptions. But I’m delighted that WP made it so easy for us to opt out.
Dear Nancy, I love you. I thought this was something only my computer was doing. Andra Watkins directed us to your instructions. THANK YOU THANK YOU.
You’re welcome! On this issue, most of us were in the same boat . . . and it felt as if it was SINKING under the weight of all those unnecessary e-mails. Glad to help.
THANK YOU. Came here by way of The Accidental Cootchie Mama, and am relieved to know the universal fix. Also a little happy to know that Blogger isn’t the only platform to roll out stupid “improvements.” *shakes tiny webbed fist*
Roxanne
The Good Luck Duck
You quacked me up, Good Luck Duck . . . picturing your tiny webbed fist made me laugh out loud. 😆
By the way, they have disabled it across the board by now. TY! 🙂
Really? I haven’t seen anything about that.