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Replacing your comments with Intense Debate
There are some very great and creative ways to design the comment section of your blog: check out these examples for some inspiration (37 Ways to Design the Comments Form, 30 and 30 More Must See Comment Designs for Web Designers).
And while I was thinking about how to design my own comment parts of my upcoming WP powered sites, I decided I should go for the easier way…which by the way kinda is the philosophy of this blog.
So just recently I’ve installed the Intense Debate commenting system on this blog. As you may notice however, the older posts with no comments are still using the built in commenting system. The reason for this is that somehow I’ve not been able to synchronize my WP account with my ID account.
The new plugin crashed and I was forced to use the older version of the plugin. Also with this version however I’m still not able to import my older comments. In general, you should not have any trouble, so don’t be alarmed.
So why did I bother then? Well I’ve got three reasons for that:
1. I want for all my WordPress powered projects one common commenting system. Although not many of my visitors may register, some of them will be automatically registered when they’ve got an Intense Debate account already. This should encourage them to participate more interactively.
2. I’m expecting Automatticto fully integrate Intense Debate into WordPress in the near future. It is a logical next step and I would not be surprised if they do this well before version 2.8. The acquisition by Automattic is also the reason that for example Disqus is no more an option for me.
3. It saves me a lot of development and design time when I decide to use a free WP template, which does not support gravatars and threaded comment. The Unstandard theme is a good example of this. Although you can’t design it fully to your own taste, it still is flexible enough.
So if you should also run into troubles with the newest version of Intense Debate and the support team is not able to help you out, like in my case, you should consider using the old plugin/version. And take the lack of some features for granted, I’m afraid.
UPDATE
Ironically on 23th January 2009 the Intense Debate site is down. And another con for using a third party commenting system is beeing illustrated very typical with this: it slows down my site significantly and when a post has been loaded, you can not comment!
I’ll give them yet another chance…for now.
Yet another proove my ID account is screwed:
Via gmail I got noticed someone commented here, but I could not see the comment here, nor in the admin/backend nor in my ID-comments page!
All I could do is click the ‘Delete’ link in my mail to actually follow/see the comment…which actually deleted the comment.
I´ve (temporary) disabled ID…untill I´ve figured out the mess.
Thanks for the comment and sorry bout deleting it.
Hello
Kindly, can you tell me if it is possible to add IntenseDebate to a website built with RapidWeaver, on Mac OS X 10.4.11 PCC based (not Intel).
I’m not a blogger, just need a dynamic comments box on my site that allows comments with more than 200 words… Because at the moment I’m using a basic, lame Cbox since neither IntenseDebate, Disqus have answered my question. I see it as a lack of support.
RapidWeaver and Mac forums do not know how. They use Echo js kit. Sucks!
Yahoo answers gave me no answers and at Get Satisfaction my questions is piled on top of hundreds.
Of all the problems I’ve encountered while building my website adding a working, dynamic and nice comment box seems like looking for a needle in the sands.
You may look at the lame Cbox I’ve at the moment, just to fill the gap while I’m trying hard to find alternatives.
http://www.amandaindependentlondonescort.com/comments.html
I really appreciate and will be immensely grateful for help. Even if it is to say “give up”.
Kind regards
Amanda
Is your mind opened to all the new possibilities the instructor is willing to give you? ,
[...] just might have to dish it in the end after all. I’ve complained here why I chose for Intense Debate. The problem is that when ID is enabled it takes too long to count [...]
With Intense Debate, a user can set up an avatar to be shown whenever they make a comment on every site we power. Also find out more about the other commenters around you.
You should be able to use IntenseDebate with ANY site, including a DreamWeaver site…at least that´s what they say on their own site.
Having said that, ItenseDebate might be overkill for your site, though. You should perhaps consider a simpler/smaller script.
Sorry, I can´t help you any further…
Thank you Tschai.
Firstly, I don’t think my comment was deleted, because when I posted it (what most probably will happen now) I just got the message:
“Thank you your comment has been submitted and is waiting moderation” Huh… something like that.
Secondly, Yeap, You’re right. Thanks for the advise. I do not want overkill my site with too many scripts but CBox is so simple, does not allow replies, can’t change lines neither add paragraphs as I’m doing in this box. And honestly looks ugly. But works with a very simple html code.
Anyway, I’ve subscribed to your forum and if anything comes up, kindly let me know.
Kind regards
Amanda