Welcoming guests to wordpress.com

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  avrohomd · Member · Nov 1, 2009 at 5:38 am

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  I am very pleased with the tremendous free service WordPress.com is offering.

  But one thing troubles me:

  In order for someone to leave a comment on my blog: they must first get a ‘free user account’

  Now this is not so bad. But, then they arrive at a form presuming they want to make their own blog:

  — a box for an email address — with a note next to it: ‘to receive important administrative messages’
  (WordPress has you confirm your email address by going to your mailbox anyhow)

  — a box if they have read the terms of service (which if you click on, you receive a lengthy legal document to read)

  — and at the bottom the radio button for ‘gimme a blog’ is the default.

  Why scare people (who just want to leave a comment) away. And also, why does WordPress.com want so many people to make their own free blog?

  Perhaps before this form, the person can be asked if he just wants a username or if he might be interested in starting his own blog. And then give the appropriate form for what he wants.

  Or why not do like the ‘contact form’. If the guest is not logged in, they are simply asked for a name, and email address, and a website.

  (Yet, I don’t know why they are asked for a website, either)

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  thesacredpath · Member · Nov 1, 2009 at 5:42 am

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  It is how you have your blog set up. Go to settings > discussion and deselect “Users must be registered and logged in to comment ” and then click save changes and then anyone will be able to comment.

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  thesacredpath · Member · Nov 1, 2009 at 5:43 am

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  See #2 in this support document: http://en.support.wordpress.com/settings/discussion-settings/ .

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  avrohomd · Member · Nov 1, 2009 at 5:56 am

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  Thank you for the fast and helpful response.

  I guess, still I would ask WordPress: Why do they have such a difficult ‘registering process’?

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  thesacredpath · Member · Nov 1, 2009 at 6:13 am

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  It certainly could use a little simplification I’ll agree.

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  avrohomd · Member · Nov 1, 2009 at 6:45 am

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  So now I have deselected: users must be registered’

  But still, my guests are asked for their website. Granted, this is not a required box, but does this need to be there?

  And also, why is the title ‘Leave a reply’?

  Why not: ‘Leave a comment:’

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  thesacredpath · Member · Nov 1, 2009 at 6:55 am

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  You cannot remove the website field, and many people might want to include a link to their blog, or perhaps their website when they leave a comment.

  Each and every theme here was designed by an individual author, and you will find variations in how things are labeled here, and on themes for .ORG blogs.

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  avrohomd · Member · Nov 1, 2009 at 7:04 am

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  Thank you.

  I am always impressed with your helpful and thorough answers!