I've been writing a non-tech-related Wordpress blog for 12 years, with comments turned on the whole time. Akismet automatically filters out almost all spam, and pre-approval for first-time commenters catches the rest. I find the comments usually positive, sometimes helpful, and never abusive. I can only conclude that some threshold of popularity, and subjects (like politics and maybe tech) that draw the wrong kinds of people, turn comments into cesspools. Since I'm not blogging for money or fame, or about rage-inducing topics, I'm fine.

To me, blogging without comments would feel like being that guy at a party who drones on endlessly about his own pet obsession, oblivious to the fact that his "listeners" are bored or want to add something.