In newly re-minting this blog, I’ve made several breaks with long-standing self-aggrandizement tradition. Today, I make one more: you, faithful readers, will now be able to comment on my postings.

Sure, comment systems are nothing new, and an ever-increasing number of bloggers are playing host to the happily chattering communities that often evolve within the framework of such sites. But for years, despite requests to the contrary, I strongly resisted that trend. Why? Quite simply, I just didn’t care what you had to say. The whole point of self-aggrandizement is that it’s about me, me, me. Have something to say yourself? Start your own damn blog. Have something to say to me? Write an email. Besides, as several regular readers pointed out in such emails, for whatever reason, my writing style often ‘leaves very little else to be added’. Why then even bother with comments?

And, even if just by email, I did frequently hear from readers. My recent latke essay, for example, spurred nearly two dozen people to email in their reactions, from latke-cooking tips to reflections on the nature of religion, with a heap of vague praise (‘you write very well!’) lumped in between. But, as I read through one such email, it suddenly occurred to me that I’d been looking at things all wrong. Comments aren’t a break from the hyperbolic narcissism this site is meant to embody; they’re an extension of it. Comments wouldn’t just be people talking – they’d be people talking about me!

With that stunning realization in mind, I had no choice but to include comments on the site. After quickly retooling the s-a code, comments will now take their rightful place below each of my entries. So, go ahead. Opine away. Just remember, it’s still all about me.