We use the extended layout mostly and have some topics that are being written by one person, like a journal. Then other members of the community want to comment on it but the only way it seems to be able to do that is to reply, which breaks the continuity of the journal. 

Is there anyway to comment on a post without having to use the Reply window? I see there is something like that in the Q&A layout but that's really not what we want. 

Thanks for any pointers.