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***15 DAYS UNTIL APRIL 1***
Since many of us are getting ready for the A to Z Blog Challenge, I thought I’d rant a bit about what I wish wouldn’t happen in the Blogging World.
- I wish there was no such thing as Word Verification. I get somewhat testy after taking out the magnifying glass and deciphering the cryptic numbers and blurred letters, then seeing this message: “Your comment will be available after approval.”
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- I wish that bloggers would tidy up their profiles so that long abandoned blogs were not listed.
- I wish that comments like “Congrats!” and “Have a good day!” didn’t appear after someone posts about their Pomeranian’s abduction by aliens or their liver transplant. Reading the post or at least gleaning the message makes the blogging exchange interesting.
So there’s my wish list. Anything you’d like to add to it?
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My book and I are guests at thebooksage today. I’d love it if you’d stop by, take a peek at the review and say hi to this book reviewer.
Vicki Rocho says
AMEN! Those word verification things are getting harder and harder to read and it's not going to be long before they're so mangled no human will be able to read them.
Marcia says
I'm glad at least that WV is using numbers now. They're not nearly as hard to decipher, I find.
M. J. Joachim says
Ah the dreaded blog list – I wish I had time to go through the list of blogs I follow and figure out which ones haven't posted in a year or two, so I could stop following them. Shared your list, as I'm sure many of us can relate, and more than many of us agree too π
MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Writing Tips
Effectively Human
Lots of Crochet Stitches
TBM says
Only three pet peeves. You are much more patient than me. Oh the word verification annoys me the most. I hate typing them in and then getting the message that it didn't match and I have to redo it.
DMS says
I am in the process of cleaning up my list! I have been working on it and will be done soon. It feels good to have things sorted out!
I do not like work verification too! It takes so long- especially because I don't often get it right on the first try. π
Jess
Haddock says
A perfect and valid wishlist.
As for the first part, I have taken off mine (I know how irritating it is) And that is one of the reasons people don't comment.
As for tidying up the list, maybe some of them (or rather most of them) don't know how to delete the unused blogs.
Lately I found that all my blog posts are not getting listed out in the bloggers list. They don't show up with Google search too. I think its something to do with the Google+ thing. But I have no idea how to rectify it.
Empty Nest Insider says
In addition to detesting word verification, I feel horrible that I can never comment on Disqus. They say that I'm already a member, yet none of my comments go through. I also don't like rummaging through non- existent blogs. Great points to make the challenge run more smoothly!
Julie
Kelly Polark says
Have a good day! π
I don't like word verification either. But I had to resort to using it for a month after getting too much spam. Then I switched back to none.
Carol Kilgore says
I clean up my blog rolls once or twice a year. So I'm somewhat guilty of having outdated info there. I don't like those where I have to fill in my information every time I visit.
M Pax says
I like connecting with people, so a connection w/ comments, etc… is nice. Yup on the verification thing. Currently mozilla is opening double windows for some reason, which is starting to annoy me.
Haddock says
The doble windows are OK if they are readable. Some are soooo hazy, I think they clicked those pics with the Agfa Click III
Michelle Wallace says
The most annoying thing is when you respond to a comment in a hearty fashion, and then encounter WV, and then for some strange reason, maybe the comment disappears into cyberspace or doesn't post… aargh!
Btw, I'm going with another short, fun and interactive theme this year. (I'm thinking – we had such a blast last year…!)
Great interview over at The Book Sage Lee!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Oh do I hear that, Michelle. Can't wait to see what you've come up with for the AtoZ. It was great in 2013! Thanks for the visit to The Book Sage. I'm trying to show him out to turn off that #!@ WV.
Crystal Collier says
YES! I wish every comment would be packed full of cheese. Or at least, they could contain a hint of it. Please? π
C. Lee McKenzie says
Blogging while eating cheese! A great concept.
Cecilia Robert says
oh word verification drains my energy! The words are sometimes squished together, so I have to press the button to get a new code . *sighs* ooh can't wait to visit blogs participating in the A-Z challenge. )
C. Lee McKenzie says
Mine, too. I swear whoever created those cryptic letters is deranged. See you at the AtoZ!
~Sia McKye~ says
I'm with you on verifications. I'll try a couple of times and then I move on. I also hate the feeling of a slam dunk comments they're great for basketball but…Oh, and google+ and trying to find out the blog that belongs to the name.
Sia McKye Over Coffee
Tara Tyler R says
i agree with your wish list – and great timing before a to z! i like dezmond's too, hard to read those black background blogs…
happy hump day!
Lexa Cain says
I think it's impressive you kept your pet-peeve list to three. Is it bad I have a lot more than three? In fact if I did posts on all the things that tick me off about others' blogging etiquette, etc., I could do a whole A-Z on it! Why didn't I think of that before? Hmm. Better not. I'd like people to keep following my blog and not burn me in effigy. π
DEZMOND says
all those, and I also wish there weren't blogs with white letters on dark or black backgrounds!
Beth says
I have some of the same wishes…
Medeia Sharif says
These are my pet peeves as well.
I recently had to click on 6 inactive blogs on a profile to get to the current one. If a blog hasn't been updated in years, it can't be that precious to hold onto.
Sher A. Hart says
I agree with your three. It takes me 2 or 3 tries to type the captchas right. I've stopped returning follows if I get a generic comment from WLC. I would add one technical problem. So many different kinds of ID's make it hard to verify winners for giveaways. I wish everyone had a single ID to make tracking easier. Wait, one more. I wish spammers would stop commenting.
LynNerdKelley says
P.S. Sorry about using my old Blogger identity, but I'm unable to get the WordPress option to accept my new WordPress I.D. Drives me nuts to type a long comment, then lose it because it won't accept my new URL! So I'm guilty of the second complaint, but I'm actually glad the Blogspot blog is still up, just so I'm able to leave comments on Blogspot blogs!
LynNerdKelley says
Yes, yes, and yes, I totally concur! Especially about the Word Verification. Even with my glasses on, I have a heck of a time reading those suckers!
Heading over to see the reviewer's post about your book!
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Yes, yes, yes. I agree. It usually takes me three times to get the numbers/letters right. I am glad you reminded me to check my list of blogs though. It's been awhile and some of them may no longer exist. On it. π
klahanie says
Hi celebrity human, Lee,
My humblest of humble apawlogies for not being around much lately. You know how it is. We celebrity types are in so much demand.
Anyway, human celebrity, your wait is over. "Go ahead. Prove you're not a robot." Sorry, wrong site. Great pawsting! Thanks for sharing! Have a nice day!
To heck with that ridiculous A to Z. You can always join team Penny at the Alphabark Challenge, 2014!
Now then, does anybody else have problems with Google Friend Connect not working?
Pawsitive wishes,
Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar!
Christine Rains says
Word verification drives me up the wall! I also have troubles sometimes with weird and obscure comment boxes. Ones not on blogger.
Kelly Steel says
Ahhh…the word verification. Sometimes I just move on after the third attempt! And yes, the copy comments…
Elizabeth Seckman says
I worry about the last one. I will be the first to admit…if you write a post that is 1000 words+ I may skim through the last half if I'm not totally intrigued. I once read a post that started happy and then went totally dark. But all the comments were like way to go! Made me cringe as I promised to skim those extra 500 words a little better.
Theresa Milstein says
Oh, I am not a fan of Word Verification! I don't have it on my blog, and I almost never get spam. I do more work visiting blogs with WV.
Michael Di Gesu says
YOU BET, Lee… HATE WORD VERIFICATION… drives me INSANE!
You other peeves are most justified as well.
Mine is receiving a new follower and they leave NO COMMENT. Why bother following my blog if you're not going to say HI, or add to the conversation?
Mark Means says
Congrats! Thanks for sharing!!
hehe, just kidding! Love your list and agree with it, totally. I know trying to get around and leaving comments can be time consuming, but there's not much point in it if you're not even reading the comment. Great points, Lee!
Lynda R Young says
What about "Thanks for sharing" (and nothing else)? hehehe.
I totally hear you with the messy profile with heaps of dead links though. Rawr!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Sharing? I don't share. Well some. Got your point.
Natalie Aguirre says
Yes, I totally agree with your list. I also hate when people you've gotten to be blog friends with and follow each other blogs suddenly disappears.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's kind of like not bothering to say goodbye. I agree.
Lady Lilith says
I am so with you when it comes to word verification. Sometimes I work so hard to write a comment only to find that all of my tries are not working. If they have to use it due to crazy spammers, it would be nice to make it easier to read.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes to clearer font and simple navigation. I hear you.
Jennifer R. Hubbard says
Congrats! Have a good day!
;-D
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hey! Jenn. How are you? Have miss our conversations.
Southpaw says
Um, the site you are a guest at today has word verification. Piffle.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I saw that and cringed! Oh well, at least it did pop up with that annoying message about waiting until my comment had been approved. That's really a red flag for me.
Southpaw says
OH that last one! I'm glad you brought that up.
Lynda Dietz says
I recently started participating in the Blog Blitz and was surprised that a few people merely commented, "Blitzed," instead of a comment related to the post. I don't think comments need to be long or even particularly eloquent, but if I want to increase my number of comments, I can allow the spam-bots to have their way. I would rather let someone know I not only stopped by, but appreciated what they took the time to write in their post.
Oh, and congrats on your new liver! (Just practicing…if you ever get a new liver, I want to be ready with the right words.)
C. Lee McKenzie says
I think it's rather rude. And if I ever do get a new liver you'll be the second person to know. π
L. Diane Wolfe says
Some people have so many blogs listed that it's a guessing game as to which one is current.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Indeed. I'm a Johnny one note. One blog is about all my head and my butt can take. π
Sharon Himsl says
Loved your comment at my blog and thrilled to find another vermi-composter! I'm having a lot of fun. p.s. really like the entry into your site with the old books. Very clever….really drew me in.
I agree that posts need to be short in a-z, easy to comment on, and I would add 'reader-friendly'. Light and whimsical maybe? I found last time that some were really interesting, but alas…..too long, forcing me to skim read. I did go back and read one later, but some good stuff went unread.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I know. There's some amazing information out there, but not an amazing amount of time! Here's to those Red Wrigglers. Do they do a job or what?
Suzanne Furness says
Meaningful comments that refer to the post in some way are the best, like Hilary I like to use people's names as it makes for a friendlier exchange and that's what blogging is about (in my humble opinion anyway!). Things that I find annoying are not being able to trace a blog and posts that are too long. Hope your dog hasn't been abducted by aliens!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You're right about the oh so long blog posts. They really have to be meaty for me to read. Thanks, Suzanne.
Teresa Coltrin says
Wow, if aliens take your dog, I'll be saying…Wow.
I guess I'm the only one who doesn't mind the word verification.
C. Lee McKenzie says
So will the dog. Or bow wow! Sorry. Bad joke.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
If aliens take your dog, I promise I won't say that!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Then you'll always be welcome here! π
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – I'd like when people reply to comments they address the person, so we know if it's us they're referring to …
It's fine if the blog is set up as here – I can see you replied to Barbara … but some just put a sentence up and I've no idea who they're talking to … luckily with mine, they did say … yes Hilary …
Still I agree re the very short non-interesting comments …
Cheers as we gear up to the A-Z .. I have to get going and do some drafting .. Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
I guess that's why Iike to respond via email and this threaded version of comments. It's clear who I'm addressing. Thanks for adding to the wish list, Hilary. You're the best.
Barbara Watson says
Word verification…eek. I had trouble a while back with anonymous commentors and changed my settings for comments to avoid that issue, but I did not want to put WV on.
And yes, it's always nice when the comment fits what you've blogged about. π
C. Lee McKenzie says
I just turned on my approval and that seemed to work. I delete those annoying spammers as soon as I see them. I never allow anonymous comments anymore. Good point.