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Apparently wordpress has an issue with “likes” and “follows.” Liking and following too many blogs will get you into trouble. There are a couple of popular blogs they have decided to come down on, two that I know of:
http://storytimewithjohn.com/2015/01/15/rip-storytime-with-john/ link
and
http://aopinionatedman.com/2015/01/14/closing-harsh-reality-going-private/ link
I find this situation to be just maddening.
I like these two blogs very much. They’ve been very kind and supportive to so many other bloggers and their presence here on WordPress has made the whole experience more pleasant.
Blogging is actually hard work. First of all you have to expose yourself to random strangers on the internet and then you have to be prepared to deal with anybody who disagrees with you or is just having a bad hair day. This can get brutal. And personal. People can be pretty nasty when they want to be. Having a supportive community of other bloggers is vitally important. The more readers you get, the more critics you get, too.
One of the more insidious things people try to do is to get you shut down. For whatever reason, they just don’t like you, don’t like your politics, your opinions, or perhaps they have no lives of their own. Regardless, the internet is full of people threatening to get you shut down, threatening to complain about you, threatening to dox you. Support forums are full of people complaining about other bloggers for whatever reason. I hate seeing this kind of behavior. We need to support each other or respectfully just agree to disagree.
Anyway, I love WordPress and unless they kick me out, I plan to remain here. Should it ever not work out however, I am also insanitybytes22 on Blogger.
findingfaithdivine said:
Someone I follow had the same issue! Weird & annoying
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KPhillips said:
I’ve been seeing posts about this all day. I hope I’m just missing something cause I can make no sense of this. How can you expect someone to become popular. Which will obviously gain them many followers. And they aren’t allowed to follow back? Or if someone is part of a huge community, which i thought blogging is all about, are they saying you can’t read all those posts & actually “like” them. Even if this was the case, are they sending out warnings when “like” or “follow” counts are getting to high or are they just shutting them down. I never thought one of my fears of blogging would be a fear of getting too popular.
I’m also on Blogger, but they’re community isn’t even 10% of the community here. WordPress needs to realize what this action is doing to new bloggers like myself. I’m following a bunch of new blogs a day cause I’m just getting to know members. Now I’m wondering…am I involving myself too much in the community? This sucks!
But thanks for the post & helping to bring this to everyone’s attention. Sorry, I am too scared to follow you however.
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insanitybytes22 said:
LOL, I’m too scared to follow you, too. So here’s a” like” and a “follow ” for you anyway. 😉
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totsymae1011 said:
I didn’t know one could get shut down. I mean, it’s the internet and a blog, so folk talk. I haven’t come across that problem but maybe on account that I’m talking talking about mucha anything. Just lolly-gagging is more like it, with occasional bites. ‘Course, I try to stay low key on ’cause of the job and whatnot. Folks are really mean-spirited on the web. It’s a safe forum for cowards to do just that.
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quixotic faith said:
Boo! What is WordPress’ justification for this?
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boteotu said:
This link should help with that: http://lindaghill.com/2015/01/15/the-harsh-reality/
Cheers!
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quixotic faith said:
Thanks! I started “liking” all of the comments in support, but then realized the blogger would get notifications for ever single “like” possibly clogging up the works. Oops! New blogger ignorance here! 😔
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boteotu said:
I’m sure you’re forgiven.. 🙂
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Caronbot said:
I doubt most people have to worry about this. I liked OM as well, but it’s not like he is some martyr for the cause. We are more or less only getting one side of the story, and we didn’t know specific numbers involved here.
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I 53:5 Project said:
I heard about this too and am now minding my “likes”
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quixotic faith said:
I am “liking” more than ever now! (My inner rebel?)
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insanitybytes22 said:
I know, right?? LOL, nothing wrong with a defiant spirit as long as it’s tempered by a smidgeon of wisdom. Of course if I’m tired or cranky, all bets are off 😉
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thetruthisstrangerthanfiction said:
wow. that dude had over 50,000 followers? (guess I don’t actually get out sample too much of the blogosphere!) I confess I usually confine myself to those weirder smelling corners of the pond where they talk about all manner of things “paranoiamal” (I just made that up! at least I think I did…)
but seriously, I do think we’re starting to see an increased spate of this sort of thing around the web in general. Been hearing lots of people talk about an increase in the amount of youtube accounts being censored, accounts closed, content taken down, etc. People have been talking about the censorship of the web for years now, and lately I’ve begun to think that it’s already happening, just maybe not in the way we see it done over in China and such. “Western” internet censorship seems much prevalent through the use of “anonymous complaints”, copyright infringement b.s., all this sort of shenanigans that can’t be proven one way or another, once the provider’s already taken something down. We see government’s trying to scrub pictures and videos from the web as a whole, it’s pretty crazy.
I guess only having a handful of followers is a sort of weird blessing, considering what has happened to these folks. I guess it does make sense in a way, that if you think about it from the perspective of a hypothetical (or not…) censorship agenda, you’d go after the low-hanging fruit first. The people with the biggest followings, the most readers, most “influence”, are the ones you’d definitely go after first….
LikeLiked by 4 people
insanitybytes22 said:
I’ve definitely noticed a new tone about the internet, that’s for sure. Cue the Twilight Zone music.
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boteotu said:
By the looks of your blog, it appears we’re both inhabiting the same general odd-smelling corners of the blogging universe!
I agree that being 100-something followers small does have some unexpected ‘perks’ to it, regarding this sort of thing. I’ve certainly ‘benefited’ from it so far..
LikeLiked by 3 people
thetruthisstrangerthanfiction said:
Indeed, I like your post about Homeland Security and the Muslim Brotherhood….
It only makes sense, since the Muslim Brotherhood is really nothing but another front proxy group for the manipulation of the Middle East by the shadow gov…..
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boteotu said:
Pretty sure I reblogged that post from another blog, but I’m glad you liked it just the same!
And from what I’ve heard from Alex Jones, apparently Obama and his family head the Muslim Brotherhood, out of Africa. Not sure if that’s truly the truth, but it wouldn’t surprise me if that was in fact the case.
LikeLiked by 1 person
deborahbrasket said:
Very interesting. I’d like to learn more. What did WP claim they were doing wrong? Did they have to move off WP.com or just go pro, or switch to WP.org, or what?
LikeLiked by 2 people
weight2lose2013 said:
It’s interesting that they would go and take down ‘real’ blogs, yet have bots run amok here. When I had first started, I had more bots “liking” my posts than real humans. Removing the bots would have been worthwhile and helpful. If WordPress is anything like eBay, there are lots of people who will complain about you because they are jealous. Inevitably, you’re in the position of having to defend yourself, which isn’t always easy to do.
LikeLiked by 5 people
boteotu said:
Interestingly, OM regularly posted about how he’d be trashed and what-not by bloggers because they were jealous of his great number of followers and viewers..
It is odd, now that you say that, that there are bloggers on WP whose sole purpose is to advertise themselves about, yet someone like OM can get shut down for being too generous a person via his blog.
LikeLiked by 3 people
weight2lose2013 said:
A sad state of affairs, I’m afraid. Someone must have the ear of someone at WP. We were taken down by jealous competitors on ebay, claiming copy write infringement. It was nonsense. We were taken down and given a warning. The person we suspect of complaining (who was someone we befriended and helped set up their own business) continued on, often selling our very same items. We gave up. In the end, I understand where OM is coming from. It’s just too much energy.
LikeLiked by 4 people
boteotu said:
It sucks that good people can’t succeed when all these idiots come around, jealous of them, and want to take them down.
But such is the world when it’s run by bullies…
LikeLiked by 1 person
insanitybytes22 said:
Why is the world suddenly being run by bullies?? LOL, that’s a rhetorical question, I suppose. It just seems as if there really are an awful lot of bullies running around lately.
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fantasticbetty2014 said:
Thanks for bringing attention to this very unfortunate situation. I guess since WP runs the show they get to decide but it sure seems unfair especially in light of all the encouragement and learning opportunities they provide to improve your blog and increase your readership. It seems contradictory like they want you to grow but not too much!!
Also, there are lot of bloggers out there that I disagree with but so what? I just don’t read or comment on those but they are just as entitled and free to post their stuff as I am and I would never complain and try to shut someone’s blog down. I agree, IB, I truly don’t get the “hate”…sad.
LikeLiked by 4 people
boteotu said:
The OM incident appears to be one of misunderstanding. As such, I hope it can be resolved in one way or another.
But it’s great to see so much support for OM regarding what happened to him — especially with Charlie Hebdo having come and gone.
For me, coming across such incidents, and I’ve come across a handful since starting on WP, it kind-of puts for me into perspective the unexpected perks of being as small as I am, in the sense of my blog, as well as what down-sides one must face if they want to be large like OM or Don Charisma, or story-telling John.
LikeLiked by 2 people
butchcountry67 said:
I am sad and angry that they did this to OM and storytime with john, so much for freedom, I worry now because I am gaining new followers daily and I usually follow them back am I going to be censored for following multiple blogs per day? am I going to be censored for liking your post? I am glad I kept my site over at blogger/blogspot up and running, there at least you are free to follow as many blogs as you like, anyway if your on blogger Im butchcountry67.blogspot.ca/ I’ll find your blog over there and follow you 🙂
LikeLiked by 4 people
insanitybytes22 said:
I share your concerns. Thank you for the link to your back up blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
clockworkjosh said:
I agree. It seems big power brokers such as the government are increasing emboldened in censorship on the net.
Did wordpress take down these blogs intentionally or is there some kind of “technical” issue?
LikeLiked by 1 person
insanitybytes22 said:
As far as I know WP intentionally send them emails informing them their accounts were under suspension.
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clockworkjosh said:
Grounds?
LikeLiked by 1 person
insanitybytes22 said:
I think OM posted the email he received from WP on his site. So did John. Near as I can tell, WP doesn’t allow “excessive” likes and follows.
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clockworkjosh said:
I wonder if this a ploy to get people to “upgrade?”
LikeLiked by 1 person
insanitybytes22 said:
As far as I know, they both were paid subscribers already “upgraded.”
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Paul said:
Thanks for writing in support of these bloggers IB. We really all do need to stick together.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Franz said:
Oh lord perhaps this is the sign of the times. :O
LikeLiked by 1 person
One Gentleman said:
Freedom of speech after all is not so free. They mask this rule under the idea that you have exceeded a threshold ratio of followers/following. They do not let you know firsthand upon signing up, they simply send you an email and tell you about your offense. That is awesome. I mentioned to John how this behavior happens offline.
There are certain laws that are on the books, which the majority of citizens are unaware. Upon committing this unknown offense, you receive a ticket while explaining you had no idea of its existence. It happened to me actually. The officer said, “Well, you should have known.” Really? I should have known an unknowable law, that was buried under a veil of secrecy, and as opposed to perhaps broadcasting the offense so people would become aware, you do not. Instead, you use it as a means to go on a ticket frenzy. Thank you morons.
It is such a pity how common sense is not so common.
LikeLiked by 3 people
RejZoR said:
What trouble specifically are we talking about?
LikeLiked by 1 person
insanitybytes22 said:
They seem to feel as if they have pretty much been shut down, since their WP features have been suspended.
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RejZoR said:
Hm, all seems to work fine for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mike said:
“First of all you have to expose yourself to random strangers on the internet…”
Don’t worry IB, I’ve been exposing myself to random strangers for years. No one has shut me down yet.
LikeLiked by 2 people
insanitybytes22 said:
LOL! “Keep the drapes closed, the neighbors are about” 😉
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Mike said:
Random Strangers… There’s no shock value left in the Neighbors.
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insanitybytes22 said:
LOL, good point. Although familiarity does breed contempt…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mike said:
No doubt about that!
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thetruthisstrangerthanfiction said:
(maybe they just aren’t too intimidated by the size of your post….) sorry, couldn’t resist! ;-p
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mike said:
My Family Crest reads “If you don;t like Cute you won’t like Us.” in latin. It’s a very small cross to bear.
LikeLiked by 1 person
R. A. Opp said:
It is maddening. Punishing hard work and community is silly. I hope WordPress gets its act together on this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Paladin Justice said:
http://galesmind.com/2015/01/15/wordpress-shutting-down-accounts/comment-page-1/#comment-1765
Gale has a post on this same subject.
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Paladin Justice said:
Reblogged this on saboteur365.
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Gale A. Molinari said:
I wonder if he gets the money back. He was,a,paid subscriber far as I knew. I would not have gotten a,subscription if I knew this before.
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robertmgoldstein said:
I’ve only seen this kind of thing on gaming sites. That is that gamers will often use the TOS to file bogus complaints against
people they either don’t like, who have nothing to offer, or who are stealing what they think are ‘views” and “likes” that
rightfully belong to them. I cant tell you the number Intellectual Property complaints made against me in SL. They’re
especially amusing because I don’t make anything.
If someone can have you harassed and taken down simply buy organizing a content “flagging” campaign then there is no on the Internets that is safe for free speech.
Gaming is about winning. If I wanted to be in a gaming environment I would blog in Second Life or on Google+. I chose WordPress because I’m sick of games and and a mindless numbers game that has nothing to do with thought,self-expression
or community.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Storytime with John said:
I’d just like to announce, that I have received this message “You may have seen our earlier notice that some social features had been disabled in your account. We have now reversed this block and hope the disruption to your use of our service was minimal.”
Looks like justice has prevailed! Thank you so much for this post, and for everyone’s support – it was wonderful to see the blogging community come together like this. Long may it continue 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
carolschepper said:
OM was reinstated, which is a good thing. I do understand that they want to protect us from spam, but OM wasn’t selling anything & he is very helpful – even though I don;t aspire to be a power blogger. I think WordPress needs to find a way to better separate out the spam followers – who are most often looking to sell stuff – from bloggers like OM who just enjoy the interaction
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insanitybytes22 said:
From what I’ve been reading WP has reversed their decision and decided to do just that. It’s not much fun being mistaken for spam, is it? 😉
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carolschepper said:
It pretty much sucks
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