A few weeks ago I got stumbleupon'ed. If you don't know what that is, google is there for you but I don't feel like futzing around with links so you're on your own. The point is, someone reviewed my Lonely Non-Girl post, which as you all know is the only post in the archives that I leave open to comments because, as far as I'm concerned, that's where the heart of this blog is.
Anyway, I got this review. I wouldn't have noticed except my traffic spiked like quadruple or more of a usual day, and even with that it took me a week to catch on. Long gone are the days where I check my traffic daily. Anyway, the review was a thumbs up. Not much more to say about it than that.
A week or so later, I saw another noticeable spike in traffic. Nearly identical to the first. So I checked it out and, sure enough, there was another stumbleupon review of the same post, only this time it was a thumbs down. I think the review, to paraphrase was something along the lines of "well, aren't you special." Before I allowed myself to process the fact that clearly the author of that particularly original gem was being sarcastic, I found myself nodding in agreement.
After all, I clearly think so. I wrote a whole post about it, didn't I? Wait. I write a whole blog about it.
Anyway, since one of my favorite fall-back hobbies (you know, the kind of hobby one only engages in when there is nothing, I mean nothing, better to do) is to consider my "F" (feeling) side, I decided to evaluate my response to that second review.
I'm going to put in a brief synopsis so that you can evaluate along with me. I mean, if you're here, clearly you, too, are indulging in one of your fall-back hobbies. You're probably at work, right, so it's not like you have anything you'd rather be doing. Let's go:
I see the traffic spike and I wonder if it's the same post. I find that it is the same post. I realize the person reviewing the post didn't like it. I double check the traffic numbers and realize that the positive review and the negative review pretty much yielded the same traffic. I think, "wow, who'd a guessed it?" I briefly contemplate emailing the second reviewer to make her aware of how odd that is, because maybe she wouldn't want to review sites she doesn't actually want people to go to because it seems people are going to go there regardless of her take. I decide she'll just think I'm even more of an idiot and she probably doesn't care so why waste both our time.
I don't feel insulted. I don't take it personally. I don't have any negative feelings toward the reviewer. I wonder if I reread the post, would I maybe agree with her? I decide I don't care enough to bother. Mostly, I just like that the traffic spiked.
Now, my gut says that's not a particularly INFJ response.
Whatever.
Haha, too funny! Definitely not an F response. I would've mulled it over for days and asked myself how they can possibly think such things about my post, and it's so mean, before finally probably coming to the same conclusion as you, that at least I got traffic out of it. But I would still re-evaluate every post I had ever written and wonder if I should be writing in a different style, and possibly even contemplate just deleting the entire blog and not forcing my hideous writing on the world. :)
Posted by: Razzler | October 14, 2008 at 03:45 AM
Razzler, I would have forgotten the whole thing already except when I occasionally check my traffic (mostly to see if that "How to Unclog Your Toilet" post is still getting hit--it is), I see this huge green spike in the middle of the graph. I want that spike back.
Posted by: Polly Poppins | October 14, 2008 at 09:31 AM
Polly,
Your wedding post had me thinking - when a school kid goes back to school they have to write about their summer, right? The wedding post kinda made me want to do that - like a back to school blog special or something. I might still. Also, I just can't picture you being one of those dancing Aunties. I've tried. It's not coming to me.
About this post - wait, what was this post about? Oh, right - the reviews.
Can you post a link to he reviews? Or is stumbledupon the place where the review is written?
I feel like you should link the review, allowing those of us who may not be INTJ's but have an "F" in our titles the opportunity to "f" for you.
Posted by: Alice | October 14, 2008 at 10:57 AM
My feelings would have been so hurt.
But that is way cool that you got spikes! Yippee!
Posted by: The Dol | October 14, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Traffic spikes are indeed exciting and addictive. I tragically check my blog stats waaaaay too often.
Posted by: Razzler | October 14, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Haha, I googled "How to unclog your toilet" and found your post. Wow, I must have too much time on my hands.
Posted by: Razzler | October 14, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Alice, I understand about not being able to picture me drunk and dancing, with the hand gestures and all, but that's because you only know the mom-version of me. That version is tired and generally worried to distraction.
As for the reviews, the good one was just a thumbs up with an excerpt from the post; the thumbs down said, probably, exactly what I said it did and no more. They've both fallen out of my traffic thingy but if one happens to show back up, I'll let you know. I checked out stumbleupon.com's search feature and could only come up with a guy from New Mexico (represent, Dol!) who maybe linked to my nuns with guns photo. Not that I could find the actual review but you're welcome to dig around yourself.
Posted by: Polly Poppins | October 14, 2008 at 04:44 PM
All publicity is good publicity, right? I just can't see you as an F.
Posted by: Diosa | October 14, 2008 at 06:30 PM