WordPress – Ethical Dilemma

Posted on

July 11, 2017

If you have 20 posts to like or comment, you cannot do them all within 5 minutes. If you could, your account will be blocked for spamming! WordPress Ethical Dilemma: As their numbers and posts are increasing over time, how do you usually keep up with friends on WordPress?

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WordPress Ethical Dilemma: Summary of comments:

Reading is a must

Yet many emphasized the importance of the title, most comments were about reading a post is a must. A like or a comment should be only given to worthy posts. Relatively, some felt bad about receiving a lot of likes from the same person in a short time; they considered recording likes without reading a disrespect.

Time Management

Most agreed that reading takes time that is not always available. Many talked about their philosophy in following others and how to manage updates. First, a group of important users where importance is based on the topics of interest or on users who contribute to our blogs regularly. Second, following less. Third, utilizing the time of waiting in more reading or contributing. Relatively, they referred to the bad system of WordPress in keeping up with friends; a lot could be missed if one is absent for a while. Are weekly digests enough? Or should we have a system similar to Facebook where top posts are listed first?

Support Others

On other hand, some argued that likes are a way of supporting friends. After all, we trust some friends and their posts but we lack the time – We’re saying that we’re here and haven’t forgotten about you.

Favorite Tool

Some referred to something else. Likes are favorite tool. Thus, they’re pinning posts for later reading. Probably, they’ve already read them through emails so they’re doing all the likes at once.

WordPress Ethical Dilemma

Almost all declined the existence of persons with ability of fast skimming or predicting. There was some talking about awards posts and the importance of short posts in blogging world. What about achievement posts or one-picture with no words posts? Posts with different languages? What about bloggers posting many posts per day? What about people who are seeking likes only? (technically speaking, the number of likes has no effect)?

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Comments

166 responses to “WordPress – Ethical Dilemma”

July 11, 2017

updownflight

Hi Mohamad. I have time on my hands at home, which allows me to read many posts. I rarely “like” a post that I haven’t read in full, or at least skimmed pretty well. I’m basically a housewife right now, but hopefully when I can I will either do some freelance writing or teaching ESL through Skype or maybe in a classroom. At that time I might not be able to read so many posts.

I follow approximately half the number of blogs that follow me. When people do first follow me I do go to their blog to see if it interests me. If it does, I follow. If it really doesn’t, I don’t. The blogs I follow I want to read. Not every one of their posts interests me, but I’m sure not every one of my posts interests my followers. I don’t “like” a post that doesn’t interest me. I know my followers don’t always “like” mine. And that’s OK.

I have seen bloggers “like” many many of my posts in a very short time. I don’t know if they are spammers or what. I also see people follow me that have never “liked” even one of my posts. Strange.

I guess when I am short on time I do focus my blog post reading on the ones written by my special friends here. I have a handful of friends here that are ALWAYS so sweet and read my posts regularly.

I guess I’d call myself frequent at writing comments. I’m not sure, but I think I comment in 50% of the posts or more that I “like”. I find that some of my posts get almost the same number of comments as “likes”. I think that is pretty good. I really appreciate hearing from people in comments when they are moved or interested by my post. That is the ultimate compliment.

Reply
1. July 16, 2017
  
  Mohamad Al Karbi
  
  Thank you Cindy for your continuous support. I love long comments… You’re very lucky to have this time and it can be invested in making a lot of things… Wish you luck in whatever you’re doing or planning to. I also like your philosophy in following other blogs and how you’re rational in keeping up with friends’ updates. Seems that you too are following the trend of having special friends (favorites) to visit regularly like many others here – I hope I’m one of them 😀
  By the way, it’s very interesting that your likes number is almost as same as comments’.
  
  Reply
  1. July 16, 2017
    
    intenttowin
    
    Have you checked into Udemy? It might be a place for you to have an online ESL class. I take courses there all the time and they want diverse instructors as well.
  2. July 16, 2017
    
    Mohamad Al Karbi
    
    I believe this question is addressed to me, isn’t it, Darlene? I’ll check Udemy. I’m interested in CPE as it’s needed in my career. Thank you very much
  3. July 16, 2017
    
    updownflight
    
    Hi Mohamad. You are a treasured friend. Thank you for your frequent support!
    
    I do enjoy comments. I like to get to know people here.
July 11, 2017

Sharon, Leadership2Mommyship

Hi, Mohamad thank you for asking the question. I’m returning from vacation and I will tell you I’ve been very absent from my blog for the most part and have lots to catch up on from those that I follow, especially those who I very much consider “friends.” So it’s important for me to catch up as much as possible–setting quality reading time aside is a must.

One thought about “initially” following others–at least for me–is to view their site and make it a point to comment on at least one post as well as read the “About” page. With any sort of following, I think it’s important to say hello or comment on one thought. “Hi, there! I really like your, blah, blah, blah… Honestly, I would like the person to know I visited and provide a courteous greeting of some sort. I’ve learned this over time and was not something I did a year ago. I can tell you I’ve had many new blogs follow my site, and I assume they’re getting comfortable with “blogging etiquette.” If I notice the blog is fairly new, I provide the same courtesy–commenting and liking a post” and perhaps this sets an example for them to follow. I don’t know, but at least it’s tiny encouragement–at least I hope so!

For the most part, I am guilty of staying caught by using the reader tool; however, I will also visit sites directly if I have not heard from a blog in some time. Our community offers a wealth of experience and sharing our ideas and thoughts amongst each other is a gift. I hope we can all take the time to accept these tiny treasures. 🙂

Reply
1. July 16, 2017
  
  Mohamad Al Karbi
  
  Thank you Sharon for your continuous support. It means a lot… I’m sure that with quality reading, being absent on vacation is complicating things even more … The necessity of reading a post is trending again. And, to be able to visit a site that you haven’t heard from for a while means that you too are supporting the group of important users (favorites).
  I’m definitely in love with your way fellows in following other blogs. Good philosophy over long term. Don’t worry about reader. We all use it in some way.
  
  Reply
July 11, 2017

George

I’m terrible at this as there aren’t nearly enough hours in the day. I like email prompts and leave them marked as unread if I can’t read them right away. I still inevitably miss some. The weekly digest prompts are good too, so try and catch up on several posts when I get the time.

Reply
1. July 16, 2017
  
  Mohamad Al Karbi
  
  Thank you George for your continuous support. I totally appreciate it. Yes, I hate it too when my inbox is full with unread emails. But the digest mailing seems to do it better. I think having something like friends top posts (as in Facebook) might be a good option too
  
  Reply
  1. July 16, 2017
    
    George
    
    Yes, indeed- that could work
July 11, 2017

kerrymckim

I always fall behind with the craziness in my life so I know I don’t like enough. At least as much as I would like to.

Reply
1. July 16, 2017
  
  Mohamad Al Karbi
  
  Thank you very much Kerry. Who doesn’t fall behind the craziness of life. Time seems the main dilemma for almost every one. But trying to catch up later is something good
  
  Reply
  1. July 16, 2017
    
    kerrymckim
    
    That is true. Lately I just try to embrace the chaos.
July 11, 2017

mainepaperpusher

Here is my history of keeping up on posts of my followers. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best I’ve found so far.

It took me a while to figure out how to set up incoming emails whenever anyone posted. I was missing things right and left until then.

My second dilemma was that now my email inbox was swamped! So I figured out how to change incoming emails to Digest form rather than individually. That meant that every night at 2:30 AM my inbox would be filled with digests.

Oh, but I was missing the posts that I wanted to reply to immediately! Only a couple of days ago did I change the rules so that the people I talk with the most come in immediately.

That helped with my email problem.

Next, I tried to keep up with notifications along with the email prompts.

This was a mess till I realized that I could check the Likes first to see who liked what.

Then I move on to the Comments and either Like or Comment back.

Then I check my Follows. For all of these situations, if I see someone unknown to me, I usually go take a look at their blog to see if it is something I would like to follow. Often it is!

Once that is all done, I double check myself by going into the Unread section just to make sure I haven’t missed anything.

I still miss something every once in a while, but this is the best way I’ve found so far. Even if I read the blogs in my email and went back to Like things in Notifications rather rapidly, I don’t think I could ever do it in under 5 minutes. I haven’t thus far!

I really appreciate the heads up on this, though. Mohamad, you are always great about bringing up interesting subjects.

Reply
1. July 16, 2017
  
  Mohamad Al Karbi
  
  Thank you Linda for your incredible continuous support. I’m very grateful. I’m really learning new things here from your experience. Utilizing Notifications and emails. I believe WordPress reader timeline isn’t listing every thing (mainly on mobile) and thus it’s not enough for keeping up with all friends and their updates. You’re doing great job in following with all of us and I could notice it.
  
  Reply
  1. July 16, 2017
    
    mainepaperpusher
    
    Thanks so much. Until recently I know I have missed some posts, and that makes me feel awful, but I knew things will be better from now on.
July 12, 2017

Carolyn Page

Time, time, time, Mohamad, or lack thereof is the culprit. Sometimes I have oodles, whilst at other times I am scrambling for a few minutes.
Basically, I hope my absences aren’t taken for lack of interest; it is what it is ~ we all suffer from this anomaly.
Also, people change. Some remain and become consistent followers and friends; whilst others do not. I believe it is best to ‘go with the flow’.
I have one gripe that I shall mention, which is: I do find those who become followers without firstly introducing themselves by liking a post or leaving a comment, a little misleading. Just as in our physical friends, friendships grow from mutual respect; getting to know each other over time. If they haven’t the time to firstly read an about page, or leave a little comment they will, as in physical friendships, not be binding friends.
It has been six years of grappling with this problem of ‘time’. I do the best I can, making more time for those whose blogs I enjoy; such as yours Mohammad. I do enjoy your posts; even though I cannot always show my appreciation! 🙂
I realise I have strayed from your original questions; however, I have had the time (before breakfast) to enjoy getting these thoughts down ~ isn’t this a great form of friendship!?
xoxoxo

Reply
1. July 16, 2017
  
  Mohamad Al Karbi
  
  Thank you, Carolyn, for your kind words. Time is the problem of all of us. After all, blogging isn’t a real job even though it might generate or help in generating money. However, it’s still an interesting hobby and a place to make good friends such as you. So, yes, I began to realize the important of having group of important users (close friends) that should be checked on regularly.
  I’ve also noticed a lot of people are following without introducing themselves. With few followers and few posts (or none), they might be spammer until confirmed by time.
  
  Reply
  1. July 17, 2017
    
    Carolyn Page
    
    Big smile ~ 😀
    “they might be spammer until confirmed by time.”
    Indeed. They generally just ‘fade away’… Have a great day!
2. July 16, 2017
  
  intenttowin
  
  I think it is a great form of friendship because we can visit as our time permits. I hate getting a visit or a long phone call when I am working on something ‘important’. So we can put our hearts out there and when others have time, they can share their hearts as well.
  
  Reply
  1. July 17, 2017
    
    Carolyn Page
    
    Yes, Darlene, I agree…
    I believe we, those who have been around for a while, understand the constraints placed upon us just by our everyday living circumstances! As with our physical friendships we come to appreciate this, yet don’t lose that basic connection of friendship. A friend is a friend regardless of our meeting place and the, sometimes, sporadic nature of our get togethers.
    This has been a very enjoyable post Mohamad created. Well done to him!
July 12, 2017

curioushart

Thanks for sharing this. I don’t think I could be mistaken for a spammer because I like to take my time and read blogs that look interesting. If I decide to comment, it takes even longer because I want to show respect and not write something lighthearted or amusing when the blogger has written something serious.

Reply
1. July 16, 2017
  
  Mohamad Al Karbi
  
  Thank you, S. M., for highlighting an important point. Checking if the a user is a spammer. So, I guess the clean users should have less imposed restrictions. Seems that serious comments are appreciated by all as it reflects how much this person is caring and so thoughtful.
  
  Reply
2. July 16, 2017
  
  intenttowin
  
  I am a serious smart a*** so I understand about not flippantly replying when someone is being serious, but sometimes I just can’t help myself either.
  
  Reply
July 12, 2017

Erik @ Hey Chelito!

I keep post in my inbox. I get to them when I get to them.

Reply
1. July 16, 2017
  
  Mohamad Al Karbi
  
  Thank you Erik. Seems a lot are doing the same. The point is to read them later…
  
  Reply
2. July 16, 2017
  
  intenttowin
  
  Me too. I pride myself in trying to keep my inboxes (2 accounts) to under 50. Sometimes it is way over 100 though.
  
  Reply
July 12, 2017

blossomkitty

Thanks, Mohamad, I have wondered many times how someone can like seven blogs in a minute or two… I find it a bit disrespectful. I don’t mind if they don’t read it, but I would rather they not just like it for the sake of it. I like to take the time to read the blog, and if I like it, I will often also comment. Hope you are well 😊

Reply
1. July 16, 2017
  
  Mohamad Al Karbi
  
  Thank you Kylie for your continuous support. I understand your point of view my dear friend. It’s not only you. A lot seem to insist on the same issue as it feels bad when many posts be liked at once by the same person.
  
  Reply
July 12, 2017

chukkiskitchen

Your post is right on time. i did not know this. And definitely responding to all your posts gets so hectic that you tend to leave out some.

Reply
1. July 16, 2017
  
  Mohamad Al Karbi
  
  Thank you, Pooja. I don’t know if the numbers I posted about doing 20 posts in 5 mins are very accurate but they give an idea about the subject. So, much posting means some will missed or left out – as in bloggers who are posting many times per day!
  
  Reply
  1. July 17, 2017
    
    chukkiskitchen
    
    I agree with you