Most of last year, WordPress’s Machiavellian master processor (AI with a lot of A and too little I) busied itself with systematically removing my subscribers. The only upside was that I had more time for other projects.
Then, last spring, I discovered WordPress was shifting toward email-based subscriptions. So, I clicked “Yes, please, notify me of posts by people I’ve subscribed to.”
Result? I now get over a thousand email notifications a day! Which is great…ish. Yes, blog traffic is up—way up. But now every day is an All-the-WordPress-You-Can-Eat buffet, and my other projects have been shoved into a tiny corner.
Also, although I now know when my favorite bloggers post something, I also know when the who’s-that?-ers do. And so, sadly, while I try to read as many posts as I can, I constantly give short shrift to you, my beloved blogger buddies (yeah, I know, that was, like, gag-me corny, right?).
Therefore, in an effort to restore some kind of cosmic balance (i.e. trim that massive email barrage), I’ve begun doing the following:
- Shifting blog notifications from “Instantly” to “Daily” for people I only hear from occasionally, or who post multiple times a day.
- Shifting notifications from “Daily” to “Weekly” for people I rarely (or never) hear from.
- And turning off notifications for people who’ve decided I no longer live in their universe.
Corrections needed: If you’ve been un-subscribed (un-followed, or un-deaded) dear freind, please let me know—because I didn’t do it (WordPress did 😣). And if you’ve been wrongly “downgraded” or cut-off, please forgive me and set me straight! The bullet-pointed action plan above depends on my far-less-than-perfect memory.
Plus, if your blog site is titled Dave’s Dark World of Death Metal, I may not realize you’re actually the blogger named Silly Sally (with a profile picture of Hello Kitty) who regularly visits me!
Love,
Starla the Fairy Princess
(a.k.a. Mitch Teemley)
Thanks for the information, much appreciated
Mitch, you definitely still live in MY universe and vice versa, I hope. Love your posts!
Bless you, Caroll.
Four words: AI sucks rancid FL canal water. Ok, so I can’t count…..
;>)
Thanks for the heads up, Starla.
Odd… that was not supposed to be anonymous. Oh WordPress, you’ve done it again…
;>)
Oh yes, I have been plagued by WordPress woes for decades now. You are not alone. 🙂
I’m part of that club too.
🧡
The Spherical Harmonics of the cyberworld are far more complex than mere mortals can apprehend, but we all wish you the best in this endless challenge :).
🧡
Love your posts and look forward to them!
Likewise, Francisco.
I’m new to the WP and Jetpack community so any info I can get about walking freely about the cabin is appreciated! I’m glad I’m here and following you!
Delighted to have connected with you, Kiki!
This post contains perfect nuggets of truth and fun(ny side up)… golden too! 🙂
Thank you, Nicole!
Now I’m wondering where I fall on your radar? 🤣 It always makes me happy to see your “likes”, and now I feel even more amazed that you find the time to visit so many
sites. You should be applauded. 👏👏👏
Bless you, Debi. You’re definitely on my radar.
I’m still current.
🧡
Lol! Some days (most days) I feel like I can’t handle all this! 🤯
Hey, Starla! The WordPress Universe is LIT now that you’ve decided to restore some cosmic balance. Did you know? Your humor is much appreciated amidst all turmoil.
;>) 🧡
Your posts have become part of my daily read. Enjoyable and necessary.
Thank you so much, Ezekiel.
Algorithms make me crazy, Mitch. Just because someone doesn’t interact with every post of people they follow doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve lost interest. This AI world we’re being forced to live in is becoming more annoying by the day.
Yep, and this is just the teeny-weeny tip of the A-Iceberg, Terry!
Unfortunately that’s so very true, Mitch.
Prudent
I’m glad you mentioned the WordPress glitches as I’ve noticed them, too. I do enjoy reading your posts and the pics you find to post are truly amazing. I’ve wonder where you manage to find all of them. Your creativity is inspiring!
Aw, thank you, Sara.
Technology can be so frustrating! As a fellow blogger who never posts anymore but hope to someday get back to it, and as a Cincinnati native who moved away in 1980, I always feel somewhat of a connection to you and still read your posts frequently. Will be happy to stay on your active list!
Bless you, Julie❣
WordPress, gotta love it, right Mitch. Hang in there.
Thanks, Brian❣
I wasn’t aware of all the in’s and out’s of subscribing to somethingorother, but iyour information now leaves me in a quandry. Where will I find time to rate my coffee shop, doctor’s visit, or phone call with someone in Indonesia about my internet service?
;>)
Hmm, interesting.
I only subscribe to about 40 blogs, otherwise I just get overloaded with stuff to read.
Totally understand this, Starla. WordPress can make it so hard to keep balance between staying connected and staying sane. Your system sounds really smart, and I’m sure your blogging friends know you still value them—even if you can’t read everything. 💛
Thanks for being so supportive, John❣
🎉👏
hoping i made the cut! <3
;>) You did, Ren.
<3
Wow. Thats crazy. Thanks for the heads up, Mitch. I will need to check this out for my blog and subscriber list. Blessings. 🙏
Thanks, Rainer❣
I make “lists” of blogs on reader. It allows me to quickly see the most recent post from the blogs I’ve added to that list. You can make multiple different list too.
I’ll have to take a closer look at that option, Sarah.
Sounds like you’ve worked out a system – well done ….
Tryin anyway. Thanks, Marie.
I can’t handle the endless emails about posts so I just use my reader and hope that I am not missing anyone.
For almost two decades I have LOVED WordPress and told countless people who might want to blog about it. Now, not so much. They aren’t very kindhearted any more. They threaten me every so often because I have a free blog and they want me to pay them money. I have deleted long-ago posts, trying to free up more space. I hope to continue to hang in there.
Sad that you’ve had to see that change take place, DK.
That is good to know. Subscriptions have been funny lately. I hardly ever use the reader so I need to be following by email. For example, I see your posts by email. I should say that I follow fewer people than you so I don’t get a thousand emails. However, some of them disappeared even though they keep posting. Their posts don’t send out emails. I have to find an old comment or post and click on it to see if they posted anything new.
You’re hilarious, and I’m empathetic with you being buried in emails!
Hope what you’re doing helps with the overwhelm.
Blessings!
Thank you, Anne❣
You have really been through it with Word Press. I still read your stuff, but lately I have not due to life, travel, and who knows what! I like reading your posts, but it’s okay with me if you don’t get notified about my comments right away. As a blogger myself, it’s nice to engage but there’s only so much time in a day.
Very true, Bonnie.
I don’t have anywhere near as many readers as you do, and I can feel overwhelmed by the number of WordPress emails I get. I hope this works for you.
Thanks, Lynn.
this happened to me as well, and it try to read through my reader now to read them instead and that really helps!
Good!
What a nuisance you’ve had to deal with, Mitch! I pray your new system works. NO one needs the stress of a 1000+ emails a day!
Thanks, Nancy❣
Now I know to just use email notification as a main source for notifications, Thanks
Hope that works for you, Quantez.
I am glad you posted this. I don’t get nearly the email notifications you get, but I get enough. Keeping up is a project all by itself. It is hard to read everything and give sincere and honest feedback, though I try. I have resolved that the only constant is change and I’ll try to keep up. Don’t hold it against me if I get backlogged. Thanks, Mitch.
Bless you, San!
Ugh… email notifications? I only follow 30-some people and even that would be too many msgs for me. I disabled email notifications and added a filter to my email for the random times that wp “forgets” settings. I use the wp reader on my phone and what I miss, I miss. Bless you for trying to keep up!!!
I totally get why you’re doing that, Leenda. And thanks!
Additionally, lately, I’m having a lot of days where I can’t deal with much more than scanning pictures.
Mitch, good to hear you have a solution. Many of the blogs I was subscribed to disappeared as did people scribed to my blog. Hopefully, it will get better. AI does not replace humans. Blessings, Hazel
It certainly doesn’t. Blessings to you too, Hazel. Nice to hear from you.
😊
My compliments for perservering, Mitch. 🙂
Thanks, Nancy.
Wish the WP subscription system was more graceful.
Indeed, Danny.
Lulu: “Our Dada is so old school, he still uses RSS feeds to get notified of posts from all the blogs we follow!”
Java Bean: “Ayyy, what does ‘RSS’ mean?”
Lulu: “Retro Stone-age Subscriptions, I think …”
;>)
I still read your blog regularly, Mitch. You’re a great story teller who inspires me to be a better one.
Bless you, David❣
Oh my, I can’t handle having all email notifications! You must be way more organized than I am!
I like to pretend I am, Lisa.
Golly, what a messy mess, Mitch! I like your “a lot of A, and not much I” 🤣
;>)
And I thought my inbox was out of control! It’s a pest, isn’t it? The notification changes should hopefully make your life much easier.
Thousands of emails a day are too much ( for me), so I turned off email notifications. I face a glitch on WordPress, too, like I can’t subscribe to any blog first. I don’t know how to fix. A lot to learn here. Honest post, Mitch.
Sorry to hear that, Hazel. Alas, who can know the mind of WordPress. I doubt even the creators of WordPress do.
I’ve had the same issue. The WordPress AI is on my computers and my phone (but somehow don’t communicate with each other. When I switch between them, subscribers are added (that I blocked), or some are missing that have subscribed. I stopped subscribing via email because it floods my inbox too much. Hope all is well.
Thanks, and likewise, Tansy.
Or, you could be like me and be totally uninteresting. I think I have maybe a dozen or so followers, and half of those (I’m convinced) are either attempting to infect my computer with malware, or figure out a way to access my online banking. 😂
;>)
I’ve been meaning to do the same. I can understand exactly where you are coming from in this!
Have a great day
You too, Kimberly!
I think they just hate you!
But I’m so lovable, Martha. ;>)