What’s Up, WordPress?

Posted on June 16, 2023 by mitchteemley

Beth & MishaDear WordPress, My heart is hurting right now. My tribute to our beloved little cat who died this week has had less than half the viewing numbers of my average post. I’m sure it’s not personal. Still, it hurts. And, no, I don’t think it’s a message from viewers that they consider a fond farewell to a beloved pet unworthy of their time — those who did read the post have written kind and moving responses.

Instead, I suspect my heartfelt eulogy just happened to coincide with WordPress’s growing push toward profit-producing policies. Why do I think this? Because every time I check my stats now, the page pulses with offers to boost my numbers — which I suspect means, in part, to pay to be read by my own followers (excuse me, “subscribers”). Please correct me if I am wrong.

This blog site is a gift to my readers, no strings attached. I post, therefore I am ;>) and simply because it brings me pleasure to do so. I don’t make money from these posts and I don’t charge anyone to read them.

Why should you?

About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
This entry was posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

123 Responses to What’s Up, WordPress?

  1. Paula Light says:
    June 16, 2023 at 10:43 am

    I’m so sorry about your kitty. RIP sweet girl. I did not get that post in my reader (though I just replied to it now). It’s so EXASPERATING. I don’t want to request posts by mail, but maybe that will end up being the only option in order to make sure we receive everything. I too have never charged for views and never will. Those “tip jars” annoy me so much. Leave a tip? For reading your post? Heck, go buy me a coffee then… lots of cream, thx!

    Reply
  2. Vernon Miles Kerr says:
    June 16, 2023 at 10:46 am

    Hmm, it was a blank page. I was getting the same result on some of my WP posts. WP.com said they fixed it. Regards, Vern

    Reply
  3. Bruce Cooper says:
    June 16, 2023 at 10:54 am

    Sorry to hear of the loss of your cherished family pet, Mitch. God’s creatures do worm their way into our hearts and rightly so. I applaud you for remaining free of charge, and you’re right, it has nothing to do with financial gain and again, rightly so. Blessings!

    Reply
  4. Lesley says:
    June 16, 2023 at 10:55 am

    I either missed it, Mitch, or didn’t receive that post at all. I would have definitely responded to something as important concerning an animal. I’m going to see if I can find the post.

    Reply
  5. Badfinger (Max) says:
    June 16, 2023 at 10:57 am

    It didn’t come up in my reader…and neither did some of others I usually read….I’m sorry for your loss… they are part of the family.

    Reply
  6. Solitaire says:
    June 16, 2023 at 10:59 am

    I’m so sorry I know your pain too, mine passed 2 years ago she was 22!💕😻

    Reply
  7. VJ says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:02 am

    So sorry. I did not see your post in my reader. Feeling a bit lost in space

    Reply
  8. Lesley says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:05 am

    I did find it in my reader, Mitch. I apologise for having missed that. I left a comment on your post.

    Reply
  9. Frank Richard Coats says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:08 am

    Mitch, it’s a beautiful post. I’ll confess I didn’t read it because we recently lost our 11 year Abigayle, and the pain is still fresh. I’m sorry for your loss, brother, for you and your family.

    Reply
  10. bersinink says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:10 am

    I’m so sorry. I know too well how hard it is when they leave us. It’s never enough time. Thank you for giving her such a beautiful life. 💔💞

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:11 am

    I am sorry for your loss. It’s heart breaking when we lose our fur babies. I did not receive it. I don’t pay any attention to the stats and numbers though. You can’t. It will just drive you crazy. Write for you, and the rest will follow.

    Reply
  12. Antique Works says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:21 am

    I see your point Mitch and I
    Understand.
    Recently I learned a few sentences from Joyce Meyer that has helped me. Perhaps it will help you too. It goes like this; You know what God, I have this problem and I don’t know what to do about it. Show me if I need to do something. If you don’t show me anything I’m not going to get into the works of the flesh and try to fix something that I don’t know how to fix. Instead I’m going to enjoy my life while you work on the problem. Amen

    Reply
  13. Mellow Curmudgeon says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:27 am

    Sometimes a post from a blog that I follow is SLOW to appear in Reader.  I get an e-mail notification, but later posts from other blogs accumulate in Reader and make it hard to find the post that was slow to appear.  That happened to me with your memorial to Misha; it may have happened to other followers of this blog.

    Thanks to the e-mail notification, I was able to read the original post despite Reader’s fumble.  I put the finishing touches on my own comment there earlier today.  The current post did show up promptly in Reader, so maybe it’s more a matter of shaky program design than greed.

    Reply
  14. Jeff Cann says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:28 am

    I think many of us have a love/hate relationship with wordpress. It’s understandable. They are the business end of what is (in part) an art platform. As the finance director for nonprofits, I have dealt with something like this frequently. Those employees delivering our mission don’t want to hear about the financial constraints. They say it’s not about the money. But it’s always about the money (at least in part). I want WP to earn enough money to remain financially viable but I also want them to realize that few bloggers are going to remain on the platform if there is a significant expense. I saw some message traffic recently regarding free sites (xyz.wordpress.com) that led me to believe they were going to ultimately expel the bloggers who aren’t paying an annual fee. I’d rather see them mildly bolster advertising than kick people off the platform.

    Reply
    • Jeff Cann says:
      June 16, 2023 at 11:30 am

      PS, so sorry about your cat. Mine mean the world to me.

      Reply
      • mitchteemley says:
        June 16, 2023 at 12:09 pm

        Thank you, Jeff. The common progression these day seems to be, 1) Establish a free site or service, and then, 2) When it gets popular establish an upgraded version for a fee, and finally, 3) Gradually reduce the features of the free version while adding them to the paid version.

        Reply
        • Jeff Cann says:
          June 16, 2023 at 12:13 pm

          Tried and true. Twitter, Facebook, everyone else.

          Reply
          • rwfrohlich says:
            June 16, 2023 at 12:50 pm

            I quit Twitter because….eel, you know. I quit Facebook because it was toxic and invasive. I pay for my WP site so that I can offer my thoughts without charge. I pray they don’t gum up the works here, because I’d really miss my online friends and the chance to share faith and life with them.

            Reply
  15. joyroses13 says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:29 am

    Aww on your kitty. So sorry Mitch! Our pets leave a pawprint forever on our hearts! Animals wonderful gift from God. ❤

    As for WP I echo your frustration! Have noticed the same thing. And I agree about never charging my readers a fee! Instead I hope to fill up their “bank” with deposits of joy and happiness, which is what you do so well. 🙂

    Reply
  16. G.W. says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:34 am

    I have noticed the very same thing from WP. Stats down, pressure to pay increasing.

    Reply
  17. Victoria says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:37 am

    Interesting — I wonder if you’re on to something. But regarding your original post about your loss, I just saw it this morning. Might be that I’m behind in my reading. Sending hugs to you and Trudy, just the same. 💕

    Reply
  18. thevercellonobridge says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:37 am

    I am sorry for your loss, Mitch. Pets are definitely members of the family. I like the mention of the WordPress stat machine, though. I have resolved that I will write to share because I want to. Art is expressive of what we have to give. Everything has become so monetized. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  19. Glenn Riffey says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:37 am

    Mitch,

    Sorry to hear about your loss. I do know how you feel. Our Molly had cancer and we kept her comfortable while the end came. I was sitting on the floor with her and was petting her lightly on her head. She looked up at me, gave one sigh and, with eyes open looking at me, breathed her last. I am in my 70’s and I cried like a baby. We buried her out back in our little pet cemetery where our boarder collie – Baby – is buried.

    Yes, it hurts.

    As for WordPress and Jetpack, I am with you. Stay the course and have faith in God as to what happens next…

    Glenn

    Reply
  20. oddmanout215 says:
    June 16, 2023 at 11:40 am

    I read your post and was moved. It’s been a while since my cat died but I still miss him. Love hurts… As for WordPress, I share your concern. I often wonder what happens to the many “subscribers” who follow my blog then abruptly disappear. Either my blog really sucks, or someone is screwing with its distribution. I get the same constant offers from WP to “boost” my readership.

    Reply
    • mitchteemley says:
      June 16, 2023 at 1:16 pm

      Thank you, David. And, yes, that seems to be the pattern with sites that start as freebies, then gradually increase the pressure to convert to the “upgraded” version.

      Reply
  21. Jonathan Caswell says:
    June 16, 2023 at 12:16 pm

    I ‘M SORRY YOUR KITTY DIDN’T SCORE—SOMETIMES IT’S JUST THE DAY OF THE WEEK…? I DO PAY A NOMINAL FEE TO RENT MY DOMAIN, BUT AIN’T GONNA CHARGE ANYONE FOR IT, EITHER. SORRY ABOUT YOUR FOUR-FOOTED FAMILY MEMBER—MY CONDOLENCES!

    Reply
  22. dkzody says:
    June 16, 2023 at 12:28 pm

    I, too, post, therefore I am. I’m not paying nor am I charging; I’m just writing and reading. Condolences on the loss of your kitty. Being a cat person, and losing many over the years, I feel your pain.

    Reply
  23. Vera Day says:
    June 16, 2023 at 12:31 pm

    Well said, Mitch!

    Reply
  24. atimetoshare.me says:
    June 16, 2023 at 12:35 pm

    So sorry for your loss. Our pets become family members and it’s hard to lose them. I’m not writing my blog for financial gain either. I do this mainly for myself as a journal. If my words can inspire or encourage someone, or give them hope through Christ, that’s just a bonus.

    Reply
  25. Jeanne Casey says:
    June 16, 2023 at 12:36 pm

    Mitch….I just read your post about Misha. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to you and Trudy. While we have never had cats, in our married life and raising children we have had 4 long-lived dogs. When they leave us it is a crushing hurt because we treat them like one of the family – another child. We went a long time without a dog, telling ourselves we would be content with granddogs and great-granddogs. But along came Covid and we decided that after 20+ years of not having a dog, we would rescue one. We hit the jackpot and 6yr old Greta came into our lives. I went looking for a dog that was not over 30#, loved car rides, and did not shed. Well, Greta is 50#, hates car rides, and sheds like crazy. BUT, she looked at me and her eyes said “please take me”. What a blessing she has been, especially to my husband who has Alzheimers. I believe God put her in front of me.

    Reply
  26. Steve Beckham says:
    June 16, 2023 at 1:03 pm

    Mitch, I’m so sorry that your dear Misha has gone ahead on the journey. May her memory be a blessing. God speaks to us in so very many ways, but sometimes most directly in our animal companions. Embrace the little visits of her spirit. They are a reminder that love flows outward.

    Reply
  27. babsje says:
    June 16, 2023 at 1:14 pm

    I do not recall even seeing your post about your cat, sorry about that. It was a lovely and loving tribute – my condolences to you and all who loved your dear sweet kitty.

    I am unwell, myself, and can barely keep up with comments on my own blog. Also there have been many posts in WordPress the past few days about death – of dear pets and also a beloved human blogger. So people’s attention has been distracted. Lastly, I have found over time that it takes 3 days or so for followers to get caught up on the blogs they follow, so perhaps give people another couple of days? Again, I am sorry for your loss. May happy memories of her be a blessing.

    Reply
  28. Norman Peterson says:
    June 16, 2023 at 1:23 pm

    One of my favorite quotes from Cervantes. I think, therefore I am. I also like the one about his mind. Why do I think about God? Where does that idea come from?
    All found in his Meditations.

    Reply
    • mitchteemley says:
      June 16, 2023 at 1:30 pm

      “Cogito ergo sum – I think, therefore I am” was Descarte’s “first principal” published in several of his books. And, yes, a version of it was included his ‘Meditations.’

      Reply
  29. southernhon1 says:
    June 16, 2023 at 1:37 pm

    I’m sorry to hear this. I had not heard of any changes made by WordPress and now I will have to find out what’s going on. If WordPress starts charging people to read blogs, I’m out of here. I recently discovered Substack and while there is a lot of great content there, I feel hoodwinked. Just the other day I commented on a blog post that I really liked. I went back to the site today and found out that all of the blog posts that sounded interesting were for paid subscribers only.
    Anyway, sorry for that rant. I am truly sorry about your cat. My husband and I went through that in 2020 and our other kitty has a chronic illness that is always in the back of my mind.
    Have a good weekend!

    Reply
  30. Piano girl says:
    June 16, 2023 at 1:44 pm

    I’m sorry about Misha. Looks like she was loved well. Hugs 💛

    Reply
  31. TERESA DOVALPAGE says:
    June 16, 2023 at 1:48 pm

    I am sorry about your cat. Pets are family, indeed!

    Reply
  32. Sherrey Meyer says:
    June 16, 2023 at 1:55 pm

    Mitch, I’m so sorry for your loss. We currently have two kitties, the older of them is now 14 and we’ve had her since she was 10 months old. The thought of losing her brings tears to my eyes. I’m sure your kitty was just like a member of the family.

    With regards to WordPress, I received my usual email notification and admit that I often get behind on reading. I did leave a “like” to your post, which now seems rather crude for the loss of your pet. However, I wanted you to know that things worked for me as always. Otherwise, I stand with you on everything you shared in your post. I only do my posting because I love writing. I may have been away for several months now (almost a year) and as I prepare to go back it will still be free to my readers, whether 10 or 100.

    Reply
  33. barefootlilylady says:
    June 16, 2023 at 2:22 pm

    I received notification as per usual, but I do share your feelings related to having to pay in order to get readers. I am growing weary of constantly being asked if I want to “boost” a post, and confess I have struggled with “Jetpack” and don’t understand how it is an improvement. I don’t seem to get much traction when it comes to gaining followers, but will just keep on writing for that one person who might need encouragement or a bit of garden beauty in their day. I do enjoy your posts, Mitch.

    Reply
  34. Krista says:
    June 16, 2023 at 2:29 pm

    Sorry for your loss ⚘ Never saw the post 😒

    Reply
  35. Mike and Kellye Hefner says:
    June 16, 2023 at 2:46 pm

    Well said, my friend.

    Reply
  36. Sarah Angleton says:
    June 16, 2023 at 3:00 pm

    I’m sorry about your kitty. I did not see the original post, but I’ve said goodbye to a beloved pet and know it’s hard. I also appreciate your blog. I too blog for no money, pretty much just for the joy of it.

    Reply
  38. robstroud says:
    June 16, 2023 at 7:23 pm

    Can’t speak for others, my friend, but I didn’t get to my mail account at all yesterday. Left a comment on the original post sharing that I know your grief. Praying for you and your family.

    Reply
  39. Tim Harlow says:
    June 16, 2023 at 8:24 pm

    Very sorry to hear, Mitch. Losing a furry buddy is horrible. They really leave a big hole in our hearts. Wishing you the best. ❤️

    Reply
  40. murisopsis says:
    June 16, 2023 at 10:13 pm

    I refuse to pay to blog and definitely won’t pay to read a blog… I still maintain that the introduction of the Block Editor was a push so that it was easier to insert ads!

    Reply
  41. trE says:
    June 16, 2023 at 10:39 pm

    Ok, no! I’m sorry to learn about your cat, Mitch! My sincerest condolences! 🥺😟😢. I don’t recall seeing a post about it before. WordPress is doing some weird stuff and I don’t know what else to do about all the changes except shake my head.

    I’m sending big hugs your way for peace and strength and healing.

    Reply
  42. Uncoffined says:
    June 17, 2023 at 4:42 am

    I didn’t see the post until you alerted me to it, even though I follow your blog via wordpress. I’m sorry to hear about your loss. It was obvious it was a lovely cat.

    Reply
  43. Discover and Explore says:
    June 17, 2023 at 5:59 am

    Oh so sorry about losing your cat. We lost two cats over the past 15 years and it’s certainly not fun. PS; I don’t remember seeing your cat post.

    Reply
  44. johnsommersflanagan says:
    June 17, 2023 at 10:56 am

    Hi Mitch, I’m very sorry to hear of the loss of your cat. I’m also sorry for your troubles with WordPress. I’ve had similar WordPress experiences — after over 10 years of blogging. I wish for you more time savoring the good memories of your kitty than experiencing the frustration of WordPress. . . although I know both are natural. All my best, John SF

    Reply
  45. Nancy Ruegg says:
    June 17, 2023 at 4:06 pm

    This is the first I’ve heard about problems with WordPress. Very disappointing. With the 60 million bloggers they host, surely advertising and the fee many of us pay to post ad-free is enough to comfortably sustain their business. I wonder what their profit-margin is.

    Reply
  46. Scarlett says:
    June 17, 2023 at 9:05 pm

    I’m so sorry, Mitch. It’s always so hard to lose our furry friends. Hugs

    Reply
  47. craig lock says:
    June 18, 2023 at 11:45 am

    Reblogged this on Craig blogs at WordPress and commented:
    “This blog site is a gift to my readers, no strings attached. I post, therefore ‘I am’) and simply because it brings me pleasure to do so. I don’t make money from these posts and I don’t charge anyone to read them.”
    Nice thoughts and well expressed with the best of aims”, Mitch. Hope you get sorted out
    Best wishes
    “waking up v.early bird sleepyhead” (to get ready for Canadian Grand Prix)
    ‘Driven (“krazy” by passion) to uplift, encourage and (perhaps even) inspire’

    Reply
  48. Cindy Georgakas says:
    June 19, 2023 at 10:34 am

    Hi Mitch,
    I was on vacation and read this but was not responding at the time because if I respond to one, I respond to all. I’m so sorry about your loss of your beautiful kitty. She looks just like our Ollie who we adore. She was clearly was a gem and a well loved family member. What a gift for all of you. WP glitches…. I know well! ugh! ❤️

    Reply
  49. joni beaulieu says:
    June 19, 2023 at 5:53 pm

    Mitch, I’m so sorry for your loss. Somehow words don’t seem enought to provide condolences. Know you are not alone in your grief. Know that your beloved baby will send you a message that they are doing fine in kitty heaven. I truly believe heaven is the place where the first souls we see are our fur babies who have gone before us. Sending you virtual hugs and prayers.

    Reply
  50. The Oceanside Animals says:
    June 19, 2023 at 9:46 pm

    Charlee: “It’s all about the Benjamins, even when it shouldn’t be, am I right???”
    Oona: “If you need to engage the services of a ninja to deal with this, Oona is available!”
    Chaplin: “Available for what?”
    Oona: “NINJA STUFF!!!”

    Reply
  51. seekingdivineperspective says:
    June 19, 2023 at 11:35 pm

    Wait … what? Are some of our readers having to pay to read our posts, or …? Forgive my ignorance, maybe I’m not completely understanding how this blogging thing works…

    Reply
    • mitchteemley says:
      June 20, 2023 at 3:21 pm

      Annie, WordPress’s new JetPack Stats “Subscribers” page shows both Unpaid and Paid Subscribers. I’m not sure what that means exactly, but I visited a couple of blog sites recently and was blocked from seeing some of their posts because, it informed me, they were reserved for Paid Subscribers.

      Reply
  52. Dawn Minott says:
    June 22, 2023 at 9:53 pm

    Sorry about your pet kitty

    Reply
  53. Helen, Kinky With A Twist says:
    June 23, 2023 at 2:56 pm

    I’m so sorry to hear of your loss Mitch. I can’t relate completely, obviously, all cats are different, but we lost sweet little Nebo in a hit-and-run and the heart still calls out for her. That’s a pain that stays will you as it does for any pet – you can fill the void, but the edges are never quite the same.

    As for WordPress, I agree that they seem to be all about making money these days. I used to pay £27 a month for my business plan, and that was fine because £27 a month for my own writing space that could be read all over the world was, to me, not a lot of money. Now you can only get an annual plan that costs £300+ (I forget how much exactly) per year. It forces you to monetise in order to break even, or lode a huge sum if you don’t. I don’t charge for my advice or writings and never have done, but it’s yucky to have to constantly think about how best to cover my costs. I hope you continue to write, and I hope you can find peace with your loss soon.

    Reply
  54. davidprosser says:
    July 2, 2023 at 11:28 pm

    Sorry about your loss Mitch I’ve found recently that I’ve stopped receiving notifications of new posts from some blogs I follow on WordPress and have had to go in and re-follow them. The decision to stop me receiving new ones seems arbitrary but I agree is probably meant to encourage the reader to adopt a paid site or for the blogger to do so. Thiss eems to happen onthe same blogs time and again, often the most prolific bloggers are the ones I lose.It can take some time before I realise I am not receiving updates or bloggers to notice the lack of comments. The driving force is obviously from WordPress But they don’t acknowledge any fault or deliberate act for this.

    Reply
  55. authorstephanieparkermckean says:
    July 10, 2023 at 2:29 pm

    Your blog about Misha touched my heart – as I’m sure it did many more. Don’t second guess yourself. Just revel in the power and ability you possess to write! Not everyone can do it – especially not as well as you can.

    Reply

Leave a Reply