Getting Grumpy (OK Much Grumpier)

~ beetleypete

New followers, this message is for you.

Why does your blog have no posts?
Why do you follow me when you have posted nothing?
Why does your blog only have a WordPress ‘Example’ post?
Why are you following me at all?

I am grumpy tonight, and very fed up with supposedly ‘new followers’ who have nothing at all on their ‘supposed’ blogs.

So here’s an idea.

Don’t follow me.

And if you already have, unfollow me.

I promise you, I will not mind in the least.

Here’s a tip.

Before you follow anyone, WRITE SOME CONTENT ON YOUR OWN BLOG!

62 thoughts on “Getting Grumpy (OK Much Grumpier)”

  1. Actually, I understand. Some people are readers, not writers. They want to follow and read what others write. I can see why someone would want to read your serials and never post a blog.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. I volunteered at the elementary school last week to read to the children, just a chapter or two for a couple of classes. On the way home I felt happy, lighter? Can you read, or teach creative writing, pet care at a local school? It’s a mood elevator! Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I did volunteering for a few years, Cheryl. That included teaching cycling safety to kids at the school, and working in Fire Safety for the County Fire Service. I was also a guide at the local restored windmill.
      I did offer to help ‘remedial readers’ at the town library two days a week. They rejected my application, saying I was ‘Unfortunately a man too old to be around children under 14 on a one-to-one basis’.
      The implication that they suspected my motives were sexual really upset me.
      My volunteering days are over now, I believe.
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. I’m stunned they turned down your application to teach children who are struggling to read! What a loss for our children, our libraries, our world. You’ve done a ton of volunteering so you know the positive effect it has on our frame of mind. It’s pure sunshine! Sending my love, hoping your clouds give way to the sweet sun! C

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  7. I had never checked my follower number until I read this post. In theory I have over 300 followers but actually there are about a dozen I communicate with regularly.I read any comments new followers make but ignore the rest. I doubt if they continue to read after the first look. Funny thing, I am beginning to get likes for old posts. A like is not a conversation.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

      1. I am still getting my feet wet in the blogging world. I enjoy learning from the posts of those I follow, and the comments. I sometimes feel that I have nothing to say, that hasn’t already been said in comments by others. So I don’t comment. Conversation doesn’t come naturally for me, so I shy away, usually. Doesn’t mean your posts don’t enlighten, educate, or entertain me 😊

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

  8. Oh dear, Pete..some followers ahh… like you I always check …I won’t start on the spam that WP catches but I still have to check as I find regular commenters in there at times…sigh x

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Last night was not the best time for those ‘followers’ to irritate me, Carol. I was cold, had been soaked twice in torrential rain, and been backwards and forwards to town three times for different reasons. I sat down to enjoy some blogging time, and was confronted immediately by half a dozen ‘ghost-followers’, as well as three others who had deleted their blogs immediately after following me. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete. x

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. Hey Pete! One minor reason could be that they want to follow you but they can’t do it without having a WordPress account. I did that long back when one of my friends started her blog. I loved her writing but didn’t know how to follow her so I created a WP account. Two years later I wrote three posts and gave up. One year later, I restarted posting regularly.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Shaily. Anyone can follow by email without having a WP account. It is on the sidebar, just enter an email address, and hit ‘Subscribe’.
      I was in a bad mood last night! 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  13. I have had a few that have no content but if they comment I give them the benefit of the doubt in most cases….but I am with you if they follow just for something to do then I can live without them chuq

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  14. I don’t like the ones who obviously have no interest in my blog at all (never get a comment) and who are trying to market something or other, they follow in the hope you will follow back. Not happening.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    2. I follow blogs, read the posts, but rarley comment. That doesn’t mean I have no interest, or do not appreciate the blog and posts. I am, essentially, a shy person. Maybe some who follow your blog are the same, and for various reasons never comment, yet enjoy reading your blog?

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. Thanks, Kate. I have many readers who follow my blog and never comment. Many are not bloggers, and some follow by email. That’s fine. This post is more about blog followers who have blogs that contain no posts or other content, or sometimes recently ‘deleted blogs’. There is a strong suspicion in the blogging community that such people are spammers of some kind, trying to get ‘follow-back’, or ‘clicks’ on their site.
        Best wishes, Pete.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      2. Fair enough Kate, but maybe try making a comment occasionally, people are usually very happy to get a comment and will respond. You may be surprised at how many blogging friends you can make ☺️

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. Great advice, and I’m happy to receive it. 😀 Besides, one must step outside the comfort zone to experience what life has to offer.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

  15. I agree that in some cases they may genuinely wish to follow you so they can easily read your content in wordpress. Perhaps with the intention of eventually creating their own material or maybe not.

    I’ve gotten grumpy over new followers, who appear out of nowhere and ‘like’ a whole string of posts without reading them just to give their own blog visibility. I’ve gotten business followers like that and have removed them, but they come back and do they same thing. I’ve given up ‘managing’ followers.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I do a purge on my followers every now and then getting rid of the sales ones, but like you say they often come back (and yes vitamin.org or similar, I am looking at you) and it does take time to manage them. I also get rid of the me, me, me ones and the religious fanatics.

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply

        1. I don’t usually mind reblogs, as at least we are credited for those. But some photo bloggers I know have seen their photos copied, and appear on other blogs.
          Best wishes, Pete.

          Like

          Reply

    2. Always possible, Theo. In which case I don’t understand why they don’t just follow by email. But last night I just wasn’t in the mood for a lot of ‘blank bloggers’. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  17. Maybe they don’t want t be bloggers Pete and just follow you because they enjoy what you write. I don’t mind it as it’s less work for me if I don’t have to respond. You might just ignite a little interest in some for trying it themselves and your posts give them an idea. But not everyone needs their back scratching.
    Hugs

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

All comments welcome

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.