I love followers. I love to hear the roar of adulation, as my readers hang breathless on every word, waiting for the next pearl of wisdom to drop from my mouth…
Well, we all know that’s a load of camel ejecta,
but I do enjoy knowing that there are folks who like to read what I write. So it always puts a smile on my face when I see that someone has followed my blog. However, the smiles can turn to tears when I see that it’s just another follower who added himself or herself via an automated bot[1], as I discussed here and here.
If you’re a blogger, don’t do this. If you follow my blog and it’s clear that you’re doing it for only one purpose – to increase your own rankings – I will report your blog as spam, and it will most likely be deleted. On the other hand, if you really like what I have to say, feel free to hang around… and tell your friends. I could always use a bit more applause.
Edit: I now have over 1,000 followers. I wish all of these were real, but I’m grateful for the good people who stop in to read and enjoy.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
[1] An example is bloggerautofollow.com. Programs like this are scum. Don’t use them.
Playing in the World Game 
Fair enough. I didn’t even know there were auto follow-bots. Can they automate liking as well? (I have a few suspected automated likers) My pet peev is when people follow you and it’s clear they’re only doing it to get you to follow them. It’s so cold. There’s no humanity in that, is there?
None at all. I’m not sure about automated “likes,” but the technology is certainly there, and it wouldn’t surprise me. If someone leaves a relevant comment at one of my posts (like you!)
I can be pretty sure it’s someone who’s reading.
Yes, I am a real girl I promise, haha.
Thanks for the info. Have been having increased followers as well, which appear to be ‘bots’, both follow and likes.
thanks old wolf, i got the foundation grant e mail today. so it means nothing eh,?
many the good wolf win.
from the careful squirrel
Note: This comment was in response to the Robertson Foundation Grant Scam
I am amazed by the way you are sharing your photos I remember how
down town was so much fun
A friend of mine was talking about how much
down town salt lake was
we were doing the remember how and what was on 300 so.Main street to state st. How ironic is that.
love your picture’s don’t stop giving me the opportunity to see your messages.
with Natalie Herrera
slc Utah
I’m glad you are enjoying them!
Hi Mr. Wolf:
I learned of your blog via a friend who knew that you check out your sources.
He sent me a link to your remarkable brass teapot post of a few years ago. The actual origins are a mystery.
I write a blog about Jerusalem. I have been studying Arabic, and also your “Simple People” prints reminded me of street scenes even today.
1) May I share these 2 posts with my readers? My blog is called savyatseventy.
I also hate when I see my illustrations picked off my blog. Don’t you publish photos that are not your own?
2) looked further and you are adamant about not sharing photos even when they are linked to your blog. Or did I misread you?
3) LASTLY, about “Meatless Tuesdays”. Was your youth spent in NYC? Did you realize that kosher deli’s closed on Tuesday to support the war effort? and also because of the short supply of meat period. By closing,it appears that less Jewish workers in the industry would be laid off. From those days meatless tuesdays, until today that practice is still followed. Of-course the 1,000 kosher deli’s have dwindled to a handful today.
All the best,
Ida Farkash Jerusalem chavaida@gmail.com
I will sometimes publish photos that are not my own, for example, from shorpy.com, but always try to link back to the original source. Anything you find here can be shared freely – just mention where it came from, either my blog or the original location.
You are welcome to re-blog the two articles you mentioned, I’m glad you liked them.
Yes, I grew up in NYC – I wasn’t aware that Tuesday closings were related to meatless Tuesday, but I lament the loss of so many kosher delis.
Thanks for your comments!
I didn’t know there was any such thing as auto follow bots, either. How do you spot them? I’ve had a couple of followers where I haven’t been able to click through to their blog – is that them?
I am very new to blogging, and also struggle for energy and concentration, so my tiny new blog is currently on hold til I can do it justice. I only managed a few weeks before I was just too knackered to keep up reading everything I’m supposedly following, as well as writing my stuff. I’m rarely on here now, but I stumbled on this blog while I was Googling something I suspected was a scam – which it was.
Great concept for a really helpful blog! If only the rest of mankind were as helpful, eh?
L. X
The deluge of automatic followers appears to have abated somewhat. I haven’t seen many recently. It’s pretty easy to spot someone who is following you to try to get backlinks to their own blog, especially if it’s in another language, or unrelated to your content. The fact that I reported hundreds of them to WordPress may have helped encourage WP to upgrade their algorithms.
Good luck on your own blogging!
Thanks 🙂
Am taking an enforced break, for now. I hope to do an Arnie and be back at some point.
L. X
I came in contact with the enchanted besig coins. I heard a voice saying,Look it up. I did. I knew something looked and felt strange. I cut it up.I said a prayer . I am glad i am a saved and born again. Be aware of St.Matthrew Churches. Now i know why they ask for money all the time. God knows a perdon hesrt. Watch out .The closing. WE PUT MANY THINGS ON CREDIT CARDS.
How do I follow your blog?
I think it is done below the comment box. There should be a checkbox that says “notify me of new posts via email.”
Hello, Old Wolf. I come here once more to seek your sage advice.
I know that the commercial scum followers should be treated like the plague and reported. But how about those foreigners who speak nary a single lick of English? I’ve had several of these for some time now, and calling them out is a fool’s errand — comparable to playing chess with a parrot.
As of writing, I’ve had Spaniards, Brazilians and the occasional Frenchman coming over. Have you had the same experience, and how do you deal with them.
Very much appreciate your advice. Thank you!
It’s a good point. I generally just delete them as followers. Some of them use “follow-bots” and pop right up again, but I just clean them out again periodically.
Again, thank you very much for your take!
Happy to help!
Pingback: 320 – On A 2022 First Quarter Update, Part 3: Tweaks And Thoughts | The Monching's Guide