The Day I Thought WordPress Hated Me

Posted byFractured Faith BlogPosted inA Fractured FaithTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My WordPress app has been ‘playing up’ of late. That’s the technical term I believe. As a result, I didn’t receive any notifications for almost a week. So if you’re reading this wondering why I haven’t replied to you then, I’m very sorry, but that’s the reason. I spent yesterday evening getting caught up on them so hopefully normal service has been resumed. Or as normal as this blog will ever be given its author. But it got me thinking…

Initially I thought it was just a quiet day. Then I began to worry. Had my last, seemingly inoffensive post, annoyed the WordPress community? Had an e-mail went out advising my fellow bloggers to turn their collective backs on the Northern Irish fool who had finally gone too far and overstepped his mark? I was being shunned, sent to Coventry, taught a lesson I wouldn’t forget in a hurry. It wasn’t a pleasant experience as the hours dragged into days.

Thankfully, after deleting and downloading the app from my phone, the notifications reappeared. Hallelujah! I wasn’t a social media pariah after all. My needy nature was satiated and I clambered down from 40,000 feet. Anxiety levels lowered and my resignation memo was hastily shoved in the bottom drawer. It did remind me, however, how futile writing is without the interaction with those kind enough to read my ramblings and take the time to reply.

Feedback is like oxygen to writers which is why I always take time to reply to every comment I receive. There’s nothing as disheartening as receiving 30 likes in 30 seconds from some random blogger who obviously hasn’t read a word of your work. I value those who reach out to me after reading one of my blogs, books or tweets. We are a community and that requires communication, a two way street in these strange, lonely times. Let us never forget that.

Published by Fractured Faith Blog

We are Stephen and Fionnuala and this is our story. We live in Northern Ireland, have been married for 17 years and have three kids - Adam, Hannah and Rebecca. We hope that our story will inspire and encourage others. We have walked a rocky road yet here we are today, together and stronger than ever. We are far from perfect and our faith has been battered and bruised. But an untested faith is a pointless faith. Just as a fractured faith is better than none at all. We hope you enjoy the blog.

49 thoughts on “The Day I Thought WordPress Hated Me”

  1. Oh man I can only imagine that moment 9f heartbreak. We quickly stop realizing how essential a stream of loves and recognition can become until it stops. It’s an addiction, truly.
    Glad you’re back getting your doses though 😆

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  2. Interesting that you seem to use your phone for WordPress. I’m a laptop man myself. Also, I’m not sure if it’s WordPress etiquette or not but, I tend to look at replies to any comments that I make when the blogger Likes my comment. It’s a trigger to go and look (with a helpful link too). If you have commented on 3 or 4 posts in quick succession it’s difficult to remember which posts you commented on. (Could be an age thing!) So when people Comment on my posts, like you, I always reply and I’m in the habit of immediately hitting the Like too. It’s just another click and prompts the person to see what you’ve said. (Otherwise your reply may never be seen). Anyway, just a thought.

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  3. I agree. I am way too attached to interaction with my readers to not answer. I have WordPress both on my laptop and phone. I have found that I need to check my comments on my laptop as well as my phone because I have found many that have not shown up on my phone app. I’m not sure why this is but I try to check via my laptop atleast once a week.
    Thanks for sharing your neediness! Cheers!

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  4. For me, when I see a comment left, it means that for what ever reason, something I shared, touched someone enough they felt the desire to respond. It is an encouragement to me, to continue writing. For me, it shows that someone out there, is actually reading my efforts at communication, and yes, it does feel good.

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  6. Oof, I feel you on this. My writing blog has a good number of views, but no likes or comments so far. I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed the likes until there were none.

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  7. Thank you for the reminder. I’m often so busy that I hit “like” with every intention of responding later. “Later” rarely comes around. Please know that I’m a well-intentioned failure lately when it comes to comments. Please know that you’re read through and through before the like button ever gets hit. I appreciate the questions and thoughts you inspire with your blog. Keep up the good work.

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  8. Stephen! You are a source of great comfort to me – even though we have never met. I have been going through a difficult personal time the last week or so and realized the more time I spent on Facebook the more I felt depressed, less than, and sad… So today marks day four of my abstinence from the book of Face. I have noticed a change in my days already – I am not wondering if someone will like the photo I just posted or be moved by my thoughts for the day – instead, I have been occupied with reading blogs such as yours, long-form articles, and getting other things done – lots of other things done!!! Alas, my Facebook postings tend to focus on the moments of life I capture with my camera and my written posts contain posits of encouragement to others or self-deprecation as I trip gracefully through this adventure of life. It has never been for me a place to document every moment of my life – because -well my life is not worthy of documenting – or so I thought. I miss connecting with people that way and was encouraged by a friend who reached out to me and said my contributions were missed – already! Funny how we depend on others to validate our reason for being. Facebook has been great at reminding me of late of what once was, what I am missing, and what I will never have. It can be a great source of connection but also a perverse perspective on one’s self-worth especially when you are quick to compare the happiness displayed in the lives of others (seeming happiness) to the pitiful mess of your own. I need to be okay with who I am before I get sucked into doom scrolling again – hoping for a connection that can never be found there.
    You do a wonderful job of expressing what I want to say but often can’t. Thank you for inspiring me to work on that. Thank you for keeping on keeping on!! Thank you for writing and for being real. Especially when the rest of the world seems so out of step with what we who struggle inside ourselves see.
    God bless your wondering and writing.
    Erika

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  9. The people who like every single post, but obviously haven’t read anything are super annoying :/ There are three blogs in particular that like just about everything I post and it just makes me roll my eyes every time.
    Which….that’s a dangerous strategy when it comes to my blog. I write some controversial content. I voted for Trump, I defend incels, and I’m critical of the #MeToo movement. Like….I know some people in this community hold similar views to me. But…..probably people should read my posts before liking just to make sure they’re on the same page as me. People out here throwing around likes assuming I’m writing some innocous content and that just isn’t the case.
    Eh, the deserve it if they end up getting canceled whenever I’m inevitably canceled.

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  14. Absolutely! I am so glad you were able to figure out the bug and fix it! As much as we love our readers, it helps to remember why you started writing in the first place. Never be afraid to write for yourself as well. ❤

    -Jaymie

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  15. You’re such a beacon in this community. Most times as writers who are still finding their bearings in this app, having bliggers like you being receptive and active is a blessing. God bless you

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  17. My app just isn’t working at all – doesn’t refresh feed, skips blogs I follow and also in notifications nothing. I have to log on to my laptop to see comments etc. Very frustrating.

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  19. We writers do crave readers, and what a hollow feeling to send words out and not hear anything in return. I treasure the rare comments I do get and, like you, try to respond as soon as I can. I enjoy your writings very much — thanks for sharing them. 🙂
    C.V.

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  22. Amen to that. Writing has been a way for me to share emotion I wouldn’t otherwise know how to. And when people read and express their thoughts and opinions, in agreement or disagreement of points I’ve made, it creates connection. We humans are social creatures and reading and writing is such a beautiful way to share that, especially in this changing world right now. Thank you for sharing Stephen. ❤

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