Calling All Readers: “Mature Blogs” CLOSURE

I have to start with another retraction, because it’s come to my attention that my avatar link is working again. Actually it was working all along, at least on comments I leave on other blogs.

In the forums is another story. That’s where I noticed it not working, and I assumed (yeah, I know) it was that way everywhere. When I saw it was working elsewhere I then started suspecting a “bug” but RainCoaster (WordPress forum helper) clairified the situation for me. It’s the not knowing already that really drives me nuts. GGRrrrr…

I was a happy blogger up until about a week or so ago. This has all been more trouble than it’s worth. I’ve had my feeling hurt along the way, been belittled, been aggravated (patted on the back too). I’ve been left wondering if my suggestions are getting to the right people. I’ll let you know if I hear anything back.

It’s been suggested that this has all been a ploy on my part to gain readers, but I was happier with the traffic I was getting on my original blog (Hate & Anger) before the “mature” status arose, than I am with the unrealistically inflated numbers brought on by this issue.

I’d much rather be writing my silly stories, jokes, and accounts of my life, but instead I’m writing this, because I feel I have to. Hopefully other than updates on the issue, this will be my last such post. Honestly, I might even take a break. This whole ordeal has me in a bit of a funk. I don’t know.

The following is an abridged letter I wrote to support about this very real issue:

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To make WordPress a more fair and friendly place for mature blogs I suggest the following:

Make it like over at YouTube where they have a page pop up warning of “mature” content, and if you’re still interested, they sign up and say “let me in” and boom, you’re in there.

Make it a toggle switch in the dashboard, kind of like what Google has. If you don’t want your results to be filtered, you turn the filter off. It’s as easy as that.

List all of the repercussions of being put on the mature blog list. I’m still not sure I’ve discovered all of the effects yet.

Notify the blogger you’ve put them on the mature list. That way they can take action to correct the error in their ways, or knowingly deal with the consequences.

Check a blog out thoroughly before placing it on the mature list. Make sure it is mature. Don’t just read a label, title, or image and assume it is mature. These might only be eye catching sales tactics to grab the attention of the reader.

Set up a filtering system of some sort. Keep it simple. If you build it, they will use it. Mature bloggers will seek it out instead of hiding in the shadows.

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I guess sometimes doing the right thing isn’t easy. Maybe I’ve made mistakes along the way, but my heart was in the right place. WordPress is a great place for a blog. I just want it to be that much better.

Don’t be afraid to stand up and be counted. If you have questions, suggestions, opinions, don’t be afraid to let WordPress know how you feel. You may feel like you’re beating your head into a wall sometimes, but it’s better than holding it in. We can make a difference if we try. I have my own doubts sometimes, but in the end I know that to be true.

Well, I guess that’s all I have to say about that. I now return you to your regularly scheduled reading and blogging.

Peter Parkour