Over the past 12 months or so I have noticed something peculiar about WordPress. Today I received a notification that my blog, newauthoronline.com has a new follower. I am, of course always delighted to welcome new readers. However the latest recruit turned out to be someone who has been following this site for some considerable time. I know this as the blogger in question has liked and commented on my posts and I distinctly recollect receiving a previous notification of them following.
Today’s incident is by no means the first time this has happened. I recall one person who regularly liked and commented on my work suddenly disappearing. The person in question was still blogging but was no longer reading my posts. Had I said something with which they so profoundly disagreed they had ceased to follow me? All was explained when I received a communication from the blogger in question saying that I had, for some reason disappeared from their Reader and they had now added me.
Now it is possible for people to accidentally click on the unsubscribe link. However given the number of instances where someone who I know is already a follower suddenly refollows my blog I can only conclude that a WordPress glitch is at the bottom of this mystery. Has anyone else experienced the mystery of the disappearing (only to reappear) follower?
Kevin
K Morris - Poet 
All. The. Time. Happens to me, too, where I will *think* I am still following someone only to find that I really am not and I am CERTAIN that I did not unfollow them. I used to think it was a glitch in how I was scrolling through my app reader but I am super careful and this has not stopped. So I have taken to bookmarking my super favorites and watching any likes on my own posts to make sure that I am following them still.
Thanks for your comment Victo. Bookmarking is a good idea. I tend to subscribe by email as I don’t especially like the Reader. However this means that my inbox is full of posts jostling for attention! If I notice it again the WordPress support forums may well receive a post on the subject from me asking what is going on! Kevin
This has happened to me as well.
Thanks for your comment. I am sorry you are having the same problem. Best. Kevin
WordPress can be a bit quirky at times. I’ve also lost a couple of posts/book reviews as I was typing them out.
I tend to write my post using Microsoft Word then paste into the WordPress editor. Other users of screen reading software (I use Jaws which converts text into speech and braille) seem to get on OK with the editor. However, in my experience it doesn’t work all that well for users of access software.
Thanks for the advice.
I’ve certainly recently re followed you. I rarely positively unfollow and follow again, so when people are MIA, I tend to check them out.
Thanks for your comment Kate. Forgive my ignorance but what is MIA? Kevin
Missing In Action
Thanks!
I’ve also discovered that sites no longer operating, still say they’re following me. Impossible!
Thank you for your comment. I suspect that although the site is not following you the person behind the no longer operating blog may be doing so, (I.E. if their subscription is by email your articles may still be being delivered to their inbox). Kevin
Never noticed this before. But now I’m going to keep my eye out for it! Especially with all the *cough* crap *cough* new changes WordPress seems to be making.
Thanks for your comment. You do, of course mean all the wonderful and exciting inovations WordPress are making thereby enhancing the user experience …!
lol Yep, they sure know how to “improve” the user experience! 🙂
It happens a lot Kevin…
Thanks for your comment Jack. Indeed it does! Kevin
…. and I thought this only happened to me!
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately it seems to happen to a great many people! Best. Kevin
Happened to me as well few times. Really annoys me sometimes.
Many thanks for your comment and I am sorry to hear that you also have experienced this problem. Kind regards. Kevin