I have just, for the first time in my period as a blogger, unsubscribed from a fellow blogger’s site. I thought long and hard about my decision (after all I hope no one ever feels the need to unsubscribe from newauthoronline.com). However, having given the matter serious consideration I determined to click that unsubscribe button/link.
The blogger in question (who I will not name as it is not my intention to publicly shame anyone) has, over the past few weeks been bombarding me and their other followers with articles from one particular news source, almost invariably with no comment as to why the piece in question was being shared. The individual in question is an author and as such I fully expect him/her to have an interest in matters other than writing (we authors after all do not exist in a vacuum but have interests outside of writing. In my case this does include current affairs, but not to the extent of being bombarded with nothing other than such material over the past few weeks).
Approximately 12 months ago the same blogger went through a phase of automated tweets inviting me and his other followers to purchase their book. Needless to say I somehow resisted the temptation to reach for my virtual wallet and do so! At that juncture I was sorely tempted to unsubscribe, however I determined to give the site owner in question another chance and refrained from doing so, what an error of judgement that was on my part for, having been silent for a protracted period the bombardment of articles from a particular source began.
It goes without saying that every blog/site owner is entitled to blog whatever material they choose, provided of course that it does not break the law by, for example being an incitement to religious or racial hatred etc. However activities such as those described above are, in my opinion certain to alienate fellow bloggers (not just myself) and I wouldn’t be surprised if this person suffers a mass desertion of followers.
Rant over.
Kevin