fake

Spring cleaning

Posted on by backuphill

Photo by alleksana on Pexels.com

I started going through the list of “followers” a couple of days ago. The number of “people” following this blog is astonishingly filled with a huge number of abandoned or completely inauthentic accounts. There are so many fake accounts, bot accounts, or inactive accounts. As such, I have started deleting them. I am watching the number of “followers” dwindle and its a little disheartening.

Truth be told, I didn’t start this place to vent so I would gain a huge following and suddenly become the next internet sensation. It truly was a place to vent about anything and everything. If it struck a cord with people or caused them to be interested in what the next topic might be or identified with what I was saying, great. I welcome any and (almost) all interaction.

But, it the disheartening part is that the actual number of people who might really be paying attention is kinda small. I still have a lot of cleaning up to do and so those number of “followers” will surely shrink.

I guess one of the questions we really have to ask of other bloggers is what that number of “followers” they claim to have actually is. I see accounts all the time with a large number of followers but I now wonder how many of those numbers are actual people and not just fake accounts.

Do other bloggers pay any attention to this or are the numbers simply just a number to brag about, to market their blog to others based on inflated data? Does it really matter to a company if the numbers a blogger (or other social media influencer) has are authentic or are they just simply looking for people with a large “audience”?

Questions I don’t really care to know the answer to, I guess. I suppose I am just talking out loud here. But it makes me wonder…

Serial “like”r

Posted on by backuphill

close up photo of man wearing black suit jacket doing thumbs up gesture

Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

Are you a serial LIKEr?

You’re probably asking, “What does that even mean?”

Urban Dictionary

It’s not a perfect definition though. I think it should be adjusted to mean “people on social media platforms who ‘like’ posts or blogs to generate interest in their own accounts, never actually reading or interacting with the ‘liked’ post or account.”

Does that make more sense?

You have probably noticed it too. People who “like” your blog often but have never left a comment of any sort in the past, nor do they intend to in the future. I am not saying I haven’t been known to leave a like or two without comment, but I try to interact with every blog at some point. It might not be on a regular basis, but leaving a comment now and then (one that actually demonstrates that you read the blog) goes a long way for building loyal readers and followers.

If you just “like” with the hopes that someone visits your blog, well, your “like” is disingenuous and you didn’t really “like” it at all.

Leave a comment. Spark a conversation between you and the blogger, or other readers of the blog. Create some interaction. Then those “likes” at other times might be appropriate and actually considered genuine.

Otherwise you’re just a fake “like”r. Don’t be a fake.

Awards Culture

Posted on by backuphill

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Yesterday’s post was the 300th post on this blog. It was kind of a serious post, which is mostly out of character for this blog since it is really meant to be kind of a tongue and cheek kind of attitude.

Today, however, I decided that I really needed one of those blogger awards. I see them being bounced all the time and I keep wondering when someone will nominate me. I am not sure they are really serious awards, I mean it kind of seems like people just decided “I like this blogger so I am going to award them a moderately fake and self-aggrandizing award.” Makes sense.

We live in an awards culture (some call it a “trophy culture”) where everyone gets an award just for participating. They don’t deserve it for anything other than just showing up. Makes sense. I get it. Showing up is hard and takes extra effort.

So, in the spirit of the awards culture, I created my own award! I feel much better about myself now. I mean, it’s about time someone is finally recognizing that I showed up and that I am almost worthy of an award, even if I have to do it for myself. Call it “self-care.” That’s a buzz word floating around out there these days.

Also, in the spirit of “sharing is caring,” I want you to nominate someone (or maybe even yourself!) who is totally undeserving of an award but maybe feels left out. Actually, please nominate yourself if you also think the “blogger awards” thing is stupid too.

Drop your nominations in the comments section, or borrow the award and tag me in the post where you award yourself. Either way, is fine with me! Have fun with this, since that is really the intent!

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Amazon fraud detection

Posted on by backuphill

Amazon problem

Anyone see any issues with the two items shown above? They were in the “Today’s Deals” section AND right next to each other…

Amazon has a huge problem with credibility when it comes to regulating selling and China. I mean really, exact same pic and exact same title and exact same “starting price.”

You would think a tech giant such as Amazon could weed out duplicate entries of the same thing sold by “different” people. Oh and they should probably ban people and companies that use these tactics, but that too becomes a difficult task. As such, for you as the consumer, you are likely getting ripped off if you aren’t taking significant time shopping and browsing on Amazon.

As always, buyer beware!

Anyone else noticed weird stuff on Amazon? Anyone else irritated by lack of regulation?

Jump, let’s make it real!

Posted on by backuphill

two people on mountain cliff

Photo by Valdemaras D. on Pexels.com

There’s a lot of jumping going on these days, only the jumping is not athletic in nature and not physical in value. It does, apparently, work the brain – even if it isn’t in a positive nature.

What jumping am I talking about?

Conclusions. Jumping to conclusions.

Damn it already, if social media (and regular media) isn’t set afire by people jumping to conclusions. Just since Thursday last week, there have been people jumping to conclusions at a record pace. False news. Misleading editing. All to get clicks or push an agenda. And the jumping just keeps getting worse!

The only place I wish people would jump is off a cliff, especially if they would like to find a conclusion. The conclusion can be at the bottom. Dead stop.

Get the facts people. Know the whole story. Investigate. Wait. There is always more than what meets the first impression.

Sound bites and neat, little 7-10 second clips (or a still photo) don’t tell the story.

If you’re going to jump, head straight for some place high with a definite dead-end, conclusion.

Getting tired of hearing ya’ll.