By David Ettinger
This is something which has bugged me for a while, and I finally decided to address it. It concerns re-blogs on WordPress. (That’s actually me in the picture!)
Yesterday, I re-blogged an excellent post by Thinking in Grace called “Yes, Christians Can Vote Democrat, But …” Many of you read my new cyber-friend’s blog, for which I’m grateful, so thank you!
However, I’m confused. Whenever someone re-blogs, it appears first on the “sharer’s” website (in this case, mine). The re-blogged post will have about 2 or 3 paragraphs, an ellipsis, and then the words, “View Original Post.”
At that point, those wishing to read the remainder of the blog can click on the “View Original Post” link and finish it on the original blogger’s website. Then, if the reader wishes to “like” the blog and comment on it, he or she SHOULD do so on the original blogger’s website.
Why then did so many likes and comments come to my website? If all of you who read my friend’s blog clicked through to its conclusion, why were “likes” and comments not addressed to him? Did you read his blog, close it, then come back to my website to “like” and comment? That makes no sense.
Conversely, I notice that when some of you graciously share my posts, I might find 10 or 12 “likes” and several comments on your website, none of which made it over to me.
How in the world does that happen? Why are your friends not “liking” and commenting on my page? After all, I’m the one who wrote the blog.
When I read a re-blog, I click on the “View Original Post” and “like” and comment on the original author’s website so that he or she may receive the benefit of it. Why is this not always the case?
If you have insight on this, please tell me what I’m missing.
Thanks, guys, I really appreciate you indulging me!
ken riddles
November 12, 2020
I don’t have a strong opinion on this – but would simply make a suggestion in my own text to ‘go to’ for such and such an article. Not a great re-blog fan. 😎
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
Thanks, Ken. I like the “go to” idea!
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craig
November 12, 2020
I don’t know about anyone else, but I think there is general confusion on this point. Personally, I feel obligated to respond in some fashion (like and/or comment) to both the original blog post and the reshare. So after I finish reading and responding to the original post, yes, I pop back to the person who reshared and respond to them also. Not to give credit to them for the original post, but to show appreciation that they shared it, and possibly discuss it with the person who did the reshare. The reshare is, after all, a communication from the resharer to their followers.
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
Hi Craig, I absolutely agree and this is what I do. But it doesn’t seem like most people do this. Thanks for the feedback!
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jarilissima
November 12, 2020
Um, sorry. I have no answers… But that is a wonderful photo of you! 🙂
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
Thanks for the compliment! Generally, I’m better read than seen!
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vicklea
November 12, 2020
I don’t have any insight, but I do know that if I re-blog a post (mostly yours), I refer the readers to the original author and request that they follow you. I think it has to do with whether they are your followers or not, but I don’t know. This would be a great topic to address with WP though.
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
Thanks so much, Vickie. I was hoping you would get back to me, because you are my most frequent re-blogger, and it is, in fact, your readers who most “commit the crime” (ha ha).
For instance, I notice that your friends will “like” my blog on your website, but not mine. Same thing with comments. Unless I return to your website, I have no idea they either liked it or commented on it.
Confusing, but I’m very grateful for your graciousness in re-blogging my posts!
I hope your foot is healing and getting better!
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vicklea
November 12, 2020
Thanks, David. Maybe when I re-blog, I should add a “go to the original post to like it.” Maybe that would help. And my foot is still healing. Another week and a half in the boot before I go back for x-rays. Hoping for good news and leaving the boot behind.
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
That’s a great idea, Vickie. I like your wording: “Go to the original post and like it.” I’ll start doing that.
Regarding your foot, definitely, hoping for good news and ditching the dastardly boot!!
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mrsmariposa2014
November 12, 2020
Hmm…an interesting question. No real insights here other than my own experiences since I don’t really reblog myself. I had to think about whether I’d neglected to comment on the original post before and concluded I probably did a few times over the years, but only incidentally- typically when WordPress was having technical difficulties in navigating back and forth from one blog to the other or giving me unexpected difficulties in posting a comment, which happens to me at times, particularly if it’s a blog I don’t already follow for some reason. Oddly enough, this does not affect whether I can like or comment on the blog that reshared, so I try to put something there to at least acknowledge the post in some way. Now, I always intend to go back and check later on if the difficulty is resolved but, sadly, this memory of mine and the complexities of life often intervene. 😏
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
Thanks, Marisa. I think we can always be excused with technical difficulties arise. But I’m still baffled when people, for instance, click a re-blog link on my post, read it … and then immediately go back to the re-blogger’s page and comment there???????
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mrsmariposa2014
November 12, 2020
Yes, that is baffling! That one I have no answer to. Lol.
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Bruce Cooper
November 12, 2020
David, when I click on a “like” for something that you have reposted, I am basically thanking you for taking the time to repost something. I guess you could call that basically being polite. If I like the article you have reblogged, I will also click on “like” on the originating author’s article so that he or she knows I liked what they wrote. My clicking on “like” at your end does not necessitate that I “like” the article you have reposted. Usually it does but not always. I don’t know if that helps or not but thought I would throw it in here. I also try to not click on “like” unless I have actually read the post and do like it but I suspect that not everyone does that. Some just click on “like” without reading it. That is also another possible factor to take into consideration. Blessings.
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
Thanks, Bruce. That does make sense. I think the biggest problem I have a post with is complimentary comments that go on the sharer’s page, not the original author’s. I’m like, “I just re-blogged this excellent post, why are you complimenting me … compliment the one who wrote it.”
Thanks for the feedback, Bruce. Appreciate it!
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Victors' Corner
November 12, 2020
When I come across a reblogged post that I like, I would most times leave a ‘like’ on the blog where it was reblogged. On a few occasions, I would leave a comment too mostly to thank the person for the reblog.
On a visit to the original post, I would ‘like’ the post too. And if I have an opinion on the post, I would put in a comment. From there, I could go on to reading other posts on that blog.
On the other hand, I don’t even bother to visit the original blog once I don’t like a reblogged post.
I think that if we don’t want people exiting our post to the original blog, instead of a reblog, we can ask for permission for a repost. That way, the full article will be available on the reblogging site. (But credit must be given to the original blog).
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
Thanks, Victor, that makes sense.
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lynnabbott
November 12, 2020
It has to do with the way our phones and emails work, David. I click and read through but even though I’m signed into WordPress on my phone, WP won’t allow me to like a post directly unless I read it through the WP reader. If I’m reading through email subscription, it boots out my “like”. Since I’m on the go now because of my art, I am no longer using my desktop to read blogs. Instead I am using my phone and the email subscriptions. As a result, even though I am reading and often “liking” posts, those “likes” are blocked. If , however, I return to the email that comes as a result of my subscription and “like” the email, then it registers on the individual blog. I’ve been battling this with many blogs since I stepped back from a full-time blogging presence. Hopefully, that explains some of what you are seeing. ☺️ Blessings to you, my friend!
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lynnabbott
November 12, 2020
It registers on the blog that shared or reblogged the post, I mean. And that’s how that occurs…
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
Ah, very interesting, Lynn. So in the case you described, it’s a technical issue. Appreciate this explanation!
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Blue Collar Theologian
November 12, 2020
I have never once reblogged, why I don’t know. Craig’s answer is excellent and is exactly the same as mine!! Although I didn’t like nor comment on either the original and your reblog, I did however, start following Thinking in Grace yesterday courtesy of you!
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Blue Collar Theologian
November 12, 2020
Also, great pic!!!
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
Thanks for the compliment. Generally, the best pictures of me usually feature from the shoulders down!!!
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
Excellent. I think he does a very good job. I like his balance.
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seekingdivineperspective
November 12, 2020
I “like” and comment on the original post, then go back to the one who shared and thank them by “liking” there, as well.
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
That’s what I do. I wish all readers did this. Thanks for contributing!!
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Zama-Zoe Grace
November 12, 2020
Hahaha, I am still a baby in this journey of blogging.
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Crissy
November 12, 2020
David, the problem I have sometimes is that when I go and read the original article after it has been re-blogged WP doesn’t let me like it or make a comment. A message pops up asking me to join WP.
I read your friend’s post yesterday and it allowed the “like” but most times it doesn’t . In that case I don’t press LIKE on the person that shared the post .
Hope it makes sense 😃
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dettinger47
November 12, 2020
Definitely makes sense. Thanks for the explanation, Crissy!
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Crissy
November 13, 2020
You are welcome.
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