This post explains some things that are going on behind the scenes of this blog and asks for your views.
This blog has published almost 5,500 posts since it sprang into life in April 2011. I’ve written most of them although there have been plenty of guest blogs (see here for guidance if you would like to write one), cartoons and photos (as well as a few poems). Although I haven’t written everything that appears here I have uploaded all of it and fiddled about with it to try to ensure that the presentation of the information (whatever you think of its content) is clear.
In addition, there have been 56,000 comments posted here (of which nearly 8000 are responses/replies by me).
Behind all this activity there is a bunch of hardware and software which you never see but with which I have to interact in order for blogs and comments to appear, and for them to look OK. I don’t understand how any of them works – I just rely on them to work.
And in addition to that, there is some more work which has to be done to ensure that posts that appear here also appear in other places where people might see them – such as on Twitter and Facebook – and automatically in your inbox if you wish to see them (I’ll come back to that).
The fact that I set up this blog and website over seven years ago, and have learned gradually over the years how to operate it is a matter of a small amount of satisfaction to me; I’ve learned new skills and gained the confidence to fiddle about with coding that I would have run a mile from years ago. If you look back at early posts on this blog then you’ll find few images as I didn’t know how to load them up, where to find them, what the legal situation was or enough decent photographers to ask for their help. Now it is easier to fix all that, and (when I remember – so often I don’t!) I can take a few photos (often quite bad photos) of places, people and interesting things I see in the world and use them here. Many thanks to all those who are helping by allowing use of their photos here and also many others for generally being helpful – and I should include artists and cartoonists in those thanks as well.
Alongside images, weblinks, so that you can check the original work from which I might quote or to which you might want to refer, have become an integral part of this and most other blogs. Putting in the links is a pain somewhere, but my distant background as a proper scientist makes me want to give you access to the source material whether or not you are ever going to look at it!
And over the years, I have blogged more frequently, moving from what was a blog a day at the beginning to something close to an average of three blogs a day these days. And the readership of the blog has increased too – 2016 was the most-read year (the year when our e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting passed 100,000 signatures and then was debated in parliament) and numbers fell last year and will probably fall this year if only because I was travelling and not blogging for a considerable period in the spring (I must tell you a few more tales about thast when I can fit them in) but also for some reasons which I set out below.
OK – so that was all background! Quite a lot of background, and quite dull, but background. Now let’s move on to some news – although quite dull news. And then, I’ll ask you for some views and those are always interesting.
News: the world is changing. That’s hardly surprising is it? But the world behind this blog is changing quite a lot, and has done more in the last year than in any other year. You will have noticed that Facebook has been in the news over recent months – it is even mentioned on Radio 4 so you must have noticed, surely? Although I am not a Russian bot, there are changes that Facebook has made to how and if it posts things that affect the appearance of this blog on Facebook. Some of these are unexpected and some are a bit of a pain. For example, if you used to follow this blog by looking on my personal Facebook timeline then you won’t see posts there any more. They used to appear automatically (after I set it up that they would) now they don’t and won’t. On Facebook they still appear on the Mark Avery page but you’ll have to go there to find them these days.
GDPR impacts. Remember all that stuff where everyone was asking you to confirm that you wanted them to contact you? Well, some of that spills over to blogs and the software I use although not in any great way. I don’t use your data in any ways that I haven’t told you about but some of your details are stored … well I don’t know where really – on the world wide web wherever that is … in software packages where somebody else could look at them if they knew how. To allow you to comment here I have to use software and that software has to store the comments otherwise no-one sees them, and the comments have some information about you. So that has necessitated a whole lot of updating of software over the last few months.
I use WordPress software to write this blog, upload images, put in links etc. WordPress are, after many years, making a significant change to the blog editing software that they distribute. The software has always had regular updates (which simply required me to push a button and let it happen) but this is a step change. So I am getting to grips with the new system because I thought I might as well start learning it now rather than wait until I absolutely had to and then do it in a rush. I started using the new system about 10 days ago and you may have noticed some small changes to the look of the blog over that period. They are quite minor changes but behind the scenes there are bigger changes to what I now do to produce a blog post for you to read. Some of the changes are good; it’s a little easier to add images (although videos seem more challenging) and it’s also easier to add in those hyperlinks (hooray!). But a few other things that have become routine for me are now more difficult; maybe I’m just about to discover the knack of changing the colour of only some words in a paragraph but it is proving more difficult than I feel it should be at the moment!
I have a feeling that the various bits and pieces that allow this blog to function are a bit like an ecosystem – changes in one place may have unexpected ramifications in other places. That might be fanciful but I’m not entirely sure it is.
It’s a relatively small thing, but the Like/Dislike buttons for posts and for comments seem to be an early warning signal of ecosystem disruption on this blog. They seem very sensitive and seem to stop working for no obvious reason, and sometimes start again for no obvious reason, quite often. There are only a limited number of free software options that will work with the existing software for this blog and so although I did change the software for a while, some time ago, the new version had at least as many problems as the old software so I reverted to the old stuff.
More recently, I added the ability to get automatic email notifications of new posts to this blog. That seemed to work quite well (it worked for me as a subscriber and I could see more and more people signing up) for a while but stopped working for everyone a couple of months ago. Since then I have spent hours trying to figure it out with no success. I’ll keep trying in the hope that something might leap off the screen at me eventually. And yes, I have tried the often-successful option of turning it off and on again – that didn’t work. If I simply turn it off that creates a separate problem (for me) and I haven’t found a way around that yet. I’ll continue to look at it, but I’m not going to promise any likelihood of a solution arriving soon because i have been trying for a while.
The outcome of all this is that I wonder whether it is time to give this website and blog a complete overhaul – or even start again. That would be quite a big move and would involve spending money that I’d rather spend on fine wines and crushed avocado meals, but sometimes you have to bite the bullet. Although frying pans and fires also come to mind. So, what do you think?
OK – so here are some questions for you:
- What do you think of the general look and feel of this website and blog? Tired and old like its owner, or dashing and sophisticated? I still love the blue colour – but you may hate it.
- I may find this more irritating than any of you but, would an index to past posts be a useful addition or not? I find it difficult to find posts that I know I wrote, so the chances that many of you could do so are even slimmer I think. Blog posts are supposed to be rather ephemeral things, but actually if this blog disappeared tomorrow I believe some useful material would disappear with it, but if you can’t find it then it almost has disappeared.
- What are the most irritating things about using this blog? This question is not about the quality of the written content. Time to load? Appearance? Reading on a mobile? Number of images – too few, too many? Timeface? Font size?
- Any other bloggers got any tips for how this blog could be better for the reader? This, again is not a question about the quality of the written content.
- What do you, perhaps as a reader of other blogs, wish you saw on this blog too?
- Would you like me to fix the ‘automatic emails of posts’ issue? How much?
- Any other comments about anything, including content?
Here are a few of the thing that confuse me, as a regular commentator.
1. I often don’t have an acknowledgement that I have made a post. If I try again I sometimes get a box indicating that I have already sent that comment. At least I know I’ve sent one then.
2. On the mobile version of the blog there are previous and next posts, but not on the non mobile version. It’s more work for readers if there are not links.
3. Monthly or other summaries of posts. I run several self hosted blogs on different topics, which are bog standard ones for which I have chosen a bog standard theme. I don’t seem to have the issues you are talking about, although mine are not as well read as yours, and I have little difficulty adding posts, approving lots of comments and replying when all I have is a mobile phone. My only difficulty is the speed of connection if I am uploading lots of media. It can take ages with a slow connection.
4. Automatic emails. I tried it when it was working. I didn’t like getting 6 emails a day, so abandoned it quickly. The rss link on the blog works well. I’ve reverted to that, and have no issues. No longer interested in automatic emails.
5. I’m not interested in the appearance particularly, so won’t comment. I love the content, and don’t know how you can cope with the amount of background research you must do.
6. Time of loading of the blog seems to have improved recently. Happy with that now.
I’m a digital immigrant so prefer generally prefer things to stay as they are (ie working) rather than be “improved” (which so often translates to “not working” in my experience). And I like the look of the blog as it is. So fwiw I’d keep as much the same as you can while updating.
On which note; you used to get an acknowledgement when you posted a comment, specifically it appeared on ones own view of the comments page with a note that it was “waiting moderation” or some such. Very helpful. Now the site has been “improved” so that your comment just disappears into the ether and you can only trust that your comment has been sent. Adding back some form of confirmation of receipt would be great please!
Other stuff – index useful but not essential. However its *essential* to retain easy access to the existing content of this blog. I found the notification of posts useful when Mark was away but not otherwise, and as others have commented too I don’t like getting multiple emails a day so for me I’d leave off unless/until you’re planning another trip off grid.
Good luck with the upgrades, hope they work better than… well anywhere I’ve ever worked really! 🙁
Jbc – I agree with all of that.
I think it is all pretty good Mark. A Index to past blogs could be useful. I too sometimes wonder if my comment has registered and because of doubt press the submit button again. The key thing, which you do very well, is to keep people informed and up to date on wildlife issues, of which there are plenty with this poor Government in place.
I like the look of the blog as it stands right now, so aesthetically I don’t see much you need to change. I think it looks understated and professional, and I find the varying shades of blue very easy to read with my visual impairment; so obviously any move away from that I would hate. If I was to suggest anything then, just based on that I have to increase page size to 120% of normal; I’d suggest just making everything 20%
coolerlarger. Then I’d just have page size set to default on my side.Is it possible to make the links that people post in comments live? It’s easy enough to copy and paste if I’m using my PC but I often struggle using a hand-held device.
I agree with most of the above comments, especially jbc’s second paragraph.
I particularly like the “recent comments” sidebar on the raptorpersecution blog as you can click on and check out comments made even on posts made sometime ago. As I find the comments almost as interesting as the blog itself, this facility is very useful. Don’t know whether you can do that on this blog?
Recently, when I have commented, I have to fill in name and email address again, whereas previously it came up automatically. I assumed it was because of GDPR but perhaps it was my system which I have just upgraded?
Otherwise, your site loads well for me and I like the appearance – no need to change that.
You might look into your browser options and set it to complete forms or some such. I used to have the same issue.
I too have found that I now have to fill in my name and email every time I comment. Bit of a faff. And yes, not getting confirmation of a submitted comment either.
I like the blue colour, good for tired eyes. Downloading seems a bit better lately. (I only use iPad).
Like buttons don’t always work or are slow. Particularly noticeable if I try to ‘like’ two or more comments at once.
Have never used the email notification as I tend to look at the blog at least once a day anyway, unlike RPUK which may not blog every day where it is useful.
I think you are brave trying to fiddle with anything teckie (is that right), certainly more than I would try.
Bottom line….great blog, good book reviews, like the guest blogs and pointers to other blogs, and gains a good few dislikes from ‘tother side which must be good.
Thank you for the blog.
Carole, I also have to input identification each time I comment, also posts do not appear for moderation, as stated by jbc.
What do you think of the general look and feel of this website and blog?
A: Content is king as far as I’m concerned and I’d hazard a guess that’s true for most of your readers. The blog needs to be easy to read and straightforward to navigate. You say tired and old – I say familiar and welcoming. Dashing and sophisticated is so often flashy and heartless. The blue is great – my favourite reading colours are similar shades in green.
I may find this more irritating than any of you but, would an index to past posts be a useful addition or not?
A: Tagging of articles would be best but a lot of work, especially if applied to the old material. An index would be good even if only an author index.
What are the most irritating things about using this blog? This question is not about the quality of the written content. Time to load? Appearance? Reading on a mobile? Number of images – too few, too many? Timeface? Font size?
A: I would prefer a slightly larger serif font, but it is just that a preference. The one thing I really don’t like is the all-caps navigational headings at the top of the page. All-caps is definitely harder to read.
Any other bloggers got any tips for how this blog could be better for the reader? This, again is not a question about the quality of the written content.
A: Referencing earlier pieces (with links) on a similar subject is always good. Following up on important or notable posts, even with short updates can be helpful in a long running subject or story. Sub-headings and/or captioned pictures in longer pieces, though not essential, improve the appearance and can make them easier to read (don’t go mad). My advice is to plan content ahead as much as possible.
What do you, perhaps as a reader of other blogs, wish you saw on this blog too?
A: The most important things to me are well-written, interesting pieces and preferably frequent postings (not necessarily all by you).
Any other comments about anything, including content?
A: The pages promoting your books are a little brief just a contents list and links to reviews. Perhaps you could include an overview of each book and a sample page or two.
Peter – thank you very much for taking the time to tell me all that.
In computer matters, as I am pretty useless, I like things not to change too much, so I am very happy with your blog as it is, Mark.
Marian – a contented reader! Hooray!
The look of the thing: As has been said already, ‘working’ beats ‘flashy’.
Indexing: Other than some very generalised categories, I don’t index my blog, so wouldn’t wish to put anyone else through that pain. Surely that’s what the ‘Search’ box is for?
Automatic emails: Wasn’t interested in emails, as following via Blogger delivers your new posts to my door, so to speak.
Mobile: I can’t comment about the mobile phone experience as I mainly access any blogs via a laptop.
Summary: Very happy with the content; hugely appreciative of all the hard work you do, Mark; and I think the trust you engender in the vast majority of your readership will see you through any necessary changes.
Graeme – thank you very much, that’s kind of you.
First and foremost, the value of this blog is its content – which is superb. That you are able to post substantial and important new items every day, and all of them in a timely way, is nothing short of a marvel. On top of that, I regard your blog as authoritative and trustworthy. In part this is because you are transparent about yourself, your sources and any doubts or qualifications you think we need to acknowledge in case there might be more than one side to a question.
The format is also excellent. Many other blogs seem to comprise lengthy essays in small typeface. Your posts are generally short and punchy and you use links to past posts to help the reader catch up on the background. A short index might be useful – not comprehensive, but maybe to quickly link the reader to the most commonly recurring themes or topics, perhaps? (eg ‘Driven Grouse Shooting’, ‘Natural England’, ‘Hen Harriers’, ‘Bird Fair’?)
I’d stress the importance of clarity of text and layout – big fonts, short paras, black text on white/pale background (cf Raptor Persecution UK – which is a great blog, but made harder to read because it uses small font in white on a dark background)
Email alerts only clog my inbox, so that’s not something I want.
I completely agree with every point – and I find white text on a dark background impossible to read!
I would echo most of the comments already made. I really like the blue colour, it makes the posts easy on the eye for me and the look of the blog is calm and professional. Email notifications are not necessary for me, as I always read your blog every morning over breakfast!
I do think an index of some kind would be useful though – I often refer to past blogs or issues that you raise in my lectures, and it would make finding the relevant bits easier for me and my students. However, if adding an index means changing the whole look of your blog, I can live without it.
PS – it was lovely to see you at the Hen Harrier Day Parkgate Posse
It has taken me a long time to realise that the reason so many formerly perfickly good sites are now very tiresome to read is because the owners have dumbed them down so that people can use them by leaving their greasy fingermarks on their phones. So please don’t be tempted to fix anything which isn’t broken.
The only noticeable effect recent changes have made via my browser is to disappear the un-moderated comment preview for the duration of the browser session – it used to persist even if I closed the blog tab. I’d quite like that restored.
But what I would like to happen most is for all the nag messages about Accept/OK with that?/Agree to disappear for ever from the entire World Weary Web or better still be forwarded for immediate attention to the Information Commissioner, who is a Very Bossy Woman into whose life a lot of rain should fall. I would even sign a petition for that.
Filbert – Thank you. I suspect that disappearance of the unmoderated preview must be something to do with new (improving allegedly) versions of the WordPress software. It certainly isn’t smething I have changed delibverately, and as I take the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ appraoch then I don’t think I have changed it by accident.