Stat counters, site meters, the names are different the results the same. Being able to "track" those reading your blog. Sort of. People who comment can sometimes be tagged as a certain IP because of the time. Your stalkers... um regular readers can be labeled. But the random factor here is huge. Who the hell lives in Backwater, GA or Big City, MN? Does it drive the rest of you crazy? Just me?

I readily admit I have a massively obsessive... um, mild case of Stat-itis. I think it's great fun to see who's finding my page and how. By the way ALL you people googling "cars with 3rd row seating"? I love my Rondo! Now come on back, ya hear! Of course, I think it's much more fun to read comments. HINT, HINT. But we all know some people merely prefer to lurk. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I assured my hubby Stat-itis is harmless fun. Soon I learned of the nasty side effect, blogger paranoia. See, awhile ago I had a friend job interviewing. She was making funny comments, about hoops she was having to jump through to get hired by a company she had actually worked for before she had her baby, on her blog. Then she checked her stat counter and saw someone from NY hitting her blog. At the time she was really new to blogging so she pretty much knew the IP's visiting her page. The home office of that company, yep, in NY. She changed the wording on her post and prayed it was just some random blog hopper who had found her site. We may never know, but she did get hired. Anyway, you know I was laughing my ass off as she frantically called me saying "I think THEY found my blog, THEY are never going to hire me back" My response, besides the laughing? "YOU ARE PARANOID!"

Jump forward to Wenesday when I posted about how famous I am. Wouldn't you know the first comment is from someone I referenced in the post?! How the hell did he find me? I am sure he was laughing his ass off... um, chuckling about how he's my brush with fame! I know he's mingled with the rich and famous, The Blair Witch Project being the little indie film that could and all that. Anyway, while I am cyberstalking his ass... um, trying to find a current email address to say hi to him, I go check my stat counter. Hmm, lots of hits from NYC. Well, he's probably sending the link to other friends from that group so they can all get a good laugh at my little blog. Which, fine, funny even.

Then I notice IT. A hit from Fox Tv. Three times in a row. That's interesting, wonder who I might know working there? OF COURSE I copy and paste the host address in my browser, which takes me to Fox Sports. Oh shit... um, crap?! What exactly did I say about a former Heisman Trophy winner? Could someone actually set up some sort of search to alert them whenever they are mentioned on the web? Don't big companies have people who's job is just that, to keep lies about them from being spread on the internet? And holy crap, wouldn't that job be in the LEGAL department? Now my mind is racing, what would someone do if they thought you said something false about them or their employee? Not just any average Joe, but a well known, award winning, sports figure? Shit, shit, shit! Did I mention the paranoia has now set in? Would they send a cease and desist email?

Back to check log, nope no more hits from Fox. Okay, calm down, I didn't actually say he did anything wrong, just that it looked like it. Then it hit me. DUDE, how famous would I be if Fox pointed out my blog as stating false information?! Isn't that how Perez got his big break?! Sweet!

Back to check log, nope no more hits from Fox. Still no more hits from Fox. Damn, guess I'm not going to be famous today.

9 comments:

Hey!!! I resemble those remarks LMAO and oh by the way...I know somebody in MN that likes to visit us :)...he's still sort of (not really) in hiding though.

May 1, 2008 at 5:03 PM  

Hey, I didn't say any names, it was totally anon until someone admited to the story being about them! Hee hee!

May 1, 2008 at 5:18 PM  

for full disclosure, as a way to assist you in not obsessing. i found you via bad mom, my cyber bff, and i'm in san diego. and i'm here at 6:05 pacific time. and i like your blog.

ps. i might go read some of your posts, hide my ip and then try to get here via random google searches, just to give you something to do. what? it's not mean.

May 1, 2008 at 9:06 PM  

Katydidnot, is it wrong that I want to kiss you? You made my night! Thanks!

May 1, 2008 at 9:17 PM  

I thought I was bad for looking at the "recent came froms." You know the ip's?!

May 2, 2008 at 12:34 AM  

The smart ass comments from Vancouver, WA are from me.

The sensible comments from Vancouver, WA are from my wife.

-Stu

May 2, 2008 at 1:03 AM  

LOVED THAT!

That's what happened with me - with you. I knew all of my family, then when day Orlando, FL. started popping up. I'm all WTF? Who the hell is in Orlando and how did they find me. Then you FINALLY left a comment and all was well.

This is why I LOVE blogging. You realize your not the only one stalking, or with freaky, paranoid, random thoughts. There's LOTS of us "out there" :)

May 2, 2008 at 1:38 PM  

Hey! I found your blog from a comment you left at playgroupsarenoplaceforchilren just thought you'd like to know :)
I just discovered the sitemeter by location. Bad discovery, it takes up too much of my thoughts.

May 2, 2008 at 2:06 PM  

Okay, I was thinking about this more. remember a couple of weeks back I sent you link/story about a service where the search engines such as google will send you alerts when people search for your name? Maybe the person who found you had some sort of alert set up for when peeps type his name......sign me up lol.

May 2, 2008 at 4:31 PM  

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