UPDATE ON BLOGGING POLICY: After several months I have learned a lot of spamming, and I know when, for instance, the identical complimentary paragraph comes back to me time and time again from people with commercial urls, that there must be a huge repository of possible spam comments somewhere. These comments never say anything specifically related to the post. Lots of times the product they sell is mentioned in the comment, either obliquely or directly. Still, occasionally, I let one through so I can respond, usually contradicting their claims. Other so-called “spams” seem to come from enterprises that would naturally be interested in the topics I cover, and I might let them through to pass on information. These would include health information or health worker training (if legit). Today I admitted and replied to a comment from a person who sells and educates on the subject of darts. Maybe somewhere in my quirky mind I was cooking up another murder plot, but I felt he may be sincerely interested — perhaps dealing with an aging parent. I used his background as a jumping place to plug SOPHIE REDESIGNED, my mystery in which another contest of manly skills, paintball, figures in the crimes. In general, however, I check spam and delete it. Here’s why:
MOXIE COSMOS SAYS is designed to share some inspiring stories and to provoke thinking (at any age) about how to best to live out an expanded life. I love receiving comments, even if they are critical. Often I hear the site looks “weird” on somebody’s program. I pass those on to my support team, and they tell me that there is help for some of you — but not all — if I buy more services. Right now I am concentrating on getting my first book to sell well, so I am going to be content with this site as is.
Meanwhile, I’m looking for an agent for the second book, WINDOW BY THE POND. I’d love to have a contact on that!
IMPORTANT: I have a spam filter, and sometimes I let through what looks like spam (and may be) — but if there is a service I think my target visitor might use, and if it is not quackery, about investing your savings, or sexual in nature — then I might let it through. I think there are good people in every industry, and all of us need to share our stories. Who knows what we can learn from one another that will help us through difficult times.