The Most Aggravating Things About Running An Internet Publication
Posted: Monday, January 12, 2009
by Mike Fak
http://mikefak.com
The internet paper I manage is modest of course unless you look at it from a local perspective. Having over 10,000 unique visitors every day in a community of less than 40,000 shows we hold our own and then some locally.
There are many little things that can grind on a person trying to get the huge sprawling news site we have updated everyday. But most of them are just a part of the business.
Some things however, especially zany or illegitimate comments or communications from people sometimes drive me nuts and I hardly have to back out of the driveway to get to that state of mind. I also have to bite my tongue or be still my fingers when typing since I know if I don't I will come back with a smartass comment that won't represent me or the paper very well.
Below are some of the comments I hear or read often and the answers I would love to reply with but don't.
Comment; "You are with that other paper aren't you?
Answer "No, my nametag says I'm with the LDN. Otherwise that would mean I'm a spy."
Comment: "I just love your TV show.
Answer: "Except I haven't been on TV in three years. What kind of set do you own?"
Comment: "We have internet but I never have learned how to work it."
Answer: "Yeh, getting on the internet is almost as difficult as putting the toilet paper on the dispenser."
Comment: "Frankly Mr. Fak, I don't understand why you don't want us to increase your traffic."
Answer: "Yeh, the local grocer told me the other day how worried he is that people in Ireland can't see his specials this week."
Comment: "How come you never write anything about such and such, my favorite organization?"
Answer: "You mean besides the story last week and the one last month and the one last summer?"
Comment:"Won't you ever go back to being in print?"
Answer: "Just once. I imagine my obit will make the print papers and remember I wrote it."
Comment: "Why don't you also have a print publication?"
Answer: "I think there are enough print papers nearing bankruptcy without our adding to the list."
Comment; "Why didn't you post the picture I sent in?"
Answer: "Do you mean the one that had no caption, didn't identify anyone and didn't tell us what the heck the reason for the picture was?"
Comment: I don't understand why you won't accept my classified ad?"
Answer: "maybe because the work from home two hours a day and make $4500 a month belongs in a fantasy publication and not this one."
Comment: "Why did you report me as Spam?"
Answer: "Because I don't want your stuff and telling me to go to your MySpace account and create my own profile just to unsubscribe from your gibberish is not on my list of things to do to stop being bothered by a knucklehead."
Comment: "Is there a reason you have pulled our event from your community calendar?"
Answer; "Yep, it not only isn't in our community, it isn't in our state."
Comment; "I can make you a great deal more money but you must contact me."
Answer; "The only things I must do are die, pay taxes and delete your e-mails."
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Oh, Mike. I love your sense of humor. I bet you need it to survive! I too work with the general public and the person who said laughter was the best medicine wasn't kidding! (And sometimes I drink a glass or two of wine.)Thanks Mary. Sometimes I drink a keg or two of wine myself. It kills cholesterol you know. P.S. Mine is 137.
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