Milestone

Friday, November 13, 2009
Thanks to a huge influx of traffic to the January 'Tard of the Week entry on Andrew Basiago, today Hot Chicks Dig Smart Men reached a blogging milestone: We reached over 100,000 visitors.

My stat counter indicates the 100,000th visitor was in fact my Great Aunt Marge, coming in from tiny Holyoke, Colorado.  Aunt Marge, my Gram's younger sister, visits frequently, although she's too shy to comment and has graciously never taken me to task for my continued use of foul language. It makes me happy that number 100,000 was someone I love rather than some reprobate searching for teh pr0n.  So say hi to Aunt Marge, guys - she's a good lady.

This may not be a huge milestone compared to more popular sites, but for me, this milestone has made me think about my blogging, and what it means to me. I have to say - I love my little Internet home. I love the folks that stop by and comment, and I wonder about the lurkers who come here consistently but choose not to make themselves known. I wonder about those entries that take off, months after I write them, when I don't think they were that damn interesting to begin with (like yesterday's spike relating to Mr. Basiago's pareidolia). I enjoy the interaction that comes when I spend time writing something that others find thought-provoking.

Mostly, though, I enjoy the community I'm building here. This blog is part of a blogging circle called The UCF, and while this place is only a small part of that larger community, it really is a small community in it's own right, as well. I can't tell you how much that tickles me, and I want to this opportunity to thank all of you who visit here. Whether you come for pictures of Boogie the Giant Schnauzer, political ranting or to point and laugh with me, I appreciate you sharing my on-line home with me.

8 comments:

Shawn Powers said...

We think you're shiny too.

Well, and Boogie of course. :)

Stefans said...

To put a human face on a lurker:

I'm a physics undergrad in London, I live in a flat with a bit of rain problem and a small cockroach infestation. I spend my time working, complaining about the amount of work I have to do and drinking with friends when I should be working.

I'm participating in NaNoWriMo, and I'm currently eating pasta and drinking beer. I mostly read this blog through google reader so you may have seen me as an intermittent lurker.

I'm likely the originator of any imperial.ac.uk IP addresses. I can't skate very well but I persist in trying. I disagree with blogger encouraging people to use outdated HTML tags such as <b>. I have the greatest respect for all the UCF bloggers. I may once have posted a rant on here about quack doctors.

I can't remember if my blogger account uses my real name so I've tried to avoid anything particularly incriminating that a future employer might read. I disagree with the practice of employers reading about you online.

Possibly I'm a statistical outlier in that I didn't arrive at this blog searching for teh pr0n, but I thought I should put a human face on the non-pr0n seeking lurkers :P

Janiece said...

Hi Stefans! I remember you - you commented during the latest bru-ha-ha regarding the scientific method and alt-med, and represented yourself quite well. Thanks for delurking to let us know a bit more about you!

Stefans said...

I did post that! I'm glad it was sane enough to bother remembering (Unless of course you remember it because I sounded crazy, in which case nah nah nah).

I'm afraid I can't claim credit for representing myself well there, as nobody with a differing point of view replied to me.

Glad you reached 100,000 visitors. It's a good demonstration of how consistently good products (or blog posts) will gain market (or mind) share.

Thank you!

WendyB_09 said...

Janiece my dear, you are welcome in my home, either online or real, any time.

And HI to Aunt Marge!

Thordr said...

Hey, where's Boogie, no friday Boogie this week?

Janiece said...

Thordr, your wish is my command.

Carol Elaine said...

You know how I feel about ya, Janiece, and how happy I am to be part of this happy little family.

Congrats on your 100,000th visitor!