A Simply Questionable Post: Answering Four Questions, Acknowledging One Reality

/ Ally Bean

THE ANSWERING FOUR QUESTIONS PART

We’re on staycation again this week, busy morphing a guest bedroom into a reading/yoga room. More on that later. In the meantime here is something I found when I read THIS POST by Martha at Seaside Simplicity. Because of her I know about the Tuesday 4 questions and this week the 4 questions are about blogging.

1.  Tell us about your blog.  When did you start blogging?

I started my first blog in 2004. My intentions were good, but our computer was unreliable and our internet connection was dodgy, resulting in an arbitrary posting schedule. Still, I stuck with it.
 
2.  What prompted you to begin blogging?

Pure curiosity to see if I could do it.
 
3.  What was your first blog about and why did you choose that subject/title?

My first blog was called sweetlyPAZZO. I don’t remember much of what I wrote about but the title came from my point of view. I was much sweeter back then and I thought that ‘pazzo’ [which means crazy in Italian] was a cool word so I used it in the title of the blog.
 
4.  How has your blog changed over time, and has it done for you what you hoped it would do in the first place?

Like many longtime bloggers I’ve had a few different blogs. For me this has made sense because I’ve wanted to try different approaches to blogging, different points of view, different platforms. Over the years blogging has helped keep my brain clicking by satisfiying my curiosity, so it has done what I hoped it’d do for me in the first place.

THE ACKNOWLEDGING ONE REALITY PART

I sometimes say that irony is my closest friend. In this case I’m referring to how difficult it has been for me, an accomplished blogger, to write this cute little post. It has been anything but fun; in fact it’s been hell.

There has been nothing simple about it.

The WordPress Block Editor has thwarted me at every turn, often blocking me from editing my words in a block so that I had to rewrite what I’d written again… and again… and again. Also there are some links in this post, but the system has inexplicably taken away the blue color from the links so you, kids, cannot see them anymore.

I guess you’re just supposed to know they’re there.

Whilst I’d like to say I’m filled with righteous indignation and the fervor that comes from knowing that there’s something wrong going on and you’re going to stop it, I’m too tired to do so. WordPress is slowly stealing the fun from personal blogging. I don’t know why, but I know this to be true.

212 thoughts on “A Simply Questionable Post: Answering Four Questions, Acknowledging One Reality”

  1. I can’t decide whether to click on the like button or not…so, being prudent, I’m not going to. And that is not because the answers to the questions were intersting…but because you’re having so much trouble with the platform. I have not enjoyed the changes either…but I haven’t run into the problems you’re having. Most of what I can no longer do revolves around pictures, and sizing them or doing anything beyond posting one picture at a time. The whole change irritates me and I have considered moving on…but…change is hard.

    Liked by 8 people

    • Dawn, first of all thank you for your prudent consideration of the like button– and for making me laugh out loud about your last sentence. Well done! 😁

      I don’t know why the blocks won’t let me just write and edit, but that’s what happens. I also dislike what you mention about how time-consuming it is to work with photos. Used to be a snap.

      Liked by 3 people

  2. I heard WordPress was getting progressively worse. I have an emergency blog set up there, waiting, in case Google, which owns Blogger, decides to cut it loose or screw it up. In the meantime, I continue at Blogger, where things are simple and I’m happy since 2005.

    Here’s hoping things settle down and get better for you on your chosen platform. It’s no fun to change.

    Liked by 7 people

  3. It’s still possible to use the simpler, ‘classic’ editor and avoid all those issues. I’m using it for both of my blogs, since I tried the block editor and decided it was designed for blockheads. I have the instructions for getting to it in my files; if you’d like them, let me know.

    Liked by 8 people

  5. I’m sorry to hear WordPress block editor is stealing the fun from your personal blogging. I’ve been using the block editor for about two years and haven’t experienced any annoying issues that you mentioned. I moved from Blogger to WordPress and I’m still happy with my move.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Natalie, now how can that be? I’m glad you’re doing great but I’m beginning to wonder if the Block Editor is different in different countries or on different computers. I’ve had nothing but trouble with it from the beginning. I’m competent and after all these years of blogging I’m computer savvy enough to know how to write a post. I think the problem is with WP, not me.

      Liked by 2 people

      • I don’t know, Ally. I wonder if it’s theme-related and/ or computer-related. As you know, my posts have texts and images. I haven’t had trouble posting them using the block editor. I actually like its flexibility and many built-in features.

        Liked by 3 people

        • I know some people have found the Block Editor to be helpful, but I struggle every time I use it. I add images and links and write words, like you do, but sometimes [not all the time] I can’t size my images or make my links visible or edit my text. I don’t get it, I’m not a newbie to all of this. Beats me

          Liked by 2 people

  6. I’m glad I’m not the only one! I’ve been having an awful time with WP lately. What the what!
    2004!!! That’s amazing. Mine was 2008. I’ve only ever had the Boyhouse but I did blog for other platforms as well. My blog focus has changed significantly through the years but hey, so have I.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Nicole, I don’t know why WP is such a struggle but writing this post just about did me in. This simple little post took me close to 3 hours to compose and publish. I mean, that’s crazy.

      I like your observation that the focus of your blog changed as you did. Makes sense, I know mine has. We evolve.

      Liked by 3 people

        • I’m sorry that happened to you, BUT I’m not surprised. It’s wacko how much more time-consuming this new editor is. I’d post more often if it was simple to use, but as it stands once a week is about all I have the time and patience for.

          Liked by 3 people

  7. Ally, I’ve not experienced any problems with the new block editor, but I know people who have, bloggers who have been blogging longer. So I’m wondering if it’s your theme? I use the Selma theme, which is only 4 years old. I’m wondering if the updates WP makes don’t always translate to an older theme?

    Liked by 6 people

  8. I hate it! That’s not why I blog infrequently, but when I do I hate it. Shoreacres has done a great thing. I was holding out with classic editor then didn’t blog for some time and couldn’t remember how to find it. YAY!!

    Liked by 7 people

    • Deb, I hear ‘ya. The Block Editor makes everything so much more laborious for no reason I can figure– other than to chase away personal bloggers. Maybe the Happiness Engineers dislike us and this is their revenge? I agree that Shoreacres has saved the day. As long as I can work in Classic I shall be happy.

      Liked by 4 people

  9. I’m so sorry that you are still struggling with the new editor. For some reason, I haven’t had any issues once I learned to use it (and, believe me, I’m no techie). I do write my posts in Word first, then cut and paste them into WP. But, I am able to edit and size photos without a problem. Like others have suggested, maybe the theme you use matters. I wish you luck going forward; blogging should be fun.

    Liked by 7 people

    • Janis, I know that many bloggers have no trouble with Block Editor but for those of us who do, it’s a nightmare. I’m not exactly new to writing and using an editing system and adapting to sensible changes, but none of the Block Editor’s quirks make sense to me. I changed my theme in January to adapt to the Block Editor but it isn’t meeting me halfway.

      Liked by 4 people

    • John, I use 2 blocks, paragraph and image. I see no point to most of them so I don’t try them. You get YouTube videos to play, but I can’t get that block to work consistently. It’s all ridiculous.

      Liked by 3 people

      • I didn’t like the way the video block worked, so I made my own using the Custom HTML block. I use Markdown for my text, which covers the bulleted and numbered lists and simplifies adding links, boldfacing and italicizing.

        Liked by 3 people

        • Ah ha! Never thought of doing that, but will keep it in mind. I’m sure I can write posts in the Blockhead system, have been for the last few months, but it’s not simple. And I like simple.

          Liked by 3 people

  11. I loved reading about your blogging past but the WP issues sure seemed to ruin the fun in writing it. I’ve heard so many complaints from people on WP lately. Come on over to Blogger, at least it’s easy to use.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Martha, thanks for introducing me to Tuesday 4. I wanted to answer these questions so I eventually got the blocks to behave. Some weeks the blocks do what they should but lately they’ve become unreliable and argumentative. Like surly teenagers, now that I think about it.

      Liked by 4 people

  12. I think I know why WordPress is stealing our fun. Its focus is on the money (what else 🤷‍♀️). The changes being implemented as supposed to be attractive to those who sell things, on their sites. I keep hoping some platform will arise that will cater to us who blog for reasons other than to make a living from it, but there is little chance of that happening…it all comes down to the money in this as in most everything else in this life. If anyone comes across such a unicorn, please let me know!

    Deb

    Liked by 6 people

    • Deb, you’re right, of course. To TPTB at WP squeezing out personal bloggers who just want to have fun must make sense– and cents. I’d be more cooperative with, and less irritated about, the blog editing changes if WP had explained their reasoning to begin with. Honest and transparent, you know. But instead the company is just messing around with the people who made it a success. Fortunately I believe in karma…

      Liked by 5 people

  13. #1 Started in March 2012
    #2 I was having fun with my grandkids and joined a community of grandparent bloggers.
    #3 ‘Grandparents Plus Two’ morphed into NewEnglandGardenAndThread because those grandkids had the nerve to grow up. 🙂
    #4 I use to blog 3-4 times a week but have run out of mental juice. I keep blogging because of the blogging community. It is like having multiple pen pals from across the country and the world who stop by to check in.
    Wordpress is sucking the life out of all of us! On my volunteer blog, I cut and paste. Wow – try that in the blocks and then attempt to edit it. Not happening. I have to rekey it every time. I was using Classic but read several articles that said it was going to be up the end of 2021 anyway so I decided I just needed to keep going instead of going back and forth. I also have some blog posts that just don’t show up. I think they are looking for the younger paying crowd setting up businesses and could care less if the social blogger gets annoyed and goes away.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Judy, you started your blog a year before I did. Quite disconcerting that your grandkids grew up, like they weren’t concerned about your blogging needs! I used to be more prolific, too, but have found that I feel like I accomplish more here by doing less.

      You’ve nailed the situation with WordPress. I blog for fun and even if I did have something to sell, I’d not include it on this blog. Meaning that I’d start another blog that would be strictly business-oriented and then I’d probably like all the Blockhead bells and whistles. I see what’s happening, I just don’t like it.

      Liked by 5 people

  14. I’ve been blogging since 2013. Same nosmallfeetblog, but at first I didn’t have any readers. I wasn’t even trying to build readership. I was blogging as a way to see if I could handle writing something weekly. My kids were younger and as busy as I am now, I was a different kind of ‘hands on’ busy. I worried that if I had readers and I skipped a week blogging, the blog police would come after me.

    Initially I thought maybe I’d find a way to make money blogging. I had nothing to sell but stories though, so not a money maker. I feel like my blog has shifted a bit over the years. I used to only tell very specific kid-focused stories (I think), and now I share: funny things, frustrations, and asking blog friends to weigh in.

    I hope to write a book and this keeps me writing. As a bonus, I’ve really enjoyed the friends I’ve met and the support I get, and of course always great to share a laugh.

    So sorry about your WP frustrations. If I ran into issues like that, I’d lose my mind.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Ernie, like you I never thought about having a blog that people wanted to read. I started mine to see if I could write… daily back then, if you can believe it. Funny about your worries over the blog police. I think we all kind of have that idea in the back of our minds.

      I never thought I’d make money blogging, but did think it might result in a book deal along the way. It has not and that’s probably for the best. I like the immediacy of blogging more than the static nature of a book.

      When I finally got this simple little post to show up here this morning, I was on the verge of losing my mind. I’m not a blogging newbie and have successfully used four different platforms, so if I can’t figure out how to write a post, there’s something wrong with the system. Just saying… 🤨

      Liked by 4 people

  15. I will copy what I replied to Martha:
    Great topic and I enjoyed reading about your blogging past. Like you, I was originally on a message board, starting in 2006. It was Christian-based and I had about a half dozen people who I talked with through private message. Long story shortened is that one of those people created two additional screen names on the message board and began posting and interacting with everyone and then one of her personas got breast cancer and another one died in a car accident. She made it all up!!! Turns out she had Munchausen’s Syndrome and was banned from the board.

    As you can imagine, I was so disturbed by the whole thing that I left the board, but missed online interaction. Another person from that site started blogging and I followed suit. That was 2008 and my blog hasn’t gone through many changes besides design. I’ve taken short breaks here and there, but have been hooked ever since!

    Liked by 6 people

    • Bijoux, oh my goodness. That’s a heck of a story. I don’t know how I’d react to someone scamming y’all like that woman did. Disturbed? Yes, very.

      I take breaks every so often from blogging, too. I announce what I’m up to then just forget about blog world. I think that’s sane, no one should be here all the time. I’m glad we found each other along the way. I’m fascinated by how many longtime bloggers are out there, and I’m just now meeting them. It’s fun to blog, when the editing system is on your side.

      Liked by 4 people

  16. Those are great questions about blogging – and much more complex and thought-provoking than the first seem. Although I’ve been following you for awhile now, I still learned much more about you through your answers. Sweeter then? I think you are pretty cool now! Sorry about the WP hassle. That is no fun at all!

    Liked by 7 people

    • Donna, I thought the same thing about the questions. Occasionally it’s good to answer some random questions posed by someone else, if only to keep your blog topics fresh. I didn’t know about Tuesday 4 so that was fun to learn about.

      I’m an older and wiser woman now so the sweetness of my early blogging self has worn off. I’m a kind person, but with more snark now. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

      Liked by 4 people

  17. I hate that WP is stealing your blogging joy. Typepad too has been frustrating lately but it’s an issue of “losing” my photos from my posts and having to refresh. It’s a paid service so I expect perfection. (or nearly) I don’t remember if I read the Pazzo site, but it wasn’t too long after that that I found you. And have been hooked ever since!

    Liked by 7 people

    • Margaret, the thing is that I know that I know how to write, edit, and post a blog post. After all this time? I mean really. At first I thought it was me being daft, but now I think the problem is WP being half-assed. You may have been around when I wrote the sweetlyPAZZO blog. I know you’re one of my earliest bloggy friends, so thanks!

      Liked by 3 people

  18. Pingback: Try Try Again | Spirit Lights The Way

  19. WP issues aren’t just ‘one thing’. They seem to morph and adapt to all types of themes, users and media..I usually don’t have issues, until I do.
    Then I’ve learned to put off the post until later…often a different day seems to placate the WP meanies.
    See what I mean? Such a different experience than yourself. Weird.
    Hang in there and enjoy the summer while the living is still fairly free (as in not in lockdown!).
    🙂

    Liked by 7 people

  20. Gosh Ally, I can’t remember what my first blog post was about and I’ve not been blogging for anything like as long as you. Clearly it wasn’t especially memorable! I have some of the posts from that early blog which I moved to WordPress, but mostly they’re the ones I wrote for A-Z April.

    So sorry to hear that WPress is still giving you headaches. I’m thrilled to read that you’ve now got a shortcut back to Classic as we’d hate for blogging to stop being fun for you, for then we would not be seeing much of you.

    Liked by 7 people

    • Deb, I remember the name and tagline of my first blog but I don’t remember what I wrote about exactly. I know the first person to follow me and leave a comment was from NYC which surprised me, then someone from Phoenix, then someone from Dallas– and I was hooked on the possibilities.

      I don’t know why the Blockhead Editor doesn’t work for me. I’m not new to writing and posting. At first I thought it was me, but now I think it’s them. I can’t be this inept all of a sudden! I’m not THAT addled brained, yet.

      Liked by 4 people

      • Ally, as my day job is working for an IT company, I’ve had an opportunity to notice that not even the techies don’t always know why stuff happens – one of the reasons why “reboot” and “install the latest software” are top of the list of instructions they give 😉

        That said, I read a comment below which suggested it might be your browser. Sadly, I have to agree that it might be implicated. I used Safari very happily for years, until one day, I I couldn’t access gmail. I swore the problem must be with gmail, except it worked when I installed Chrome. I’m not especially keen on Chrome, as I find it slow, probably because it’s busy reading our mail so as to send us suitable ads, but I’m heavily invested in gmail (three accounts) so I bit the bullet. It’s one option to investigate if the current Classic work-round you have stops working.

        Liked by 4 people

        • Deb, I haven’t used a Chrome browser in years [so slow], but if it solves the issues with the Block Editor I can do that. Not happy to do it, but I’m a solutions girl so once I can no longer get to the Classic Editor I’ll switch to it if I have to.

          STILL it begs the question, why would WP create any system that isn’t instantly compatible with Safari from Apple? Apple is a big fish, WP is a small fish who should be sucking up to big fish. [I hope my use of business jargon isn’t too much for you! 😉]

          Liked by 2 people

  21. Sorry to hear about your blogging woes with WP. I’ve never tried that platform, but I do have issues these days with blogger. We’ve been blogging since late 2004, and the platform has changed over the years. But lately I’ve been trying to change the photo on the header. It has driven me crazy. Once the uploaded pic was so big only one corner of it showed. Then, it was so small it was surrounded by an ocean of blank space. So I figured out how to get back to the old header pic and stayed with it. I am just grateful that these platforms let us do all this crazy blogging on this crazy internet. Yeah, they give us a hard time, but look at all the nice people we’ve met along the way! I’m glad you’re still here.

    Liked by 6 people

    • robin, I’m laughing as I read about your difficulties sizing your header image. I’ve had that problem with Twitter and ended up swearing enough that the image finally did what I wanted it do. The trick was in the swearing, I think.

      You make a good point about how amazing all of blogging is. It’s easy for me to lose sight of that when I’m fretting over WP’s failings, but you’re right of course. Many nice people, lots of great stories– and a sense of calm connection in a frantic world.

      Liked by 2 people

  22. Sometimes this Block Editor WP drives me nuts, I mean really nuts. Other times it seems to be easier. Sizing photos or aligning them alongside each other goes like a dream other times it.does.not. (not that I’ve done that all that often).I am perfectly sure I use a tiny fraction of what it purports to offer but I don’t want to know. I’ve read before about the tip of doing it as a document and then copy pasting it onto the WP blog post. I may try that at some stage. VERY grateful to shoreacres for her tip re going back to Classic … Thanks Ally Bean for suffering for all of us 🙂

    Liked by 5 people

    • Susan, you said really nuts. I’m right there with you. I agree that the Block Editor works some times, then other times it locks me out of being able to edit or add photos. It’s random and infuriating. Like you I don’t want to know what else the Block Editor can do because what it claims to do now, it does so poorly that I cannot imagine anything else it tried to do it’d do well. It seems mediocre all around.

      I, too, am grateful to Shoreacres. She has it worked out and has graciously shared her knowledge here. Now that I know how to do this, I’m golden. Going Classy in the future.

      Liked by 4 people

  23. I have fought the block editor to the point where I’ve threatened to quit WordPress more than once. I write on the WordPress website (not the app), and here’s what I do now:

    — When I want to write a new post, I go into “Posts,” and at the very top, there’s an arrow for creating new posts. I choose Classic Editor.
    — Each time I leave a post and come back, I go into the drafts, touch in the vicinity of the post (I write on an iPad, so I don’t have a mouse) and choose Classic Editor.
    — When I include a link, I bold and choose the copy to attach the link, click on the icon for the link, add the link and hit the little arrow button. Then I hit the link icon again and choose the function to open it as a separate page. No, I don’t know why they made it a two-step process, but WordPress does a lot of things I don’t understand.

    Hope this helps, and great post!

    Liked by 6 people

    • Bill, thanks for explaining your process. I don’t know why everything that used to be simple is now a multi-step slog. I like how you get the link icon to do your bidding. I’ve yet to threaten to leave WP but like Deb said above in the comments, if someone finds/creates a new platform that caters to social bloggers then she’s there. Me too.

      Liked by 2 people

      • I actually gave up the fight. I think it was Classic Editor literally losing things I had written and saved. I used the Block Editor for my last two posts, and it was … fine. I’m still not sure why they require extra steps to do stuff, but it’s … fine.

        Liked by 2 people

  24. Funny how most blogs these days are about blogging! And WP – I either type out a post in Open Office and then export it as an html document and then paste that into a WP using the code option – Whew! Or I simply choose the ‘classic’ block. But as someone else said, getting pictures to line up with text, which is something I like to do, total nightmare and I haven’t figured that one out. I printed out those instructions and will try it out later, but I do a lot of editing/writing in the code format – keeps my html skills sharp if nothing else.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Grace, I know. In fact I hesitated about even writing this post because I thought another post about blogging? Do I want to do that? But then I decided I did and once I got started, and irritated, I was determined to finish it.

      Another commenter mentioned writing and editing using html. It seems like a step backward to me, but I could do it again. If for no other reason than to keep my brain clicking.

      Liked by 2 people

  25. I had WP issues with that recent Oregon post of mine. I made ONE edit from my phone last night and didn’t notice it was one of the first drafts. Overwrote the entire post. Had to rewrite half of it. Of course I thought of you the entire time 😂😂

    Liked by 6 people

    • Pam, I wish that there was some other reason to think of me other than my ongoing disappointment with the WP Block Editor, BUT it’s nice to be thought of so I appreciate the nod. As for having problems whilst writing a blog post, more do than don’t. If the comments on the post are to be believed. 🙄

      Liked by 4 people

      • I also think of you when I see a pear cocktail on a menu! I rarely have issues posting, but the new block editor…jeez. Took me a Lot longer to write that last post. I was exhausted at the end rather then invigorated. ugh.

        Liked by 3 people

        • That’s my problem, too. I used to write these posts, toss them out there, and sit back all enthusiastic. Now I’m just worn out trying to get my thoughts + pics posted. Seems wrong, make me feel ancient, and less inclined to post. 🍸

          Liked by 3 people

          • You said it perfect. Just want to write, insert pix, post and march on.
            While I’ve had a backdoor to the Classic editor (and had “found” the hidden classic button in Blockheaded…) just the thought of opening up WP with anxiety because they have probably changed something for their commercial blogs…just the anticipation of problems – causes an avoidance issue at times.
            Better is the enemy of good, WP…and casual bloggers did get you to the Big Tech Prom Dance. (so fickle)
            Eventually they will close off the backdoors and make classic so unstable, but until then hiding and quietly blogging on.
            I love the title of your fist blog! Always fun around here ( and helpful community, too..I actually test drove the early versions of Blockheaded during development… it was cumbersome – maybe OK for those who never used older versions, but no thanks…and they really didn’t ask for any more reviews or help from me HAHA)

            Liked by 3 people

            • philmouse, yes, yes!!! Simplify the system, don’t make it more complicated. I have no idea why WordPress doesn’t get that, other than they want us smaller bloggers, who made them who they are today, to go away.

              Like you I’ll start quietly using the Classic Editor again now that I know how to get to it. It seems silly that I have to do that, but I’m nothing if not determined, especially when I feel like I’m a pawn in someone else’s game. Yep, looking at you, WP. Not cool.

              Liked by 2 people

  26. I’ve noticed that some of my earlier post are all skiwhampus and it is a real pain to try to edit them. I think WP is trying to force users into upgrading. Seems to be backfiring on them.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Jan, I haven’t looked at any of my early posts. I wonder if I should? Or will I get more irritated with WP? I agree that whatever they’re trying to pull isn’t going over well.

      Liked by 3 people

  27. The block editor broils me too. Like when it leaves its little tool bar right where I need to read. Or when I can’t delete two different paragraphs at once because it treats each as a new block, not just me hitting return. Or when I WANT a new block so I can add an image, but the little plus sign on the right is simply NOT THERE.

    The blue for links not showing up is a new one. That’s frustrating and infuriating for sure!

    I feel you, Bean. I really do.

    Liked by 6 people

  28. I still use the classic editor. The block editor was created by … blockheads. Or those with square heads. Whatever, I think it was someone on your blog post [Linda (https://shoreacres.wordpress.com/)} about a month ago who offered for me to e-mail her, and she told me what to do to get into the classic editor. It’s worked every week for me! Please, you can do this!!

    Liked by 6 people

    • Pam, Linda left a link about how to get to the Classic Editor in her comment above. Thanks for mentioning her. She’s our blogging guardian angel and for that I am most grateful. I want blogging to be invigorating, not in exhausting. Why doesn’t WP want that for me, too?

      Liked by 5 people

  29. Flickr’s design team did the same thing. When they made finding groups harder and links to them harder to find they lost a lot of people. Then they stopped the grandfathered price for all us old-timers so I stopped paying for the “pro” version. I hope WP doesn’t wreck the experience for us. I’m getting the Block Editor to work for me, but I’ll tell ya, I’m copying a lot of my comments because that feature messes up a lot for me. I learned the hard way that copying what I’ve written saves time when it won’t post the comment and I lose what I wrote trying to post it again.

    Liked by 6 people

  30. I don’t remember when I started my blog but my husband and younger daughter urged me to so I did. I have my title because I didn’t really realize I had to have a title and couldn’t just save what I had and come back with one. I keep it up because I really enjoy it and I love talking with other bloggers, meeting a number in person, and seeing what they have to say and show.

    I knew you’d get lots of responses on the WP issues. I don’t do or try to do much other than write and share photos, so that may make a difference. I’ve been using the Block Editor since they started it because I knew I’d have to eventually. My biggest frustrations were when they took away the circles/dots indicating on the scheduling calendar when a post was already schedules. That’s finally been remedied. I find that once again when I want to highlight a section to italicize, bold, put in a link, etc. that often even though I’ve covered the whole bit I want, only part will be included in whatever I’m trying to do, so sometimes it takes three or four times to get it all covered.

    I have no idea how you get in touch with the so-called Happiness Engineers, but it doesn’t seem that even if you get in touch, much happens. Ahh, well, I just want to keep blogging without having the frustration outweigh the fun. So far, so mostly good. I’ve never changed my theme and toy with that idea often but I always worry something won’t work well, so I’ve just kept it.

    janet

    Liked by 6 people

    • Janet, same thing here with the weird time-consuming way in which the Blockhead Editor forces you to italicize and/or bold copy, add links. It only does a few words at a time, instead of the whole phrase or sentence. Why?

      I’ve had communications with the so-called Happiness Engineers and they did nothing to address my problem. All I got was a condescending “have you tried ______?” I had, told them so, and then was ignored. I won’t bother with them again.

      I changed my theme in January to accommodate this new editing system. It was doable, but some features changed. Nothing drastic though, so that was good. My understanding is that eventually all old themes, mine was from 2015, become obsolete, so you may have to change yours regardless of what you want.

      Funny about your blog title and why you have it now. I did a test blog, with a different throwaway name, before I committed to this title. I thought I’d better figure out a few things before I published my first blog post here. We all learn as we go along, I guess.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Lynette, another blogger who is less than thrilled with the Block Editor. Go figure. I try to use it, but the darned thing fights me. Now that I have the magic key that unlocks the Classic Editor I’ll use it when/for as long as possible.

      Liked by 3 people

  32. I don’t use WordPress but I have to wonder…could it be the browser you are using? I have found MANY times when I run into issues with certain web-related software/programs sometimes it all comes down to your browser. Maybe that will help the situation?

    At any rate, I’m sorry WordPress is making blogging more irritating than fun – that is not the point of blogging.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Gigi, I use Safari, whatever is current according to Apple BUT you raise a great point. I’ve never thought of that being a variable. I’ll see what I can discover on that front. Thanks for the idea.

      And yes, irritating me is never a good idea. I snarl, loudly. Case in point, this Block Editor.

      Liked by 2 people

      • The findings would be interesting…I’ve found that some Safari users can’t comment on my Google blog (Blogger)…so much for everyone playing nice.
        It would be great if there was ONE platform that worked for posting and responding to comments…too bad I don’t have the knowledge to make that a reality.

        Liked by 3 people

  33. Started my blog back in 2012 as a recent widow. I’d blogged for over a decade before that as a caregiver to my husband who was right side paralyzed without verbal or written communication. My first post on my then new blog was titled ‘Day One After the Funeral’ and it was inspired by a woman who worked for a medical supply company who wanted t know my husband’s “expiration date” which I then compared his toe tag to an expiration date on box of cereal.

    My blog has changed over the years and I now call myself a seasoned widow looking for contentment, friends and a voice in my restless world.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Jean, I didn’t know the origins of your current blog. Thanks for explaining it here. The title of your first blog post is profound, and I can see why it made sense. Still, talk about a way to take blog land by storm.

      I suspect that we all change the focus and vibe of our blogs as we go along. I like your description of yourself as a seasoned widow. Very apt.

      Liked by 2 people

  34. This is when I’m glad I take time to read other bloggers’ comment sections. I have yet to try getting the Classic Editor back but I will bookmark your post just in case. You know how I feel about Block Editor. Will someone PLEASE schedule a blogger meetup so we can get drunk and rant about this in person? Your point about WordPress stealing the fun from blogging hit me in the gut. Exactly, my friend.

    Liked by 6 people

  35. At the risk of being super-annoying, I will offer that I don’t mind the block editor. I didn’t like the change (the old version wasn’t broke), but whatevs, WP.

    Because I blog just for kicks, it’s easier to have this stance. I also don’t do anything too fancy. I’m super old-school.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Rita, a few other bloggers have said the same thing that the Block Editor works just fine for them. I’m glad someone likes it, the poor dear. I still wonder if a person’s love for or hatred of the Block Editor has to do with geography or age/brand of your computer. No answer, a rhetorical musing.

      Liked by 2 people

  36. I don’t often read comments, but I am so glad I read the ones from this post! I usually used the classic within the block editor, if you know what I mean. I had to click on “classic” each time I began a new paragraph after I posted a photo. It did allow me to add links, etc.

    BTW…if there is a drunken rant about the block editor, let me know. I’m in!

    Liked by 6 people

    • Laurie, I do know what you mean about using classic within block editor. I’ve never tried that way of writing a post, but I’m aware of it. Now that Shoreacres has revealed how to get to the Classic Editor I’m following her lead. No plans for a drunken rant yet, but you never know. 😁

      Liked by 2 people

  37. Yes, some days I think I might throw my laptop for messing up my formatting or my phone for accidentally popping out and deleting my very long and thoughtful comment on someone’s blog….

    Liked by 6 people

  38. Ally, I enjoyed this post, except for the last part. I am sorry WordPress is making it so hard. I fight with them over people getting disconnected, but at least I’m able to publish posts. I hope it gets better. This is supposed to be fun.

    Liked by 6 people

      • Agreed. You could just stream-of-conscious write. Now the sudden insertion of a block knocks me out of flow, which makes me want to edit what I’ve written instead of finishing it, which makes me think it’s garbage, which becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Why did they do this? Who did they think they were helping?

        Liked by 3 people

        • I’ve the same problem when writing now. I used to babble on the page then edit later, but no more. There’s always some darned block in my way and I get distracted. I’ve no real answer as to why WP did this and sadly they’ve not been forthcoming about the why.

          Liked by 2 people

  40. My Goodness! This was a long page full of comments that I had to scroll down to get to the bottom so I could leave my feeble comment! Thank you so much for visiting my blog today (Closed Doors, Open Windows)…and participating in our Tuesday 4 …just 4 questions. It is so great to meet you and make new friends here! I also read on to your post about your hair (cut) (not) and the changes we’ve had to make especially this past year. I am just so glad to be back to hugging my friends and family and singing out loud in church, and not being afraid to show my whole face in public again. I tend to be a bit of a lip reader because of some hearing loss, and it’s been very frustrating trying to understand what people are really saying when they wear a mask. I know I missed some great conversations that way. Anyway, it is so wonderful to meet you and I look forward to getting better acquainted in the future. Have a wonderful rest of your week…well, tomorrow IS Friday!

    Liked by 6 people

    • Pamelasopenwindow, thanks for stopping by to read and comment on my blog. I appreciate that. I seem to get a lot of comments here and I love it. The more the merrier, I say.

      I agree about how nice it is to be back out in the world again and to not be wearing a mask. I did what was needed but am just as happy to move on from the masking part of Covid-19. It’s been quite an experience living through the pandemic, but there you go. Ever onward go I!

      Liked by 3 people

  41. I’m so sorry you have had trouble with the block editor. Blogging is supposed to be fun, and it hasn’t been for you lately. From reading the comments here, I wonder if the way we learn has a lot to do with it. I know there are people who prefer written instructions and those who respond well to videos. I’ll bet the block editor comes easily to some and is a great struggle for others. I haven’t a clue why, but I wish someone did. The happiness engineers that I have dealt with were sympathetic, patient, and helpful. One tip — avoid calling them on Monday. That’s the day the most irate people call for help.

    Liked by 5 people

  42. Oddly, at least based on what I hear from you and others, I haven’t had any real problems with the block editor. The one thing I can’t figure out is how to add a category to a post. i found it once and since then, it’s been stubbornly evading me. But, I’m not doing anything fancy so perhaps I just haven’t stumbled on those problems.

    Regarding your 4 questions, i can’t remember my first blog post. I think that it, and all the subsequent blogs I’ve had, started with how hard it is to face a blank page and know what to write. I remember old journals from my childhood starting the same way.

    Liked by 5 people

    • Zazzy, I know that some people have no issues with the Block Editor and that’s wonderful. I find it difficult to the nth degree and would like to see it go far away. Should it be perfected and glitch-free I’ll embrace it but until then I’m back to using the Classic Editor.

      I don’t know what I wrote on my first blog post either. I know the name of my first blog and my tagline, but as for the content from any post in the blog it beats me what I said.

      Liked by 4 people

  43. Occasionally I have some problems on my phone or tablet using the WordPress block editor. They are sorted if I go back to the desktop.
    Even so I do hear your frustration. I feel agree the platform’s efficiency is slowly diminishing. The new features do not outweigh the drag of a lumbering dinosaur

    Liked by 5 people

    • Amanda, I don’t use my phone for WP. I occasionally use my iPad for it, but I mostly use my desktop computer when I blog. My woes are with it.

      Well said, as the platform is becoming less simple to use it is like a “lumbering dinosaur” slowly phasing itself out of existence. I cannot imagine why TPTB at this company ever signed off on the Blockhead Editor, but they did.

      Liked by 3 people

  44. You started blogging in 2004. No wonder you’ve accumulated a host of posts. . . an a huge following. You quirkiness, which is adorable, began with the strange topic of Pazzo! Well, now. Brava to all of this!

    I notice that you and Zen Den are morphing a guest bedroom into a reading/yoga room. Sounds like another blog post sometime down the line.. About WordPress, I don’t do much with the Block Editor. I’m a techno-wimp, so I pay my web guy to make changes or solve problems. I put up with his slowness because he is so good. He also likes me, which is I guess a plus.

    Enjoy your staycation. Thanks for the enlightening here, as always! 🙂

    Liked by 5 people

    • Marian, you’re right about my blog following. Sometimes someone will ask me how I got so many people reading this blog and the answer is I’ve been around forever. People just drop by every so often to see what’s up. In fact occasionally someone from 10-15 years ago who no longer blogs turns up here. It’s fun and I appreciate them all.

      I promise to post about the room transformation when it’s complete, although now that I write that I realize I have no before photos. Oh well, I’ll write about it anyhow eventually.

      I like your term techno-wimp. It fits you and me to a degree. I’m not into techie stuff but I try to understand what I need to know to do what I do here. WP, however, thwarts me. Oh yes it does…

      Liked by 4 people

  45. Argh! So sorry to hear about your block editor problems! (I feel a little guilty because I’ve never had any problems with it, although perhaps I’m not trying to do the things you’re doing.) I can see how this would suck all the joy out of blogging. I wonder if your theme is compatible with the block editor or working at cross purposes with it? Or perhaps your browser? I hope a solution turns up soon.

    So interested in the guest bedroom ~ reading/yoga room transformation. We’re doing some repurposing, too. A reading/yoga room sounds like a great escape!

    Liked by 5 people

    • Barbara, I changed my theme in January to one that WP lead me to believe was current and Blockhead compatible. As for the browser, I don’t know. Considering it’s the latest iteration of Safari, and that’s an Apple product, I’d think that WP would want to have things that played nice with Apple. But maybe not.

      The transformation of the room has been a long time in coming. We’re beginning to think of our house in terms of retiring here, so we’re repurposing the room to accommodate a future us.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Kate, now that I can find the Classic Editor I’m back to being a happy little blogging bean.

      I know what you mean about trying to put photos into those blocks. It takes about 10-12 steps to do what used to take 2-3. That is not progress in my book. That’s just messing with us.

      Liked by 4 people

  47. Solidarity on your block editor comments. I’ve really tried to give it the ‘ol college try, and even feel that I have mastered much of its functionality. But for all of the “features,” I always feel as if it’s too many keystrokes to accomplish what I could do earlier in less. The only thing I’ll give it some grudging kudos for is how it handles pictures. I do like those changes. But the rest of it? Meh. – Marty

    Liked by 5 people

    • Marty, thanks for your support. I’ve tried, too. I’m not exactly new to editing systems or blogging or any of this. HOWEVER so many glitches with the Blockhead Editor and so many extra steps to accomplish what used to be simple. And this is happening because…? WP’s lack of explanation for this editing albatross is troubling as well.

      Liked by 3 people

  48. It was really interesting to read your thoughts on your blogging questions and I hear you over blogging being something to stimulate curiosity on all sorts of levels being a very curious as well. How long have you been on WP and what other blogging sites have you tried? One thing I like about WP that LiveJournal doesn’t have is the “conversations” feature, yet I like with LJ how it shows you the friend inter connections of who your mutual friends are.

    Liked by 5 people

    • Katy, I’ve been on Blogger, Typepad, and WordPress. I also messed around in Tumblr at one point, but disliked it. I’ve never been on LiveJournal.

      I started this blog on WP in 2011 and at first adored WP. But with these recent changes to the editing system I’m less enthusiastic about it. Many of my bloggy friends here are on Blogger which they like very much. Not saying I’m moving this blog, but you never know.

      Liked by 2 people

  49. Thanks for visiting my blog. Apologies for being so late in visiting here and commenting. Thanks for joining in on the Meme. Smiles

    Liked by 5 people

  50. Thank you for sharing an interesting post, Ally. I enjoy learning more about you. I like your phrase “keep my brain clicking…”

    I also have had some increased recent challenges formatting a post using the WP Block Editor.

    I have learned some tedious, time consuming tricks to get the blue in there and the underline. The ‘blocks’ often block my typing and so on…….I know I am speaking to the choir.

    It has taken a lot of trial and error and not intuitive at all. Many issues with the photos, too.

    About a year ago, I used the ‘classic’ and the ‘block’ within a post. Editing became an issue. I may try this again.

    Liked by 5 people

    • Erica/Erika, yes I understand your troubles with the Block Editor. It is soooo frustrating to use, taking the fun out of being a creative blogger. I have to wonder if that isn’t the point from WP’s point of view. Get rid of us smalltime bloggers as they chase after business accounts.

      That being said, Shoreacres shared how to get back to the Classic Editor in her comment above. I plan on using it for as long as I can because writing and editing this personal blog should be fun.

      Liked by 2 people

  51. Thanks for this post Ally, it’s good to know even seasoned bloggers get frustrated with WordPress at times. I wish it was more intuitive, I find myself wanting to format in certain ways or sometimes copy and paste direct from a word document, sometimes it plays ball and others not!

    It’s also interesting to read you’ve had other blogs…I’ve been toying with some other blog ideas for a while, but as I’ve only been blogging a year I don’t quite feel ready to branch out….when did you know it was the right time to end one blog and start another?

    Liked by 3 people

    • Rae Cod, you said it with your line: “sometimes it plays ball and others not!” That’s the truth of it.

      I knew I was ready for a new blog when my tagline/point of view seemed to me to not be me anymore. My first blog I was sweetness. The next one I was mocking & silly. Then this one where I think of myself as a newspaper lifestyle columnist reporting on my life in a midwestern suburb.

      Each blog made sense to me at the time, but had a different tone and purpose. This one is the best one, but it took a while to get here.

      Liked by 2 people

  52. Word Press is definitely moving it’s focus toward blogs that sell things, and abandoning those who simply use their blogs for writing and photos. We haven’t been completely kicked off yet, but the time is coming. As for “happiness engineers,” don’t get me started. A few are polite, a few are helpful, but most are condescending and clueless about how to solve our very real problems. Aside from “refresh your browser” we don’t get much advice! I’m still using classic, but when I lose the ability to do that, I’m going to find a new blogging platform or quit blogging altogether. I have no desire to “level up my writing” by using “blocks.”

    Liked by 4 people

    • Ann, you’ve said it. I agree that WP is courting business accounts now, having gotten here because of personal bloggers like us, but ready to ignore our requests. I’ve never had a positive experience with the Happiness Engineers for the reasons you mention. I’m not an idiot, but they treat me as such. I don’t know what I’ll do in the future about blogging on WordPress. I really loved this platform when I started but now WP seems intent on annoying me/us.

      Liked by 2 people

  53. Hi there – the Tuesday questions sound like a good idea – I will check out that blog – and I enjoyed the comment here about accessing the classic editor – going to try it now

    Liked by 4 people

    • Yvette, there’s a link to the Tuesday 4 questions in this post. Of course you cannot discern it because the Blockhead Editor took away the blue color that designates a link. Botheration.

      Liked by 2 people

      • I did notice the link because you made it in caps
        THIS POST
        –
        So saw it but it is creamy how they neutralize it all (and I guess that is why I use the clunky “here” for my links )

        Liked by 2 people

        • I know what you mean about clunky. I put the link to Martha’s post in caps because she’s the one who introduced me to Tuesday 4 [which also has its own link but who can tell]. The ability to link and have readers know about it used to be so sophisticated, but now IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CAPS. 🙁

          Liked by 2 people

          • well you are right because I missed that other link – and they should go back to allowing the links to be obvious – we shall see how it unfolds – and in the meantime I will use the clunky “(here)” for my links.
            now I am off to check out Martha and the Tuesday 4 (even though I might not join in because after tree squares ends this month I am going to try and limit to three posts a week and I already have those themes – but might be able to join in way later – also, I like when you link blogs and worth a look see)
            have a great day Ally

            Liked by 2 people

  54. I think I started blogging in 2013, much later than you did. I started out with lots of posts about China, especially about Xiamen and about WWII and the Sino-Japanese War. All of that to coincide with the publication of my first novel, TIGER TAIL SOUP. Along the way, I found that I liked blogging and connecting with other bloggers, and I started writing about anything that occurred to me.

    I’m sorry WordPress is giving you so much trouble. I have no patience for technology that turns against me. Right now, I’m okay with WordPress. It won’t put the pictures where I want them, but I’m just letting that go.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Nicki, I didn’t know why or when you started your blog so thanks for explaining. Blogging is fun if you’re willing to put effort into it and obviously you have. I like that you allow yourself to write about whatever occurs to you. Me too.

      I know what you mean about the pictures. I’ve gotten over that, too. Right now my concern is my inability to write and edit using the blocks. I am continually thwarted which interrupts my flow/thoughts. My guess is that whoever created this block nonsense is not a writer.

      Liked by 2 people

  56. I love Martha’s blog and the four questions.
    Oh the irony that your first blog gave you trouble because of computer and I tissues and this one now before WordPress.
    I thought I had mastered the %*!?#%} block editor, but I’m occasionally having issues that cause much cussing.
    May the blogging Gods be with us.

    Liked by 4 people

    • Suz, yes there always seems to be irony in my life, somehow, somewhere. I want to like the Block Editor but it does all it can to be difficult. Quite disagreeable. You said: May the blogging Gods be with us. Amen, sister!

      Liked by 1 person

  57. I have been on the Block Editor since April 2019 – it does have its quirks and sometimes my posts appear, then disappear, or don’t post when I schedule them. Sigh. Ally, I only use three blocks though: paragraph, headline and image and I have a very simple theme. One day I expect to get an e-mail message that WP is eliminating the 2010 theme. I abide by the KISS method when it comes to technology stuff if I can. I was in a blogging group through Patch.com for a few years and someone was on Blogger and I found the posts disjointed to read and respond to comments. Perhaps that’s since I have only used one platform and that’s WordPress.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Linda, I’ve had paragraphs disappear right in front of me. I’ve had difficulties when I try to schedule posts, too. The Block Editor is trouble, but now that Shoreacres explained how to get to the Classic Editor I’m feeling better about blogging. A few commenters here have mentioned Blogger, too. I started on it, but left along the way for the reasons you mention. I don’t know that I want to learn yet another blogging platform so I’m here on WP for the time being. Still, it doesn’t have to be this difficult…

      Liked by 2 people

      • I have always drafted in Word and copied it over to WP, then I add my photos one by one from my computer (similar to how Anne Mehrling described it in her recent blog). So, I’ve not lost anything while preparing a post, but I have had pictures go missing on old posts which is annoying. I wanted to send someone a previous post and I knew the title of the post, so simply searched for it, grabbed the link and sent it to her. I did not look at the post before adding it to the comment. She asked me why so many pictures were missing in the post. Lots of photos were grayed out with the title of whatever I named them as the only image. It’s happened a few times … that’s annoying and I have the original photos and posts, on a flash drive, so I could replace them, but I prefer to just seethe a little about it since WP had no answer. I was annoyed they took away caption capability, but restored it a few weeks later.

        Liked by 2 people

        • I don’t look back at my old posts often so I don’t know how many photos are missing. Now I’m wondering, but not enough to find out. I write using the editing system here on WP having never tried writing elsewhere then copying it to here. That’d be one more bothersome step in my estimation and I want to simplify this blogging adventure, ‘ya know? Pity that WP is all about complicating things. 🤨

          Liked by 2 people

          • I don’t go back to read those posts, but often I can remember the title and titles or use a key word(s) and I never looked at the post, just patched it into my reply to another blogger. I thought it was a fluke and forgot about it, until it happened again. I didn’t go through all the posts – one day I will as I’ll go through and tag my earlier posts. Simple is better for everything!

            Liked by 2 people

  58. Pingback: Instructions for Accessing the Classic Editor (#Treesquare July 12 & Pull up a Seat) – priorhouse blog

  59. I’m sorry block editor and you are fighting. I’ve been using it for awhile and I like it, but there are definitely bumps with my theme that make me batty and have had me looking for a newer theme. My frustration is that so many of the themes I’m finding have the truncated, post slider nonsense that I can’t get rid of. I’m glad to hear you got classic editor back! Now if only I could find a 2015 classic theme. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    • Katie, I changed my theme at the beginning of the year to accommodate the Block Editor. It’s a premium theme that they [WP] suggested, so I feel like I’ve done my bit to be cooperative. I don’t like those truncated posts either, btw. I want blogging to be simple– and therein seems to be my issue with the Block Editor. It’s pointlessly complicated with so many steps to do anything that I don’t want to try to do anything. 🤷‍♀️

      Liked by 2 people

  60. “WordPress is slowly stealing the fun from personal blogging.” Man, you are so right, Ally. After 8 years, I’m considering bagging it. What keeps me at it are the blogging buddies I’ve made over the years. How can I just walk away?

    Liked by 2 people

  62. Since 2004. That’s amazing! You have 13 years of blogging experience on me. I started in 2017 when hurricane flooded me out of my home, and I was too exhausted to update people by phone. I started writing about it instead. After ten months of living in a hotel and rebuilding, I was so happy to move back home and finally write on other topics.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Crystal, your blog origin story is a great one, although I’m sorry you got flooded out of your home. We all start blogs for one reason, then I believe we continue them for different reasons. You prove that! Thanks for explaining how you ended up being a blogger.

      Liked by 1 person

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