Do you have a Gravatar profile? I ask this question and share my mug for a reason. WordPress recently changed how it allows comments. Linda Cassidy Lewis sheds light on the topic here and here.
The first time I had trouble commenting on a WordPress blog I assumed it was me. I soon realized I could say, “It’s not me. It’s you WordPress.”
The change won’t kill me, but it reminded me of why I have a Gravatar.com account. It’s a globally recognized avatar. I uploaded the mug shot I use across all my social media accounts, typed in my email address and added links to my blog, Twitter and Facebook page. When I log into my WordPress account, it links to this Gravatar page. People can find me in several places online at this Gravatar page.
Sometimes I can log into WordPress. Hit the change button next to the message saying “You are commenting using your WordPress.com account” and type in my blog’s address in place of the Gravatar address.
I bring this up, because it’s important to ask yourself: Where do I want people to meet me online? I want to send people to my blog in one click.
WordPress gives you the option of using WordPress, Twitter or Facebook to comment.
I used to comment on WordPress blogs with my Twitter account. This linked people straight to my Twitter profile. If they wanted to check out my blog, they had to click another link. With help from other bloggers, I figured out how to sign in with my Blogger address connected to my comments. The recent WordPress change makes this harder.
The comment process hasn’t been smooth for me in recent weeks. As other issues have consumed my time, I’ve found myself writing comments that won’t post. I do my best to post, but sometimes I have less time than patience. Add in the double word captcha Blogger uses to verify I’m not a spammer and I’m speechless — as in I can’t post a comment.
Has anyone else figured out a work around to the WordPress comment conundrum?
Thanks to all who commented on my Thankful Thursday post. I appreciate you all. The winner of the $10 gift card is August McLaughlin. She was selected as the winner via random.org.
This Thursday, I’m taking a posting break. I’m wrapping up my A to Z Challenge posts for April. Oh, the ABC fun.
I’ll be back on Friday with a Perfect Picture Book Friday here and will have a guest post about memoir at Marilyn Almodóvar’s blog Writing on the Sunny Side of the Street.
Hope you have a great week. I’m thinking happy thoughts for comments and counting to 10 for more patience.
I was wondering what was going on! I had people comment about the problem, but I did know about this!
Erik, It has happened to me on both the .wordpress.com sites as well as the .com WordPress blogs.
I don’t use wordpress, so I’m not familiar with this, but the capcha thing on blogger has gotten impossible! I sometimes have to try three or more times to get it right, which makes me not want to comment!
Susanna, Even if you don’t use WordPress, you may be commenting on WordPress blogs. One Perfect Picture Book Friday, I thought I would pull my hair out!
Stacy, I have kind of gotten around it by putting my website under my gravatar if someone clicks on that. But, it is no longer one click away, so it may be best to use my twitter handle… I haven’t worked out why WordPress changed this as I don’t see any advantages.
Joanna, I haven’t had troubles signing into your site. It’s like a mini-vacation when I can type up a comment and hit post with no problems.
I’ve had problems recently too, it put me off going wild to too many blogs when I have to put all my info in three times – yikes!
Enjoy your mini break!
I know Catherine. It can be time consuming.
I am just totally relieved it’s not just me. I have been so frustrated!! It’s not every WP account I have trouble with, but the ones I have been having trouble with, it even blocks me from visiting the blog. I cleared my internet twice in twenty minutes so I could access the sites I needed to go to. I also added a different e-mail to the gravatar account, hoping that it was the fact I had my gmail account set up for both blogger and WordPress and Gravatar. I don’t know. I’m at a loss, but happy that I’m not alone!
I know Lara. It’s not us this time.
The Gravatar concept is intriguing. I’m not clear on how to use it. When we comment on a wordpress, does that mean we don’t have to select at profile? I always get confused as to what profile to use when commenting since I have several google accounts. So I often use the name/URL to sign in. Is this what you are referring to? I’ll wait to see when more people use it before jumping on board. Thanks for introducing it!
Romelle, The gravatar account is attached to my WordPress account. I have a Blogger blog, so I don’t want to send anyone to an inactive WP blog. The Gravatar at least sends them to a place where all my online links are available. Some WordPress blogs are now requiring you log into your WP account if you have one. If you don’t have a WordPress account, it may not be an issue.
I’ve heard lots of people talking about the problems–but luckily haven’t had any myself. I was wondering if it’s because i use WP dot org and not dot com, but not sure. Here’s to it all working out!
Coleen, I had a problem with a WordPress blog this morning that I thought was on the dot org vs. the dot com. If I took the time to log the problem blogs, I might have a better answer. In reality it’s all fine.
So pain. I’m not a fan of change 😉
Lynda, I like change better with a little warning. 🙂
Thankfully, I already had a Gravatar profile before I set up my WP blog. I was so glad I did, or I couldn’t comment on your blogs on blogspot.
Pat, jd mmmmhjjjjj.
Pat, Enzo wrote you back! The Gravatar profile is proving to be useful.
Great post, Stacy. I haven’t had any problems with WordPress, perhaps because it’s also my host. I do have trouble with blogger and blogspot on occasion, particularly when authors add those captchas you mentioned.
Thanks for the terrific prize!
August, Enjoy the prize.
Thanks Stacy, I’ve been thinking about getting an account, this information will come in useful.
Jennifer, I’m glad I have it, especially now with the WP changes.
I had never heard of a gravatar. Blogspot doesn’t seem to have the kind of issues you have experienced.
I wanted to let you know that I tagged you for the Lucky 7 Meme Award. I don’t know if you’ll have time to do it, but the details are on my blog, Mama Diaries.
Great post! I don’t have these issues being on blogger, but I have to deal with other issues. I was thinking of changing to WP. One thing is for sure, if I do change over I’ll learn from you! *waving*
Great information! I had never heard about this, but I think it’s something I need to do. Thanks!
~Debbie
I’m stopping by to say hello before the A-Z challenge begins. I’m a new follower here 🙂
Thanks Martha. I stopped by your site too.
Stacy, I have to admit that much as WordPress irks me, Blogger with the double Capcha thing drives me mad! Would you believe the other day I did more than eight of those contraptions only to be told they were wrong? I finally gave up and left the blog I was visiting without leaving a comment. Surely there has to be an easier way to catch spam without driving away readers by making it so hard for them to leave comments. Wouldn’t you agree?
Bella, You are brave to have tried eight times. By the third time, I’m like “I’m outta here.” I dropped the captcha late — as in like late last year. I haven’t noticed a lot of spam. I believe Blogger does a decent job catching most of it.
Hi! So bummed that WP has made it difficult now. UGH! As for Blogger, even though I have a gravatar account, my picture doesn’t come up when I put in my name and URL. If I use the WP option, it redirects first then just puts my address but not my photo either. I never understood why (still don’t). I’m wondering if there’s some WP/Google fight going on that is trickling down to US.
And don’t get me started on the double word captcha!!!!
Nina B, I won’t get you started on that DWC!!!!!!
Well, see? I kept going to your WordPress account, thinking you didn’t have a blog but now I see you have a very lovely one!
I didn’t know about Gravatar–well, I know about gravatars, and come to think of it, I have a Gravatar…um. I’m so confused.
Anyway, just glad, as you put it, “It’s not me, it’s them.” But I’d be even gladder (that can’t be right)…er, more glad, if WordPress would just go back to The Way We Were. (A fine movie, I might add.)
Cathy, I have a WP blog, but have put this address there. Probably not clear enough, but it wasn’t a real issue until WP changed it’s comment system. Thanks for stopping by. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the gravatar will work and properly send folks here. 🙂
I had a big problem with this… I finally figured it out but I still have no idea how. But now when I log in with wordpress.com, it links to my blog. (my blog is self-hosted wordpress.org)
But when I comment on blogger blogs, I have to log in with my Google account for my gravatar to show up. Is that right? If I link straight to my blog, I show up as mystery man.
I will say in the midst of all the madness, I appreciate that you are a loyal and thoughtful blog commenter!
I appreciate you stopping by Angie. I always enjoy your posts.