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A Word on Genuine Support, Reciprocity, and Truth
At The Realist Juggernaut, we pride ourselves on authenticity. When we subscribe to a blog, it’s because we believe in genuine support and the mutual growth of content creators. We don’t just hit “like” for the sake of it—we engage, we read, and we only show appreciation when something truly resonates.
However, we need to issue a serious warning to others in the blogging community: we’ve noticed some individuals using a dishonest tactic—subscribing to collect likes from us, only to unsubscribe once they’ve gained what they want, then repeating the process over and over. This is manipulative behavior, and it ends now. We deal with enough with big tech alone, and dealing with this is just another burden.
To those that have engaged constantly in this behavior: we are removing our support from you entirely.
We’ve un-liked every post we once liked and will no longer engage with your content. If you think you can use us to boost your stats while giving nothing in return, think again. Your stats will take a hit, and your cycle of unsubscribing and resubscribing will no longer work here.
A Commitment to Truth
At The Realist Juggernaut, we stand for honesty. All of our articles are based on facts and truth—there is no room for misleading stories or fabricated information. Our creative works, like poems and stories, are for entertainment and reflection, and we make that clear. But when it comes to reporting, we ensure that what you read is rooted in reality.
Thank You to Our Genuine Supporters
To those who have consistently supported us—thank you. We see you, and we appreciate you. Your authenticity means the world to us, and we will continue to have your back just as you have ours. This community thrives on real connections, and together, we’ll continue to build something meaningful.
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Well said.
Thank you very much! 😎
Ugh, that stinks that you’re having to deal with that. It is for that very reason that I’m so careful about using the subscribe function.
Because I’ve subscribed to someone after reading 2 posts that I liked, then had them subscribe to me and then they write a post where I end up saying “I’m out of here”. so now I’m much more careful, I hope 🙂
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I totally get that! It can be tough when you’re cautious about subscribing, only to feel like you have to back out later. It’s definitely important to be selective with who we support. And with all the challenges we’re facing, like shadow banning, it’s even more critical to stay mindful and protect the spaces we work so hard to build. Staying vigilant is key! 😎
I have heard this before, but I don’t know if it’s always done to manipulate the numbers? I know I often hit ‘Like’ on many articles as a way to support those bloggers—even if I don’t read every word. But I don’t unfollow them typically either. I typically only unfollow blogs that for whatever reason their posts no longer resonate with me. I sure hope I have not come across as inauthentic.
Could this also be a case of ignorance on some people’s part?
Thank you very much, Sheila! Your support, along with everyone else’s, means the world to me, and I truly appreciate how consistently you’ve been there. Unfortunately, there are people out there who are just out for themselves, and I can’t have those people ruin our stats. Also, I completely understand—sometimes certain posts resonate more, and that’s perfectly fine. It’s always great to see your engagement, and your encouragement has been a big part of the journey. Thanks again for everything, and wishing you all the best as always! 😎
Oh, good, John! I’m just one of those people (since I was little), who feels guilty even when I didn’t do anything wrong—and is probably tied to that whole, We Are All Connected thing I write about. Ha! (Thank you for helping me see THAT!)
You’re welcome, Sheila! I had to re-read what I wrote in that post, and I realized that in one section, I didn’t express exactly what I was saying, which made it seem like I was talking about everyone in a way, and that wasn’t the case. So, I fixed that confusion in that section. Usually, I catch these things before we post anything. I’ve been writing so many articles these past few weeks, I didn’t realize I did that. I apologize for any confusion. I appreciate you and everyone else who has genuinely supported me and this crew on our journey, and we are very grateful. 😎
Oh! Perhaps that was it, I always strive for clarity (in my writing) too, John. I love that you revisited the article and updated a section. I will read it again too and see if I pick it up, or if the vibe feels different to me about the ‘feeling guilty’ thing.
Also, can you give us an example as to how we can know if someone is doing this to us? For example, I just noticed a blogger (whom I like a lot and believe is being supportive of my writing), that clicked Like 10 times in a row on my most recent posts/articles. (We have exchanged many comments though, so I don’t want to suspect it’s a numbers game the person is playing). Thank you!
You’re welcome, Sheila! So, usually, those people who do this will subscribe, like a few posts, and then you may like a few of theirs. They repeat this process until you’re liking posts quite often. Then, they slow down liking your posts until you don’t notice them not engaging anymore. Once they see you consistently reading and liking their posts, they unsubscribe and lose interest in your content.
Once you stop liking their posts for a bit, they’ll like a few of yours again, but by this point, they’re no longer subscribed. Then, when they notice you liking their content again, they stop engaging with your posts once more, resubscribe, and repeat the process.
Here at The Realist Juggernaut, we are an official business, and when people do this, it hurts our stats. We rely on these stats to review the growth of our website, measure interest, and so on. Chances are, the people who do this are trying to keep their stats up, essentially gaming the system. This is how some operate, showing no genuine interest in your posts and never engaging in meaningful dialogue.
The person you’re talking about sounds legitimate, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about with them. We value true engagement with our articles. Those we engage with regularly know that we read and support them genuinely. Each of us chooses who we want to engage with, and we take time daily to read and support those we follow. The people we follow are those who enjoy blogging, share similar interests, and create content we relate to.
Not to mention, it’s important to read these days. We always take a few hours to read and support others. We know all too well what it’s like to not be genuinely supported or to be shadow banned for telling the truth, so we understand what it’s like not to be heard. No matter how big this company gets, we will always remain true to the people who support us.
Also, for those who click ‘like’ on 10 posts in a row, to be fair, that doesn’t always mean they haven’t read them. They may be liking posts to read later or reading multiple posts before liking them all at once. We do that sometimes—read everything first, then hit the like button afterward, or save them for later, depending on how busy we are. 😎
Thank YOU, John! Okay, this has happened to me and I hear you. We all want to be read and heard. I sooo appreciate the example and the ‘to be fair’ part. Yes, I like several and save to read later. And the best, I will reblog.
Also, reblogging posts is a compliment and good for stats, right?
You’re welcome, Sheila! I totally get it—sometimes you have to save things to read later, especially when they’re a bit more in-depth. Reblogging is indeed a big compliment to any writer and great for stats. I would love to do more reblogging myself since there’s so much talent on WordPress, including your reads. But as a business model, we can’t, unfortunately. It’s mainly because of the kind of content we write—I wouldn’t want to cause any unintended issues for our supporters. With how sensitive things can be these days, people might take things the wrong way. Keep up the great work, though. You’re doing a fantastic job! 😎
Thank you so much, John. I speak from my heart for sure.
Good to know reblogging helps! I totally understand about you not reblogging my posts, but I will still reblog yours, if that’s okay.
You’re welcome, Sheila! I absolutely don’t mind that you re-blog any of our posts. I greatly appreciate that you do. 😎
Fantastic! And I appreciate your 100% open rate, John. I just found those stats on emails that I had never looked at before!
You’re welcome, Sheila! I’m glad you found the stats interesting—it’s always good to dive into those details. It really helps get a clearer picture of how things are going. 😎
I’ve never understood this need to gain Likes, followers etc to influence the algorithm, or whatever – but then I’m not scientific, calculating or whatever you have to be to do this. If people follow me, fine; I follow people with similar interests. Good for you for taking a stand. 😊
Thank you very much for your insight, Laura! It can be baffling to see the lengths some go just to manipulate algorithms and boost stats. Like you, we believe in following people for genuine reasons and shared interests, not just for the numbers. Standing up for what’s right and maintaining authenticity is key for us, and it’s great to hear that resonates with you. Thanks again for your support! 😎
You’re welcome. I may not engage with all your posts, but when one resonates with me I’m right on it. Best of luck with your valuable investigations. 😊
Thank you very much, Laura! I really appreciate your support, and I completely understand—sometimes certain posts resonate more than others, and that’s perfectly fine. Your engagement when something connects with you means a lot. Thanks again for the encouragement, and I wish you all the best as well! 😎