(gratuitous use of a popular photo)
I don’t think this is a post, at least not in the usual sense. It’s more like a question: Why are so many people on WordPress searching “fat-cat?” I wrote a post awhile ago called “Fat Pets and Fatter Wallets,” one of my numerous clever, enlightening, and ultimately life-altering posts. I attached a photo of an obscenely fat cat. For some reason, sometimes my photos sometimes take on a life of their own and become their own entries. Fat-cat became one. 100-year-old-woman-blowing-out-candles became another. Elf ears and ants did the same.
All of these have consistently shown up in my “Most Active” category, while none of the posts that were attached to them ever did. Last week, fat-cat had 179 views, while my new posts had 88 views and 53 views each. Fat-cat even generated two comments. One said “Thank you. Gracious Palmer.” Gracious (or Palmer, who is gracious) was moved to respond to the photo and to express his gratitude. I, in turn, am gratified that I have been able to provide Gracious with a photo that is meaningful to him, even if my words are like dog poop on the bottom of his shoe.
I am comfortable with my relatively low hits, my few subscribers, my even fewer commenters. I am comfortable knowing that no sponsors will ever flock my way, no tweets or pingbacks or other forms of electronic fondling will be generated as a result of my words, no extra head room will be needed on the pitiful little graph that seems frozen at a certain level. Artistic genius can go forever unrecognized. Artistic less-than-genius can take even longer.
But what I don’t get is the fat-cat thing. This is what bothers me. That’s why I wrote this and called it Fat-Cat. I’m hoping Gracious finds it, responds and clears this up for me. And if anyone else out there can explain it, let me know. Thanks.
My Inner Chick
August 22, 2011
—It goes to show you what idiot people want. They would rather have freaking Snooky than Substance.
Fat Cats than Depth.
—Boomer, your intellingence is not wasted on me :)!!!!
lifeintheboomerlane
August 22, 2011
Hey, thanks IC!
Lisa (Woman Wielding Words)
August 22, 2011
I can’t answer. For me, the mysterious post that keeps getting searched for has to do with ice cream, and I didn’t even use my own photo for that. In terms of “fat cat” however, perhaps it is related to the phenomenon of people always posting cat videos on Facebook. The mystery of how people find posts and pictures remains.
I think you are brilliant, if that counts any.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 22, 2011
Ah, thanks Lisa. Oh, I would totally understand the ice cream thing. Oh yes.
O. Leonard
August 22, 2011
I have a similar situation on a story I wrote about miniature pot belly pigs. I don’t think anyone reads the story, just wants to search the internet for information about them. I thought the story was pretty just okay, and it’s the biggest hitter week after week on my blog stats. I wish someone would explain it to me.
I don’t write on the weekends most times, and I get almost the same number of hits on Saturday and Sunday as I do during the week, with nothing but internet searches. The pig still comes in first.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 22, 2011
What a great line: “The pig still comes in first.” You should do a post with that title.
Alaina Mabaso
August 22, 2011
My number-one post, as far as hits, is one I wrote about whether or not those Facebook games to raise breast cancer awareness were helpful or stupid. I write a different poll every week, but that’s the one people hit most with Google searches.
I bet people are searching “fat cat” because A) photos of obese felines are always worth seeing and B) maybe it’s an economic thing, and under-employed people are searching for some gov’t-bailed banker to vent their rage upon.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 22, 2011
I’ve actually tried to figure out what mental processes lead someone to fat cat. The economic thing is a real possibility. Your new do is very cute! You have to change your profile pic.
Alaina Mabaso
August 24, 2011
Thanks Renee – I’ll consider!
Kathryn McCullough
August 22, 2011
This is a mystery to me.
I suggest trying to publish something on anorexic cats to see if skinny felines also attract attention.
Kathy
lifeintheboomerlane
August 22, 2011
I love this suggestion.
Fragrant Liar
August 22, 2011
I personally enjoy fat cats. Why is this a problem? :-))
lifeintheboomerlane
August 22, 2011
You have a point there, as long as they are the ones with fur and tails.
k8edid
August 22, 2011
“electronic fondling” I love that.
My most popular post has to do with caffeinated pants. Yep, all the brilliant words I’ve written since cannot compare to the lure of caffeine-impregnated drawers.
Did you see my “The Real Housewives of Charlotte County” the other day? It was touching, poignant and half-way decent. I thought surely it would get some traffic. Barely tripped over as people flocked to “Navigating the Supermarket Aisles”, a really bad post with a pilfered tongue-in-cheek flow chart that says basically, you’re screwed if you eat food. There is not figuring out the psyche of the “average” reader. I’m not even going to try.
“electronic fondling”. Where do you come up with this stuff?
lifeintheboomerlane
August 22, 2011
The word “fondling” is one of my favorites. It is appropriate in all social situations, especially the ones I usually find myself in. Let me tell you honestly that I may never have another cup of coffee again for the entire rest of my life without thinking about caffeinated pants. And now I shall read your Real Housewives post.
pegoleg
August 22, 2011
That is a great photo! Love that cat! LOL! Do you mind if I repost it? There’s just something about a really, really fat cat. In fact, I’m going to Google to see if I can find some more – LOL, LMAO, ROFLMA!!!!!!!!!
Oh, yeah, and the stuff you write is good, too.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 22, 2011
Repost, repost, repost. It will be my new permanent photo now for whatever I write.
hansi
August 22, 2011
I did some humor posts on Triphoria, the female personal vibrator and the Genie Bra, and consistently get hits on those posts. I guess mostly from women looking for reviews of these items. Boy must they be surprised after reading my stuff. I’m a fat, and nasty, cat by the way 🙂
lifeintheboomerlane
August 22, 2011
I need to read those posts. For general research, of course.
youngamericanwisdom.com
August 22, 2011
I wish I could help you, but I can’t. I get tons of hits each day from people searching for “Kate Middelton’s arm pits” because of funny little quote my daughter made about the royal wedding. I’m thinking about changing my blog theme to “The Royals And Their Armpits.” Maybe then I’d have a chance at getting Freshly Pressed.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 22, 2011
Are you serious? Jeez, OK, I’m writing a post about Kate Middleton’s armpits. But I’m discriminating. I’ll only do Kates, Wills, and Andrew. Feh to the rest.
TexasTrailerParkTrash
August 22, 2011
My biggest hits come from the search term “old lady in thong,” and variations thereof. I created a post a couple of years ago about my melanoma and used a photo of a very skinny, very tanned old woman walking down a beach in a thong bikini. *Shudder* I snagged the photo from someone else using the same search term, so I’m guessing others are doing the same thing. I’m okay with it. A hit is a hit. 🙂
lifeintheboomerlane
August 23, 2011
I love hearing about what rings readers’ chimes. So it comes down to sex, royal armpits, obese (and miniature) animals, and old women.
Ellen
August 23, 2011
Of course FatCat is popular! I get it, of course. Don’t change a whisker for me, FC, you make me feel so thin…
lifeintheboomerlane
August 23, 2011
Anything for you, Darling.
Judith
August 23, 2011
I think I prefer your Where I’m From blogs to fat cat blogs. But hey, whatever brings you readers is OK by me (with some certain reservations).
lifeintheboomerlane
August 23, 2011
I totally agree!
Elly Lou
August 23, 2011
I have a picture of Gozer that gets the same sort of traffic. Also people really like to search for “harry potter” “naked” and “penis.” Seems I’m a gold mine for those terms. Also I’m huge in Oman. So…um…high fives?
lifeintheboomerlane
August 23, 2011
Now you have me thinking about a naked Harry Potter. It’s not a good image. Huge in Oman? I’m not even huge in my own house (Now Husband Dan isn’t even a subscriber, and Miracle the Cat usually holds me in contempt), let alone an entire country.
georgettesullins
August 24, 2011
This one still gives me a chuckle…”how you know you were pregnant” really?
lifeintheboomerlane
August 24, 2011
Simply amazing.
Lunar Euphoria
August 28, 2011
My photos too are searched frequently. My most popular search term? “Flying pig.”
lifeintheboomerlane
August 28, 2011
I can’t even figure out why some photos appear as their own posts and others not. Ah, well.