Oh no!
The weeping and gnashing of teeth was heard for miles around.
Beavers ceased their gnawing on logs to discover the source of the commotion.
Woodpeckers stopped pecking on trees, searching for delicate insects to munch, cocking their peckered ears to listen.
Chickadees quit chickadeeeedeeeedeeee’ing.
“What’s the buzz?” asked the bumblebees way down south, because there surely aren’t bees up here in North Country until at least May or June.
“Who’s caterwauling?” croaked the tree frogs (who won’t appear until later this month or maybe April, those lovely harbingers of spring.)
Yes, yes, we must admit.
‘Tis we who weep and gnash, the WordPress bloggers and some unlucky readers. The howls rise in despair across the blogging land.
What? some of you are asking. Tears? Crying? What’s she talkin’ about now? I’m already enjoying my Friday, thank you, and not a tiny bad sad. She’s just trying to attract readers to her blog with that FAKE headline.
No, no, no.
Read on and hear the plight of millions.
OK, maybe thousands.
Our beloved site host, WordPress, made some changes a couple of days ago. They tweaked our beloved commenting section, attempting to make it more user-friendly, or WordPress-friendly, or, heck, I have no idea what they were trying to accomplish.
Instead, instead…they ended up choking off the commenting capability of many beloved commenters.
Yes. Many folks are now unable to comment here at Lake Superior Spirit and on many other fine WordPress blogs in blogging land.
Some people, of course, can. If you have a WordPress account, you’re In like Flynn. Other non-WordPress people can, miraculously, sneak by the sentries and reach the commenting fort without being eliminated from the commenting field.
But many others cannot comment.
I say “many” because I have received emails from two frustrated readers. (And who knows how many have not reached my email inbox because–sob!–they simply turned away in despair and depression without attempting to communicate, somehow, some way…)
“We can’t comment,” they sob into their emails. “Something is wrong with my computer–or YOUR computer–or WordPress–or the Universe!”
As a good host, I traveled over to the WordPress forums yesterday to be assaulted with dozens upon dozens upon dozens of other bloggers weeping & gnashing teeth.
Even the porcupine retreats from all this caterwauling...
“HELP US WORDPRESS!” the bloggers beg, losing all pride.
WordPress responds to us: Tell your commenters to sign into their WordPress accounts.
But WordPress, they don’t have WordPress accounts.
They must have had ’em in the past, WordPress replies. Tell them to contact us at help@wordpress.com
I write back my two suffering emailers, offering this tidbit.
Still have not heard how and if they are being assisted.
In the meantime, I am handing out Kleenex. Many Kleenex to those who weep. Please do not gnash teeth. Very bad for eventual TMJ syndrome. Instead, be proactive. Contact that help line. Tell them that you can not get by another second–another minute–another day–without sending a love comment to Kathy @ Lake Superior Spirit (or, OK, substitute the name–sob!–of your other favorite blog!)
Lake Superior Spirit 
That is frustrating. They just want more WordPress accounts, but that’s wrong. You should be able to comment without having a blog. Seriously. Grrrr.
Lisa, some of them can comment without having a blog. Both others can’t. I’m not sure what’s going on…
Oh no! Such distressing news on a Friday morning. Explains a lot. Perhaps if we do enough gnashing and caterwauling WordPress will wake up and realize that we would actually like outsiders to be able to comment as well. Bad WordPress.
Hi second Lisa this morning–it does explain some recent things, yes? It’s weird. Some “outsiders” tee hee–can comment. Others can’t. Don’t know–sob!–what’s happening!
I don’t THINK I have a wordpress account. I most certainly don’t have a wordpress blog. And now, I don’t think I ever will, LOL!!!!
Love ya, and hope all straightens out soon.
OM
See! They let you comment! Wow, you are a LUCKY WINNER! You escaped the sentries. You reached the fort. OM, I know it’s your sizzling commenting power that saw you through. Unfortunately–ahem–I have suddenly ceased getting notices to MY email that anyone is commenting. LOL! It’s not Friday the 13th is it?
Neither is it April Fool’s Day, LOL!!!! And we can’t blame it all on solar flares, darn it!
I suspect I “registered” with WordPress at the beginning in order to be able to leave comments. That was NOT the same as setting up an account which would permit me to blog, though. I think I just gave my name and email address.
Sigh, indeed!!
That is a bummer when that happens anywhere. I have had fine friends or simply lovely writing that i wished to leave a comment upon–alas the post type picker thing didn’t always work. MY COMMENT was HIGHLY IMPORTANT $*#&-it! hehehehe
I like that wordpress didn’t or hasn’t made people searching using …..uhm search engines to be fair to all, even the ones I do not use. I would not like to be trapped into a WordPress clique, though I am very glad to have someone else’s platform to use as a foundation of my house. I am glad to have the use of it and all of the many delightful features, which I can comprehend and execute without ripping out my hairs. Let us hope it is a technical glitch OR an oversight that WordPress staff will find simply AMAZING TO ADDRESS to allow MORE potential customers to experience WordPress magic. ( i wonder if i will be paid now?)
It feels like it is really hard for people who want to comment and can’t get through. It’s so hard when our world technologically glitches, isn’t it? P.S. Is there such a thing as a WordPress clique? I suppose there is. Being human and everything…
Weeping and gnashing (with a bit of grinding thrown in for good measure)…
I forgot the word “wailing”, Laurie, darn it!
Wow, who knew. However, I had a comment yesterday from a non-WordPress person. I wonder what the distinction is between those who can and those who can’t. Any clues?
Great issue to write about, Kathy. Thanks for this alert!
Hugs,
Kathy
They keep saying that the people who can’t comment once had a WordPress account and have forgotten, Kathy. Not sure if that’s true. It did seem like the Issue of the Day–and it did help clarify things for some people who were unaware. I hope it all gets fixed soon. The forums are still carrying on about it.
Well, I’m here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fountainpen
Thank GOODNESS, Fountainpen!
Gosh, now I wonder if I’m an “illegal alien” … granted some kind of secret passage into the bowels of WP. Will I receive a notice soon … a retroactive bill from WP demanding payment for all of my “free” comments? Shhhhhh…. no WP blog here; no WP account. Hmmm …. it’s kind of dark in this passageway; I hope I can find my way back out, and then back in … again.
My gosh, Susan D, and now the truth is coming out about You People. Some of you are illegal aliens here. Hide yourselves. (Actually those of you who aren’t Bloggers or Bloglettas are finding your way in and out easier than others. Go figure.)
I’ve had trouble on Blogger, too, with people being unable to leave comments. Never have figured out why, but it’s frustrating to them and to me.
Pamela, there is one person on Blogger upon whose blog I have tried to leave dozens of comments. They never go through. I can’t figure out why. Can’t figure out why it’s only on her blog.
Hmm…where do I fit in all of this?? I wonder if I fit the criteria to enter into the kingdom of WordPress commentland or not…? I come from bloglessland so that certainly isn’t a feather in my cap. And if I am no longer able to comment, you can be sure of much weeping and gnashing of teeth and of course stomping of feet…maybe even some mournful wailing! I need my Lake Superior Spirit…my dear Kathy of the northwoods and I NEED to comment! (gosh I’m a needy person…) Sure hope they straighten out the mess and sure hope this gets through all the red tape!
ps 😀 looks like it worked! 😀 😀 😀
Blogless land people seem to be more fortunate, Brenda, that blogland folk–in this instance. Isn’t it funny what we think we NEED to survive and thrive in our days? **grinning** Probably we don’t need half as much as we think we do.
Oh you are so right my dear….”we probably don’t need half as much as we think we do”….I am finding that I really need less and less all the time and with that “cleansing” I am feeling lighter and more free than ever before. I am only allowing things that nourish and nurture me (well as much as I can control anyway) into my life and one of the things that nourishes me is your Lake Superior Spirit…it feels like coming home. ♥
Thank you, Brenda, from your sleepy foggy friend on the shores of the Cold Lake.
Yikes! The question “why can’t WordPress leave well enough alone?” pops into my head!
I figured they were trying to make things better, Barbara, keeping up with the Blog Company neighbors. Heck, who knows? It’s frustrating for us little folks sometimes…
I have a WordPress account, but was told I needed to sign in to leave a comment on a blog a minute ago – okay, I can do that. No I can’t. It wouldn’t let me sign in. Did my comment post? I don’t know. Later I’ll check. Aargh! Now to see if this one goes.
Really, you too? I thought WordPress folks were Safe. Well, it looks like you made it in the commenting arena. Take off your shoes and relax. You’re here.
I didn’t even know there was a problem! It’s very unfortunate that some of your reader pals can’t comment. And on a Friday, no less!
Bet some of your reader pals couldn’t comment, either, Heather. I’m hoping most of the non-commenters have been able to contact WordPress and get a password and sign in.
Interesting…have not had anyone tell they can not leave a comment. In fact, a person without a WP blog left a comment today. I shall be back to test.
I just laughed reading your sentence, Scott. Nobody commented saying they couldn’t leave a comment? Ha ha. I didn’t get this yesterday. Sybil from Nova Scotia is beside herself in agony that she couldn’t leave a comment on your blog.
Yes, I have heard from her too. This is what WP has to say about it…
Howdy!
We’ve recently updated our commenting system.
Now, if someone tries to comment with an email address that’s attached to a WordPress.com account, they’ll need to sign into WordPress.com before they can comment.
If commenters have forgotten their password they can request a reset:
http://wordpress.com/wp-login.php?action=lostpassword
Please don’t hesitate to contact our Happiness Engineers if you have any questions. We’re glad to help!
She must have had an account at one time. Not sure why they did this. One anyone regains their WP account info, they can delete it and they should be fine.
Ha. The problem isn’t a WP account ID, but a Gravatar ID. And Blogger and WP are both playing games around that.
OMG prayers answered Kathy. . .thank you sooooooooooooooooo much. You just cleared it all up for me. Since yesterday when I tried posting to Creativepotager I have been inbetwixed and inbetween trying to figure this cunundrum out. I even had an hour-long chat w/my hosting guy Grady this morning. And even after changing passwords, and all commenting was still not up to snuff. YOU ARE A GOD-SEND the writing in the post is steller by the way too. . .love the story line. I promise to visit more often and comment. . .hopefully.
It was worth it to post this blog–just for you, Alison. I am glad it helped you solve the conundrum. And the fact that you could comment here means that you must be–almost–hopefully totally–up-to-snuff.
One can hope that so much outcry will not go unanswered in the most positive of responses and subsequent improvements. As with all unpleasant (and pleasant) things – this too will pass. Let us hope – QUICKLY. Hugs !!
I agree with you Deb! A temporary glitch in the system, a passing moment, nothing to keep us awake at night. (I SWEAR I wasn’t awake last night because of this. I promise you!)
Thanks Kathy for finding out what the heck is going on. I also received emails yesterday and for the life of me it didn’t make any sense because as you said some people were able to comment just fine. Now for those that can’t comment and have more than one email I am guessing if they try the other email it will work as it isn’t associated with a defunk wordpress account. But what a pain!
I felt a little silly posting this blog, Terrill, because part of me preferred just to wait and let it play itself out. But if it helped other people make sense of the commenting problems, then it was worth it. Glad to help.
Wow. Always changing a good thing. I’ve noticed that with other places too.
Who was it that said “Change is the only constant in life”? I think I agree!
…and while we’re at it, why doesn’t my blog roll show everyone on my blog roll? It cuts off the list right in the middle:-(
Does your blog roll scroll down? With mine, you have to scroll down to get people who are alphabetically at the end…
Gee willikers! I had to sign in just to LIKE your blog! : )
Gee willikers! Go figure, Martha! **grin** I’m glad you LIKE.
OMG, WordPress only! That creates inbreeding of blogs, redundant thoughts. This must be a Nazi conspiracy, only the true Arian WordPressers will exist with the sub-human outsiders eliminated. Next they will be getting rid of books like Fahrenheit 451 … wait it has already started, the Encyclopedia is gone. All this happening at once …
Wait a minute, I’m a Blogspotter, how did this get through?
Nazi conspiracy? OMG–you must have peeked into our living room on Thursday. We were watching a Nazi movie called “Sarah’s Key”. I don’t understand us humans at times… And I certainly do not understand how a Blogspotter infiltrated!
How very strange. I just noticed the other day that my very own blogless mama had a new avatar picture when she commented on my blog. I wonder if that might be another possibility to those having trouble commenting: sign up for an avatar or Gravatar account?
You know, Karma, Gerry just mentioned that the issue might be with Gravatar. Some of the forum folks have said this as well. (Of course others have disagreed…)
i wasn’t even aware there was a change. All that wailing had no chance against the howling winds of the Pacific. Maybe that is why I didn’t hear them here in Germany. But whatever it is, I hope WP fixes it soon. Happy Friday! 🙂
Lucky you…Germany may be safe! Did I ever tell you that Barry was born in Germany? His dad was in the Navy after World War II. He was born in Bremerhaven in 1956. I also once visited the Black Forest as an exchange student in Switzerland.
Really? I wasn’t aware of that. I have been to Bremerhaven before. Nice to be at the north sea. We went on a camping holiday to the Black Forest once. I enjoyed it there very much. Our honeymoon we spent in Switzerland. 🙂 It is beautiful too but quite expensive when compared to other parts of Europe. How long were you in Switzerland and did you visit other parts of Europe? Any favourites?
I was in Switzerland for two months when I was a wee one, back in 1975. My daughter and I visited again for maybe four days (re-visiting my Swiss family) in 2007. We went to Italy, Switzerland and south of France. In late 2008 I traveled unexpectedly back to Europe to visit Belgium and the Netherlands. It was all my favorite!
🙂 Sounds like you enjoy travelling.
Just checking to see if my comments will be posted! 🙂
Hugs! Kisses! Good daughter! You succeeded!
Kathy, this may get through, maybe, hopefully, perhaps…we’ll see!
I managed to leave a comment with Robin today, at the Bogs, by signing in to “like” and signing in yet again, to comment, although it wouldn’t accept my Home Life Online password! I signed in using my Sense of Spirit account and it showed a gravatar of me as a little green person with a red cap!! (Said through weeping and gnashing of teeth!!!)
I wish WordPress would leave things alone! Commenting used to be so easy. AND, they are discriminating against their own! Did you notice the trend with the comments left here? Non bloggers and those without WordPress accounts can comment. WordPress users are having issues! Grrrrr……
At least I look more like a star here! I’ll work on that image over the weekend. Happy weekend, dear Kathy! Thank you for your help! By the way, as yet, no reply from WordPress to the email I sent….
A little green person with a red cap? You must be a St. Patrick’s day leprechaun! I am glad you finally got through, and you do look very dashing and Joanne-like with your current gravatar. I wonder why WordPress hasn’t responded to you, darn them? Maybe they’re still trying to figure it all out, too. Or maybe they’re overwhelmed? I would be.
I think it’s another time that a big company tries to force it’s way with us! We should revolt! Revolt I say! 🙂 Seriously, this is all silly and they are not doing themselves any good by making these changes, certainly not without warning. Will be interested in how it turns out. And whether or not I can comment here! 🙂
I am sooooo sleepy after last night’s sleeplessless that “to revolt” sounds like fighting to stay awake. We’re installing a new toilet. Should I blog about it? P.S. Happy to see you ducked by the commenting commandos.
I have a wordpress account, so we should be alright!
We are oh-so-good, Kala! Thank goodness you weren’t lost in the shuffle.
I don’t comment very often, but would miss being able to tell you how much I love your blog. Hope this gets through.
Awww, Bonnie, that is sweet. What sweet words for a sleepy Saturday… Thank you for attempting to get through–and succeeding.
That explains why my comment stats have dropped recently from the 1-2 range down to none. Yes, I’m sure that is the reason.
Patty, I’m coming by to comment RIGHT NOW. You can not have a commentless day. You can’t.
🙂
Kathy, I’m just checking in to see if I’m still here. No Word Press account but maybe crossed fingers will work just as well!
And they do! Happy Sunday to you and Barry.
You are so posted, Colleen. Everything seems to be calming down in CyberWorld. They fixed some problem…and, heck, other people chose to fix the problem by getting a WordPress account, if required.
P.S. We are having a Happy Sunday, indeed, since our new “facilities”. I wish you a happy Sunday, too!
“All that was going on and we/I never noticed.” paraphrased from “Our Town”, Thornton Wilder.
Laughing. Just look at the “excitement” you missed! Sometimes I think we’d be better off just to miss the excitement and come back when it’s all over. So much of it feels like drama…
Oh gosh, how nice to hear someone else familiar with one of my all-time favorite plays! Waycool !!!
I had no idea this was going on, Kathy. (Haven’t spent much time online in the past week and a half.) Is it still going on? Has anything been resolved? Thank you for keeping us in the loop! 🙂
See what you miss when you have an on-line break? All this excitement! I think some things were resolved. A few other people are still having problems, but not many. If you didn’t get any frantic emails, you’re probably safe with your readership.