No one likes spam. In internet terms (as opposed to the stuff you find on the grocery store shelf) it’s the bane of our existence. Its sole purpose is to get our attention and once it does, it either begs us to buy something or gives us something we would never pay for – something like a virus.
Then there is the exception to the rule. In fact, there is only one exception that I’ve found in over a decade of browsing the web. It may have seemed like a “spam follow” at the start, but when I followed the cookie-crumb trail that led me back to its source, it ended up benefiting me beyond my wildest dreams: it was HarsH ReaLiTy.
Jason, also known as Opinionated Man, has a huge (over 50,000 blog, twitter, and Facebook combined) following on his blog, HarsH ReaLiTy. His passion for connecting with other bloggers is instantly recognizable by the way he interacts in the comments. How did he get such an audience? By following other blogs. By doing the exact same thing our self-serving spammers do. The difference is, Jason gets the attention of other bloggers and once he does, he helps them! Not by selling them things they don’t need – by guiding them to find followings of their own.
He has dedicated hours and hours to create places for bloggers to find their communities:
http://aopinionatedman.com/2014/12/29/wordpress-meet-and-greet-3-all-bloggers-welcome/
To help them draw attention to themselves:
http://aopinionatedman.com/2014/11/13/share-your-blogger-profile-all-bloggers-welcome/
To help them promote themselves:
http://aopinionatedman.com/2014/08/06/share-a-post-all-bloggers-welcome/
The trickle-down benefits alone are nothing less than astounding. If you have ever read any of my helpful hints on blogging, you can thank Jason – he taught me three quarters of what I know.
Why am I telling you all this? WordPress has seen fit to suspend HarsH ReaLiTy’s ability to follow and “like” other blogs. It’s a crime. WordPress is taking away one of its own biggest assets – a service provided to its own patrons, FOR FREE, and out of the goodness of one man’s heart. I wrote a post myself about how hard he works to help others grow their blogs here: https://lindaghill.com/2014/09/23/wordpresss-own-welcoming-committee-harsh-reality/
If Jason C. Cushman has ever helped you, if you have ever read any of his blogging advice, if you have ever guest posted for him, if he has ever re-blogged you, if you have ever commented on HarsH ReaLiTy and met another blogger there, please sign below.
Comment – leave your words of support or just write the words, Save HarsH ReaLiTy. I will make sure the WordPress powers-that-be see this post and all the support that goes with it.
Re-blog – make sure this goes out to every corner of WordPress that Jason has reached.
HarsH ReaLiTy is not a spam blog. It is WordPress’s shining star.
Edit: I’m purposely NOT responding to comments here so as not to dilute the message: WE SUPPORT HARSH REALITY AND WHAT JASON DOES TO HELP BLOGGERS!! Thank you to all who have shared and commented so far, and thanks in advance to all who will. Please keep commenting and re-blogging! Let’s keep this at the top of the Reader!
Edit: Now that HarsH ReaLiTy’s suspension is lifted I’ll turn off the comments here. This post will remain, however, as testimony to what Jason means to us! Long live Opinionated Man!!
Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who commented and re-blogged. Your support is both overwhelming and heartwarming.
Now pass around the cookies!! 😀
Edit – April 20th: Jason re-blogged this with the following comment:
I actually didn’t read this until now because I was moody at the time. I feel the love from this post and the comments here. Thanks bloggers. -OM
I’ve turned the comments back on. You’re very welcome, Jason. It was the least I could do for all you’ve done for this community. 😀
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June 4, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Gosh darn it, how did I miss this? Hoping Mr. OM will be back soon : (
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June 4, 2015 at 3:23 pm
This all happened in January and was another matter entirely. I do hope he’ll show up somewhere again too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
March 6, 2016 at 10:17 pm
He is back! Thank you for the thoughts!
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May 25, 2015 at 3:38 pm
What a fab post! I ❤ Harsh Reality. He's helped me in this blogging world! #SaveHarshReality!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 25, 2015 at 4:13 pm
He’s helped a lot of people 😀 Thanks for the comment, Karen!
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May 25, 2015 at 6:33 pm
Yes he has 😀 No problem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
March 6, 2016 at 10:17 pm
Thank you for your kind words!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 24, 2015 at 10:06 pm
Awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
March 6, 2016 at 10:16 pm
Thanks bud! 🙂
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April 25, 2015 at 9:10 pm
I blasted one of his trolls, Jason is the best. 🙂 This crap has to stop… otherwise I’m blogging at my DJ. Sorry but I can’t sit back while Jason’s stupid f*cks destroy him. 😦
LikeLiked by 2 people
March 6, 2016 at 10:16 pm
He appreciates you doing that. 😉
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April 20, 2015 at 10:02 pm
Reblogged this on my personal thing and commented:
I missed this too or else I would have participated!
LikeLiked by 1 person
March 6, 2016 at 10:16 pm
Thanks for sharing this on! Very kind of you. 🙂
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March 7, 2016 at 7:02 am
That’s okay 🙂 Thanks for writing it 🙂
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April 20, 2015 at 9:51 pm
I was ready to reblog this. Where was I when this happened. I still support OM! He’s my laughter after dark and early mornings when I sign on to WordPress. Even though I’m late, Save HarsH ReaLiTy! Even, though he was so obviously saved. Of course, we couldn’t live without our cup of the OM.
LikeLiked by 1 person
March 6, 2016 at 10:15 pm
I appreciate your kind words! Thanks for that! 🙂
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January 16, 2015 at 7:40 am
Love OM
LikeLiked by 2 people
April 20, 2015 at 5:22 pm
He appreciate that. lol 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 16, 2015 at 6:51 am
One of the blogs I really learned a lot from.
Save HarsH ReaLiTy!
LikeLiked by 3 people
April 20, 2015 at 5:24 pm
Thank you for your kind words and support as always. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
January 16, 2015 at 5:44 am
Reblogged this on A Speculative Poetry Blog and commented:
As the title says…
LikeLiked by 2 people
April 20, 2015 at 5:25 pm
I appreciate you sharing this post and for the support. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
January 16, 2015 at 5:30 am
Linda, this is much appreciated. I am posting here, virtually verbatim, the post I put on Jason’s post:
“Jason, I am very sad about this. You were one of the early “real” bloggers to follow Fiona’s Favourites and to encourage me. I don’t agree with, or want to read, everything you post, and my blog has a very different tone from yours. That said, I understand your goals and that you set out to be provocative. What freaks me out, is that people who don’t like what you do, don’t have to visit your blog or follow you. Similarly, if one follows a blogger and there’s a topic that they might find offensive – GIVE IT A MISS!!
“I’m saying again that I come from a very different space and, dare I say, philosophical point of view, but have found you – yes, that very Opinionated Man – funny, quirky and most importantly, kind, generous and very encouraging.”
As I noted in another post, I had thought of re-blogging these, but because, ironically, of advice from Jason to have, stay true to one’s blogging goals, I will not. That said, because I follow a number of bloggers who follow him because he followed me (if you get my drift), will re-post this comment 🙂
Look forward to reading more from Opinionated Man and about his perspective of the HarsH ReaLity of life.
LikeLiked by 3 people
April 20, 2015 at 5:28 pm
Thank you Fiona! Kind as ever. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
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January 16, 2015 at 3:28 am
All for One and One for ALL… I ask the powers of WordPress to please look into this matter, I believe you have made a mistake with Jason, he’s my friend. Thank you Barbara I reblogged here… https://memymagnificentself.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/save-harsh-reality/ Barbara
LikeLiked by 2 people
April 20, 2015 at 5:28 pm
Thank you for the show of support Barbara! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 16, 2015 at 3:28 am
Let OM-Harsh Reality comment/like/interact/blog. I say YES!
LikeLiked by 2 people
April 20, 2015 at 6:10 pm
🙂 Thanks for the support!
LikeLiked by 1 person
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January 16, 2015 at 3:25 am
Reblogged this on Me, My Magnificent Self and commented:
IAM asking my friends here on WordPress to help save my fellow blogger and friend Jason from Harsh Reality… I believe there has been a misunderstanding and we have petitioned the powers of WordPress to look into the matter. Jason has helped me in my blogging life and I don’t like what is happening… Thanks for spreading the word… and posting your comments on https://lindaghill.com/2015/01/14/save-harsh-reality/ Barbara x
LikeLiked by 3 people
April 20, 2015 at 6:12 pm
Thank you for the reboot! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 16, 2015 at 2:52 am
Save Harsh Reality.
LikeLiked by 3 people
April 20, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Thank you David!
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January 16, 2015 at 2:10 am
Save Harsh Reality,OM is a fellow blogger not a spammer trying to sell stuff!WP you are wrong on so many levels with this treatment of OM,
xx Rachel and Speedy
LikeLiked by 4 people
April 20, 2015 at 6:15 pm
What a nice rabbit. I am not even fond of rabbits and yet you are so nice. Imagine that… lol. 😉
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April 23, 2015 at 1:57 am
Hehehe,xx Speedy
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January 16, 2015 at 2:06 am
Even I have liked many of his blogs though I m not a regular blogger– I think after creating a blog and not being regular on it should be a crime, not posting interesting webhooks and content that can help new bloggers. SAVE HARSH REALITY!
LikeLiked by 3 people
April 20, 2015 at 6:15 pm
I appreciate the kind words and also for the reads you have done! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
January 16, 2015 at 1:48 am
Save Harsh Reality. Jason’s a good man with good intentions.
LikeLiked by 3 people
April 20, 2015 at 6:16 pm
🙂 Too kind. As always and thanks for that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 16, 2015 at 1:26 am
Yes, save Harsh Reality! I really see nothing in the content of his writing or his responses to comments to even remotely suggest he’s spamming. This is clearly just a guy who likes to blog.
LikeLiked by 3 people
April 20, 2015 at 6:17 pm
LoL, I think you are on point. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 16, 2015 at 1:25 am
There is no way WordPress is taking OM from us.
LikeLiked by 3 people
April 20, 2015 at 6:18 pm
🙂 Too kind. I hope all is well my fellow Coloradian heh. I made that word up.
LikeLiked by 1 person