I’ll let you in on a little secret. When I have nothing to write about, I think of the craziest thing I could possibly present on my blog, and then I do it.
And that’s what I did with my previous post called: Skimming.
That entire post was a social experiment. An ironic social experiment. Many failed. Many passed with flying colours. It was quite amusing.
Oh, and don’t you dare skim through this post!
Skimming was a post about how people skim read, rather than read the entire text. Then I intentionally wrote a really long paragraph, talking about how people skip over really long paragraphs!
In the middle of that long paragraph, I wrote: “Using one word, tell me your favourite colour in the comments below and nothing else.”
I don’t know, I’d say that is a pretty specific instruction! I put that in there just to see who actually read the entire paragraph.
I got way more comments than I was expecting. This explanation post wasn’t going to go up until tomorrow, but I had too many comments backing up. Yeah, I’m bragging.
The only thing I wanted in my comments section was a bunch of colours. I got many comments of just that.
I also got many comments of people stating their favourite colour and also giving a comment, which I didn’t want at first, but was happy to see. I massively underestimated people’s willingness to engage in conversation, especially after being told to just leave one word.
There were also many comments where people made no mention of a colour.
If you look at that long paragraph, I put some words in bold, five sentences after I gave the instruction to write your favourite colour in the comments.
That was meant to be a temptation. People normally gravitate toward bolded words. I thought if I put some words in bold, in a large paragraph, some people might be tempted to skip right to them. I don’t know if people did; I just know people overlooked my one line instruction.
Then near the end, I said: “Regardless, I knew I didn’t miss anything. That I read every word. That I didn’t miss any specific instructions. I can only hope there are others that are the same way.”
Those four sentences weren’t even me being honest! Those four sentences were supposed to be a wink-wink and a nudge-nudge to the people who read the prompt, while also, hopefully, guilting people into going back to read the long paragraph.
And then the conclusion of that post…
Since when do I ever end my posts with: “Well, I’ve said enough. Leave a comment below”? Never! I always have more than enough to say.
I don’t know. I thought those would be hints that something was fishy.
You all trust me so much!
The first person to provide me with a colour was the third person who commented.
I was literally fist pumping when someone put a colour in their comment.
I decided not to post comments until later in the day, so people wouldn’t be tipped off. In essence, I came off like a jerk for ignoring everyone.
By the way, I really enjoyed all the comments from people who said they read every single word. Yet they didn’t provide me with a colour! You all made me laugh today, thank you.
Please don’t hate me!
In reality, a lot of us do skim other posts here on WordPress. I get it. I do it, too. Some of us follow many blogs and simply don’t have the time to read every single one, word for word. Some of us are just lazy, which is fine.
I just wanted to do an experiment and see how many would notice if I planted a specific prompt in the middle of the post.
The results showed that many people did, and many people didn’t. Or they did, but didn’t know what to do with such responsibility.
As for the people who only liked the post and didn’t comment, I don’t know what to make of your antics.
Y’all better hope I didn’t plant any instructions in the middle of this post, too.
Nobody hates you. Ugh.
And this was fun.
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Haha good!
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Haha! It was fun though, wasn’t it?
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I had a blast.
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Yes. And I totally gave the impression that I skimread!
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You were ready to fight me when I asked you if you really did read it! As if I was in the wrong haha
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Obviously!.
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I saw your comment come in as soon as you made it and had to resist from replying right away so I wouldn’t spoil the post.
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You’re you’re you’re cruel! I hereby break the pizza deal.
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No need to bring pizza into this!
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I have touched a nerve now lol.
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I will say this again. I READ ALL YOUR POSTS! *full on bawling*
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Lol! 😂
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Nooooooo! Don’t laugh!
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I can’t speak for her, but I have tears in my eyes from laughing.
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*Sulking*
Don’t make me angry hug you both.
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Don’t make me play the Senior Card and come up there and break up this awesome fight. And don’t talk about pizza. No need to bring something so delicious and so innocent into the brawl. Waddyathinkthis is? HOCKEY or something? GO TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING!!!
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GO TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING AHAHAHAHAHA
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Not much longer now, Paul. My stomach is tied up into knots waiting for the last second to arrive. Tampa Bay Lightning had better win tonight. Or what? Or I have no idea. Or they’ll be flying back to Tampa and packing up their lockers, I guess. Wahhhhh… hate that thought.
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Have the nearest pizza place on speed dial if that happens. Always be prepared.
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When I read the post this morning… AND READ EVERY SINGLE WORD AND FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS ALMOST EXACTLY… excuse me. I DID follow the instructions EXACTLY in my first comment. Then I broke the instructions by blabbering on and on about something to do with pizza, I think. ANYHOW… I hovered over the names of those who “liked” the post to see who had NOT left a comment. Tee Hee. Yeah. I tend to be OCD sometimes. Sue me! lol
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Hahaha I love comments about pizza. Yeah I think by the time you commented, I had a few others comments already submitted, but I didn’t post any so no one would know what was going on.
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OCD is fun! Who wants to be a boring old rabbit hole? Not me:P
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You “tend” to be OCD? I GOT OCD! That IS why I have to know something before I like it, LOL!
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Hahahah. Somehow, this time I was reading your post more carefully. 😛
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Haha! This experiment worked out better than I anticipated. Now I have people on their toes just in case I write something random in the middle!
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Hahahaha. I had to read that instruction thrice for it to actually register in my brain.
Even so, I couldn’t leave a ‘one word’ comment. 😛
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Haha fair enough. Not many people did leave a one word comment. I guess it’s a good thing people want to talk about my post.
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Hahaha. I sense a smug smile on your face. 😛
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A big one! Hahaha
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I read every word of this just looking for the hidden instructions. 😉
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Haha I’m so happy to hear that!
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You got me. I am not very good at paying attention, so even when I do read something, I don’t read every word. Good job.
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No worries! You weren’t alone. I do appreciate you reading and commenting on my blog though!
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I will admit, I read to entirety but did, in fact “speed read”, for good reason. My boss was lurking around the corner and this job is really my only means of survival. Good excuse, I know. In all honesty, I should get bonus points for the risk I was taking. Surely that has to count for something?!? 🙂
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Haha reading my blog while at work!? All is forgiven! That’s as good as if you commented with a colour. 🙂
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Thank heavens! I was concerned. I can now sleep the government recommended 8 hours this evening. 🙂
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Excellent! And if your boss ever catches you reading my blog, just show them that post and see if they catch the line about the colour.
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I would say, your blogging today has been a riotous success Paul. WELL DONE!!
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Thank you, thank you! I feel like I accomplished something today, or at least made a few people look foolish! All in good fun though.
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I am always up for making people look foolish haha!
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You kill me. It’s true, I don’t pay attention very well. Way to rub it in!
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Haha at least you left a nice, well thought out comment!
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I should get a ribbon.
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You should.
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Sooo… did i win anything? XD
Just kidding.
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You’re the third person to ask for a prize! Haha no wonder people commented their favourite colour. They thought they’d get something!
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Paul, you had your chance to use “y’all” in this post, but you skipped it!
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NOOOO. I’m editing it in.
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Put it in the last sentence. You’re my official “y’all enabler”.
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Y’all’re welcome. YEAH. Try that one on for size.
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WOAH. A double apostrophe word. I gotta sit down.
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What’s wrong with using “Y’ALL”??????????????????????? Y’all aren’t making funny of me, are y’all ??????????????????????? sob sob sob…
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Hahahaha nothing is wrong with Y’all! Mindy here has made me a fan of the word. If anything, we’re praising the word and everyone that uses it!
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Try growing up (or at least getting older) in Pennsylvania when your Mother is from South Carolina and your heart is more Southern than Northern… Ugh. After while you just don’t care about being teased. Y’all. I love the SOUTH.
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I’m from Canada. I have no business saying y’all. Yet it’s become a very addicting word.
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It is a classy word. Filled with warmth toward your fellow mankind. I’m talking gibberish now cause I am nervous. Wish we were neighbours. Yeah. I spelled it that way on purpouse. We could watch the game together. I’d bring the pizza. Tonight deserves anchovies. Y’all.
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That would be the best! You make me laugh, you like pizza, and watch hockey!
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HEY Y’ALL!!! TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING WIN!!! WE ARE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!! BREAK OUT THE PIZZA!!!!
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No! I love using “y’all!”
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I don’t get a chance to post on my own blog much any more because I am so busy reading the posts of my fellow bloggers. Y’all lead such fun & interesting lives. Nobody wants to hear about my almost constant trips to Target since I found out that my daughter, SIL and grandkidlings are coming for a visit in EIGHTEEN DAYS!!! Whooo Hooo… I’m one super happy Grammy here!!!
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I would love to read those posts! Don’t underestimate the nonsense we(I) am willing to read!
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HAHAHA… I’ll try to get around to posting something this weekend. Maybe. I might be busy. I get older tomorrow. YEAH!!!
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WOOO Happy Early Birthday!!
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honestly….i didn’t finish reading the first post. stopped halfway when i got distracted and jumped to this post because i assumed it most be a continuation of the first which will help me catch up really fast..loooool…but i did read ALL of this post though. lazy enough?
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Haha so you read 1.5 of my 2 posts today. I can live with that!
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I felt almost guilty enough to go finish the first but the lazy me said ..”Meh..too late. 1.5 is enough” but i had to confess cos the guilt was killing me
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I appreciate the honesty! If you read the second post, you basically know what happen in the first haha
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Yup…that is the improved kind of skimming. Wait for the update and only go back to the original post if more info is needed 🙂 you should test for that…though i won’t fall for it.
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OF COURSE I had to re-read this to be sure I didn’t miss anything! And, excuse me, but in the last post you said to leave the one word (but you spelled color wrong) and nothing else. But you didn’t say we couldn’t/shouldn’t/wouldn’t then leave a separate comment. I like dogs, do you? On a just slightly more serious note, what I don’t understand is that we know people are “liking” without reading the posts because I’ll get, let’s say 10 likes and 6 visitors/views. HELLO I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING PEOPLE. haha But seriously, should I be flattered because my “like” number is going up or let down because that person didn’t read? (Paul, that was rhetorical. You don’t have to tell me how I should fee lol.) This was a great idea and a lot of fun!
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Dogs are okay. And I had to keep my one sentence line brief or someone would’ve picked up on it if they weren’t reading word for word! As for the views, when someone reads your post in the Reader, it doesn’t count as a view. Even when they like it. It’s a flawed system.
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I thought if you open up “view original post” and then like it, it counts! Oh I apologize to all the readers who read, slowly or fast.
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Haha well if you click on view original post, then yes. But if you read the whole thing without going to their site, then no.
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OBVIOUSLY I view the entire post. Even if it is a 5 sentence post. That way it counts. If a blog is very long I usually don’t read it. Too A.D.D. If I want to read something long, I’ll read a book.
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Haha well more people need to do what you do.
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I’m a military brat. I follow orders. It says CLICK HERE so I do.
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Click Here.
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And…..like a bat outta hell, the click brought me to this reply box. Looney June
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Looney June Long Weekend!
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You mean no work on Monday? Do I detect a case of Looney Junitis coming on???
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I’ll write your employer a note.
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A flat, please.
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I’m the wrong person to be making musical jokes with hahaha
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No, I was asking for an apartment in musicland. haha
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Dude u got too much time to think of this shit LMAO!!
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Haha would you believe me if I said this took me about two minutes to think of?
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The concept yes. U have a sick sense of humor which I get cause I do too lol. I just don’t follow orders well 😉
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Oh if I were reading the previous post and saw that instruction telling me what to comment, there’s no way I would’ve done it either haha
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Lol glad u get it but cool that so many played ur simon says game 🙂
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Thankfully my Mom knew me n when I was 20 n she hated my bf (he was such a loser lol) she didn’t demand I breakup with him. I probably would’ve gone to vegas n married the bonehead LMAO
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LOL!
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Lol that’s why I put an “…I think.” after I said I read it all, because I really was trying to focus. But I know I subconsciously start to skim sometimes without thinking about it. Should have read it twice 😉
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Reblogged this on chroniclesofmoi and commented:
quite clever — i’m bad for skimming through blogs as well… as a matter of fact, i mostly skimmed this one —
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Skimming a post about skimming haha I like it. Thanks for the reblog!
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I’m a serial skimmer but I read this one word for word. And AGAIN because of your comment about there possibly being instructions in the middle! Awesome idea.
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Thanks for reading thoroughly! A lot of people missed what I was trying to do. Btw, your blog is great and really relatable!
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