Okay, so I wrote a little rant about how Bl*gger is ticking me off, what with its changes stopping (non-Bl*gger) bloggers from linking our URL to our comments (not 100% true – hyperlinks can still be included in the body of the comment, it does get a little tiresome typing/cut-n-pasting the html in though).
However. I’ve done a little digging and it seems this might just be a part of the Bl*gger shift to supporting OpenID. Which is, apparently, A Good Thing. I just wonder why Google/Bl*gger made this annoying little change over to the next-to-useless ‘Nickname’ field instead of leaving us with the option of including our (non-Bl*gger) URL in the ‘Other’ section. Really. They’re just pissing people off. The assumption many bloggers seem to be making at the moment is that Google/Bl*gger are trying to coerce everyone into having an account with them (which is possibly also true, I grant you).
I have found many a new and interesting blog through following links in the comment section of other blogs. I’ve been ‘found’ by other readers in the same way. This latest development is just plain irritating, and (cue my very best Pauline Hanson voice)… I don’t like it!
Must go and check out OpenID some more though. Sounds useful.
Then I have to go finish beating Dermot at Scrabble (a rare occurrence) and sew together eleventy-million pre-schoolers’ Christmas stockings. There will be glitter all over this place for months!
Edit: Here’s some of the discussion re. Bl*gger and OpenID, at http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites, http://www.notsorelevant.com, http://mashable.com and http://googlesystem.blogspot.com
Pingback: Million Stitches » OpenID & You & Me
Pingback: Million Stitches » OpenID & You & Me
I love checking out other blogs through the links in the comments. Such a shame blogger is not allowing that any longer.
I’m curious what you found that indicated that Blogger is shifting to OpenID.
I have a Blogger account and I’m currently very upset. Thinking of moving it even though I REALLY don’t want to. I’ve build a good number of inbound links already, you know? And I don’t feel like setting up an new blog (I have enough on my to-do list already, if ya dig).
So, if they are heading towards something that isn’t ridiculous like THIS is, I’d stay put… so, what do you know?
Hi Sarcastic Mom –
Here are a few links for you:
http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/11/blogger-beta-no.html
http://www.notsorelevant.com/2007-11-30/google-and-microsoft-support-openid/
http://mashable.com/2007/11/30/blogger-beta-gets-openid-support/
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/11/blogger-tests-openid-integration.html
So it seems that Bl*gger Beta/ ‘Bl*gger In Draft’ is already supporting OpenID, and presumably only a matter of time before it’s standard. Of course, the ‘Nickname’ vs ‘Other’ change being related to the OpenID issue is only conjecture on my part, but I can’t think of any other legitimate reason for it. One suggestion was that perhaps Bl*gger are trying to avoid ‘splogger’ comments, but a splogger can just as easily post hyperlinks in the comment body, so that would seem a little bit futile as a security measure.
Melanie
Thanks so much for your comments on my blog!
When I came here via your hyperlink I realised I had read this post before…I think I got to the blogpond link via your blog. My memory is so bad! I can’t remember what room I have just been in let alone where I have been on the internet!
Apologies anyway, I have now ammended my post!
Thanks also for that googlesystem link, the video was very helpful. I also checked out wordpress on your advice…very easy, not what I was expecting at all. Thanks again!
[…] Blogger have made that switch to OpenID support that I was talking about. For any of those of you on WordPress.com or Typepad (or LiveJournal or AOL/AIM) you can now use […]
[…] Blogger have made that switch to OpenID support that I was talking about. For any of those of you on WordPress.com or Typepad (or LiveJournal or AOL/AIM) you can now use […]