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I was absolutely stunned -but not in a good way- when I saw the new header on my blog. Without asking my permission and without informing me, WordPress had placed a “Gift” icon on my blog. I assume it happened right after I canceled the automatic renewal of the Premium WordPress plan, which I had tried for only one month after I had felt bothered by too many ads on my blog.
The good news -if there is any- not many of you would have noticed the Gift icon because just like me, you read blog posts directly in the reader and you never make it to the actual webpage.
“Gift the author a WordPress Plan.” Really? Let me correct it, please.
“Gift WordPress more revenue.” There you go, I fixed it!
The time we live in and the lack of internet laws and regulations have opened the door widely for all kinds of misuse and violations.
Months ago I would have been too timid to write and post my disapproval so openly. You don’t bite the hand that feeds you, would have come to my mind and I could not have been more wrong.
You see, for the longest time, I felt that I didn’t have the right to speak up or even criticize WordPress because, after all, they allowed me to blog for free. But then, the same day I noticed the amount of advertisement on my free blog it hit me. I am the hand that feeds WordPress, not the other way around. Without free blogs like mine, which guarantee the space to place all the advertisements they sell, they would lose a large amount of income.
While I am aware of the fact that some blogs try to make money, and some even ask for donations -for various reasons- I am not one of them. As a matter of fact, I can afford the Premium version of WordPress but have decided not to spend the money because what is offered is not worth the expense. That’s my biased opinion.
Please, do NOT gift a WordPress Plan!
I don’t want it! I don’t need it!
This all doesn’t sit right with me.
Unbelievable. Especially as you are still a premium member for four days. They probably think they were doing you a good turn by asking for a gift. It would be good to have the option to say no instead of an enforced banner.
This kind of augmentation happens in the IT world all too often. Big tech deciding what would be good for us. Not happy
It really angered me because they make it look like the author would be fine with it.
It even could look like to outsiders that the blogger may instigated it!!
Bravo! keep us informed how this is going.
I hope it soon will be gone.
Grrrrr
That takes a lot of nerve for them to do that. I am sure it is due to you backing out of the premium plan. Crazy!
I hope it disappears soon.
I’m really surprised that WP would be so brazen! It makes me think that we all need to check our sites very carefully from time to time. I am just glad you found the “culprit” and could rectify!
It made me a bit speechless and showed me how much we depend on them -and they know it.
Bridget, thanks for bringing this new WordPress gimmick to our attention as I’m one of those users who usually reads posts directly from the Reader. Shame on you, WordPress!
Rosaliene, it really upset me. You should have seen my face. You are right. This is a shame and it should not happen without informing the blogger. I feel the overstepped it by a mile and I am a bit torn right now. I did write to WordPress, after all I am still a Premium member for four days and demanded an explanation. I am not holding my breath. 🙂
Bridget, I’m curious to hear what they say. If it was a mistake or if that’s what they add to all free plans. Certainly that would look awful at the top of any of our sites.
I was lost for words at first und couldn’t believe it. It feels like a violation of my privacy. How dare they ask for ‘donations’ for me without my approval? Am I a charity case now?
Yes…
You now make me wonder whether I have the same banner displayed on one of my free blogs.
I was wondering the same if it’s on all blogs or just on the ones who canceled the premium membership.
I just checked my free blog, it’s not on there. So I think you might be right, it’s probably for those who had cancelled.
Hear hear Bridget and, if you raised it with them, they would not have the slightest sense of shame at all!
I know but still sent them a message. Will they prove us wrong?