In case you’re a recent joiner or a random searcher and have yet to receive a general greeting: Welcome to Midlife Crisis Crossover! We hope you’re doing well, that you enjoy your stay, and that you’re fine with the site’s geek-infused but ultimately random, “nicheless” topicality that focuses largely on anything striking my fancy at any given moment and spurring me to craft print expressions for amusement, contemplation, archiving, soapbox venting, or whatever. It’s not about fame; it’s not about products; it’s not about profit-and-loss spreadsheets; it’s about me me me me me.

Most days, MCC runs along smoothly, steadily, quietly, and benignly for followers and visitors alike. Everyone behaves, riots are rare, and behavioral lectures are nonexistent. However, I was concerned to hear from another WordPress blogger (full disclosure: she’s one of the notables on the “MCC Warmly Regards” roster) about allegations of one or more blogosphere denizens whose expectations for followers went above and beyond the common-yet-not-Holy-Writ adage of “I’ll follow you if you follow me!” Ms. Rocker observes:

This week I have seen at least three different blog posts regarding the set “rules” or expectations by another blog’s author. These rules weren’t limited to comments though. They were very follower-stats driven instead. For example, being told that all follows must be reciprocated?

Quid pro quo? Hmm. Really? I don’t even do that mess on Twitter and that has a character limit at least!

My favorite is that all followers need to read and interact in the comments or not follow at all. All followers?…

Most bloggers have an idea of what kinds of comments they’d like to foster, but they don’t normally lay down terms and conditions before granting you permission to click the “Follow” button. Granted, some bloggers are purely looking for follow-me-follow-you and never show you another sign of life after subscribing, and you get used to that and don’t let it ding your feelings after the first couple hundred come and vanish. But some folks genuinely want to read more from a given author and are subscribing of their own entertained volition. Still other clickers may not be bloggers at all (it can happen! no, really!) and follow-me-follow-you can’t even apply to them, unless you’re also requiring them to create their own WordPress blog first and then you’ll permit them to register their interest in your talent.

So the terms laid down by the blogger(s) in question seem haughty and harsh. After giving it several seconds of shallow thought, I’ve decided they’re not harsh enough.

Right this way for your new mandatory directives!