For several weeks now I have been struggling to understand why the traffic flow to the Anvil has waxed and waned and then lately diminished to a low point that has my teeth on edge. But then I realize that because of my particular stance on Islam, I’m going to have forces working against me that are often unseen doing their best to marginalize my message, while at other times these forces are so blatant that they are even newsworthy. Well, one of the forces on the Blogosphere that has gained infamous renown for controlling the flow of thought is the Digg community. Digg users have a huge Far Left cadre that knows it can actually push stories to the basement with just a little organized clicking, and at the same time it can elevate stories to the very top that shouldn’t merit such attention. Now there’s anarchy breaking out over at Digg on this very point — when the users revolt, watch your back, especially when they are breaking laws.
Michelle Malkin comments on it.
So do the folks over at Techmeme.
Many of you will also recall this article of mine that delves into what this is all a syndrome of:
Is the Far Left really the New Fascist Party of America?
‘Anarchy in a bottle’ we might call it. Digg is like a microcosm of our own nation and the devolution in to anarchy that we are seeing more and more of. From the riots yesterday thanks to more illegal immigrants protesting in the streets of Los Angeles, to the actions of Far Left city councils creating ’sanctuary cities’, to narcissistic maniacs gunning down students on a college campus, society is going through some very disturbing changes. And believe me, these are all symptoms not unrelated.
I refuse to stop fighting this cancer, for even if there are days when it seems fruitless, there are other days when I am reminded that the fight is always worth it if the cause is just.
But today I am simply asking you, gentle readers, to witness the anarchists-in-action and to think upon these events and what will no doubt continue to brew in the coming years, and then ask yourselves what it is you wish to see for the future of your own children? Do we just give in to the mentality of those that want ‘individualism’ above all else and damn the consequences, or do we protect the Union and strive to save Western Civilization from the fascists within and the Islamofascists without?
I want Western Civilization to defeat its enemies and I damn well mean to see it through. There can be no Republic without law and order. There can be no true freedom when liberties run amok. Sometimes we have to just learn to say NO!
And if I have to scrape for every single reader, so be it. It’s a struggle I’m ready for.
I leave you now with an example of what I’m discussing here. This video was shot at the Chicago May Day (mayday!) March/Rally by the Freedom Folks and should leave you with little doubt of what threatens us all:
Podcasts Archive
Hi F,
While I have been on a Crusade to make Jihadi Jamal’s fatwa worthy blog list, and we have also seen our traffic drop lately, we’ve also increased our search engine referral traffic on non-terrorist related posts. This leads me to think, even though I do love a good conspiracy theory, that there is just a lot of competition in the anti-radical-muslim area. I’ll run it by the Brit, who has a keen way with statistics. However, even if it does turn out that writing about Osama loosing his virginity to a hog drives away some readers, I’ll live with the loss.
the Grit
Perhaps there’s no conspiracy of any kind, but then I’m left wondering what I could possibly do to get the type of traffic that will allow this site to survive. I’d hate to think that I’ll have to go the way of Jawa and start posting girly pictures, etc., or that I’ll have to start advertising more than I devote time to writing and other projects, which have already slid off my schedule as it is.
I’m not so convinced that there’s a lot of competition as I am that most of the “big wheels” in this nitch are very lax about link sharing and common courtesy, especially considering how many inbound links they receive themselves. I’ll come right out and point a finger squarely at Michelle Malkin and Jihad Watch and LGF.
Does it piss me off? Yes. Have I remained relatively silent about it. Yes. Do I think it will matter to the future of the Anvil. Probably not. But could it help tremendously. Of course.
If anyone notes, my links are hand-selected, maintained, relevant and quite numerous and none of those links are done with some sort of traffic-pull scam in mind, but simply over the course of time being what I think would interest and educate readers.
I will have to give this issue some serious thought this month.
(And I just linked you.)
It is very difficult to get your website. I can click Jihad Watch and get that site instantly. I click this site and I get a particle page and then it is as though things get “stuck”. I get so impatient! However because I do want to read what you have to say I wait impatiently, but with much anticipation. I can’t get enough of your postings. I only discovered you through Jihad Watch. Keep searching for why you are not getting many hits. I think something is very odd about that. I always search for your comments on Jihad Watch. Like some of your other “fans” I think you are very much on top of things and look forward to reading any and all posts you write. Keep it up Foehammer. We need you. You are brave and bright and strong and right!
GiGigirl
I think I know where the last poster is coming from when it comes to accessing your site-I usually can get to it but for some reason it takes a while for me to get there as well. I’m not sure why that is since I don’t know much about how websites work. It is worth the wait though.
I’m not sure why you’re not seeing more traffic. You do tell it like it is, which might turn off a few people but I would think the majority who come here would like that style. There are plenty of sites that handle Islamania with kid gloves so sites like this one fill a need for more hard hitting stuff. I wouldn’t change anything regarding content-keep on telling it like it is. Eventually, more traffic might just get here since it does seem like there are a lot of anti-jihad sites out there.
Interesting comments and important for me to read.
I’ve been at odds with my current host company for quite a few weeks now. I’m going to bring these comments to their attention so that they can stop making excuses.
Even the best of intentions can be sunk by powers outside our control, but this is something I can change.
Btw, GiGi and Islamsforlosers — could you please tell me if you are on cable, DSL or dialup connections. You may answer here or use my contact page if you prefer. I would greatly appreciate knowing.
Thanks.
I’ve got DSL.
I feel very badly to realize The Anvil, as good a site as any anti-Islamic site I have ever encountered, is not as “popular” as it should be. Foehammer, I simply cannot believe this oversight has anything whatsoever to do with you, your site, your presentation, your anything, but quite the contrary PLUS a generalized lack of understanding/knowledge/comprehension/insight/understanding or what have you, on the part of potential readers at large. Everywhere I look and everyone I encounter is searching for the “WHY?” of all current worldwide turmoil you and a few others are freely and expertly providing clear and concrete answers to. It is my desperate hope you are never forced to stop informing this sad world through The Anvil! Those few who “get it” regarding current world events are currently in the minority, but I simply cannot accept that this shall always be the case! This situation of attempting desperately to bring truth to seeming non-listerners reminds me of something I learned many years ago regarding new findings in my work [medicine] when there were so very few who listened until a critical state arose and our findings were recognized as though by sleep-walkers newly awakened! Let us hope those in need of the knowledge you so willingly wish to share to the world is accepted in time, but if only ONE person is enlightened, that is one person who otherwise would have remained in the dark if not for you!
Well, much appreciated, Sheila.
Some good news: I just got off the phone with my hosting company and it sounds like I got through to the tech and there will be action taken to improve the performance of this site.
In addition, I made a fairly significant change in serving one less article on the front page. This should obviously go some distance in reducing load time and I doubt it will impact anyone’s enjoyment of the site.
All in all, I will adapt and overcome, so no worries. One way or the other the Anvil will progress.
And call it an omen or whatever, but my Google Page Rank just went from 4 to 5 as I was typing that last comment. That’s a very substantial ranking for a blog and the highest I’ve yet reached.
So, though I’m complaining about overall traffic and my site performance and the other anomalies, it still seems that other blogs are linking me more and more, and I have to say to all those other bloggers out there — THANK YOU!
I have DSL also. Like I mentioned before, it is only this site that takes such a long time to get to and even then once the page is viewable it is a while before I’m able to scroll down. I’m hoping you get an answer very soon.
Hi
As a faithful reader I’d like to pass along some of my observations - 1) people have an aversion to reading about islam as the Iraq War is a daily topic = burnout
2) The PC police are efficient at squashing free speech - look at the current blogger in Finland - who faces jailtime for exposing islam. This creates fear in many and silences many.
3) PC has eroded the backbones of most Western Civilisations ie: UK/EU (& USA) thus causes the indigenous populations to greatly fear & overreact to being called “racist” if they talk of being proud of their heritage, culture and ethnicity.
4) People have also been systematically brainwashed, over the past three decades, to think that multiculturalism & rampant immigration can only be embraced and is in the best interest of the Country/people. In fact Multiculturalism is BETTER than was the pre-M country. Anyone who went to school/college during this time was foercefed/indoctrinated the “Beyond Culture” nonsense while the MSM inundated us with said same.
5)Only when there is another catastrophic terrorist attack will people take the islamic crisis seriously - and even then it will likely be transient due to the above.
Yes I do blame the Looney Left but I also blame the Greedy Right who repeatedly place profits over people & country. Both parties are complicit. This is the main reason many in the USA feel overwhelmed as there is NO party that speaks for the “people”.(just look at the illegal alien amnesty/NAU BOTH parties want to force on Americans -who clearly are against it)
On a personal note - I grew up in one of the most liberal areas of the USA - yet even I couldn’t help but see how the Left has gotten progressively more Marxist. But if the left keep going to the left and the Greedy Right keep going right I can’t help but think that they will merge into a ideology that will place all peoples under the international control of Religion/Big Business who in turn will fund a worldwide Nanny State. That should keep people “mindless” & dependant on the the “government”. Oh wait a minute - haven’t I just described the Global Caliphate?
@TheOPINIONATOR:
Very lucid observations. I think we can sum it all up to fear. The average person fears knowing too much because that brings along with it a responsibility and liability. Seekers of power have long used such fears to control the civilian population. In fact, differing forms of fear tactics are used by our two most prominent political parties every year. One side makes us fear “terror” and “higher taxes” while the other side makes us fear being labeled “racist” or “politically incorrect”. I’m oversimplifying, but you get my point.
Perhaps one of the reasons I stand out from the crowd at all is because my defiance was born into me; I’ve always been a bull in a china shop as long as I can remember. Now, if we can just convince more people to stop being so timid, we can save civilization.
Yes, and it’s not going to be a party. If people “burnout” from reading about these dire subjects, just imagine how I must feel some days.
Hey Foe…just linked over from Shiva’s site to yours.I’ll add yours to my favorites. Keep truckin!
[quote post=”645″]Hey Foe…just linked over from Shiva’s site to yours.I’ll add yours to my favorites. Keep truckin![/quote]
Thanks and welcome to the Anvil.