I work on web sites all day, and I know that the pages that get the most clicks will influence the editorial decisions made by the owners of those sites. For example, I'm sure you have noticed some sites that use headline links with numbers in them, like these:
- 5 Ways to Lose Weight
- Top 7 Reasons Why Twitter Works
etc.? It's because time and again, people know that headlines with numbers in them will be clicked statistically more frequently than normal headlines.
What does this have to do with Sarah Palin? Stick with me after the fold...
Cutting to the chase... repeat after me:
"I Hereby Resolve, starting now, never to click again on any headline containing Sarah Palin's name."
I do it. You do it. We all do. We. Must. Stop.
How many times have you heard (or said): "I think Sarah Palin gets way too much media attention." "Why does the media give her so much attention?"
Well, I am telling you that you and I are part of the problem. Online news organizations have found that you, me, and a large proportion of their audience will click that link if Sarah Palin's name is there. If they exist from advertising, they know that Sarah Palin is a cash cow for them (even if they disagree with her statements).
Each click becomes a metric in that site's web analytics. They know you followed it (even if only in aggregate) and having that traffic will encourage them to create more content that is similar.
I'm sure the Tea Party folks are clicking those headlines because they cannot wait for the next pearl of wisdom to come from their goddess. But I'd wager that the rest of the traffic, heck probably most of the traffic, comes from people like you and I who either live on outrage, cannot avoid watching the train wreck that is Sarah Palin, or whatever your motivation may be.
Again: I do this myself. I have been the sucker clicking those links. No more. I am boycotting all Sarah Palin related online content.
If enough of us boycott clicking those links, maybe the traffic will die down on those pages enough that content providers will stop being encouraged to post more.
You clicked this diary, so, like me, you are prone to following links related to Sarah Palin. I beg you, please, stop now. Tell everyone you know to join the click boycott. It's for the good of the country.