The blogosphere is one massive creative content continuum. Most of us only live on the front edge of the ever-expanding wave, but there’s a wealth of diversity hidden below, accessible by a single magic word:
That word is ‘?random’.
When I’ve been visiting other blogs lately, I’ve been following up on my visit to the most recent post with another one, using ‘?random’. This works on any WordPress site to take you to a random blog post on that site. All you have to do is put ?random after the domain name, like this:
https://wronghands1.com/?random
https://wrightingmylife.com/?random
https://learningfromdogs.com/?random
https://pendantry.wordpress.com/?random
https://eddietwohawks.wordpress.com/?random
https://dailyflabbergast.wordpress.com/?random
https://suedreamwalker.wordpress.com/?random
https://antoniodiaspoetry.wordpress.com/?random
https://insideoutfitnessandnutrition.wpcomstaging.com/?random
Many blogs have old posts that are still relevant and interesting long past their publication date. But these posts get buried; only the most recent ones generally see the light of day. Some blogs focus on certain themes; and some of those are timeless. Examples (all gleaned from ?random visits) are:
Another way in which browsing sites with ?random may be helpful is that it might generate ideas for new blog posts. For instance, this post on ghrelin was the result of a ?random visit to Rachel’s blog. (Of course it’s always a good idea to link back to the post that sparked your imagination; leaving a pingback can serve as a thank-you.)
I’ve been following my own advice — about blog maintenance — and have been able to help other bloggers fix some problems like dead links, missing videos and broken images (and I get a warm fuzzy feeling from doing that).
So if you’ve been wondering why it is that I’ve been ‘liking’ and commenting on ancient posts of yours, this is why :)
Wibble 
This is great to know, thanks for sharing :-)
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You are very welcome :)
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Good to know, and thank you for pointing out things on my own blog that weren’t working! Really appreciate it!
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My pleasure!
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Ah! Very clever :)
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/flourish
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I never knew about random.
Do youknow a way you can look at your media files, and view how many posts they appear in? Some files seem to be in my media folder twice, yet I’m pretty sure I’ve only used them once. Thx.
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Don’t know about media files. Maybe try WordPress support?
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A follow-up on your media files question: I’ve just asked a WordPress Happiness Engineer about this, and the answer appears to be, “no, there isn’t (currently) a way to identify which posts a media file appears in”.
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That falls a bit short really doesn’t it?
If you imagine the database at the heart of WordPress, you should be able to query where/how many times an image is used, do bulk updates, etc.
The other thing I discovered, if tou wish to change a featured image on a post, you have to do so via the UI. Enter into the post, choose a new image etc.
Did you kotice when you repost something, it copies that post;s images into your library. rather than just linking to them? Eating up a little more of your disk space…
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Agreed, computer systems all too often fall short of delivering the promise of “this will make your life easier”. Especially when there’s a vested interest involved (as in; WordPress gets to pressure you to ‘upgrade’ so you have ‘more space’ if you exceed your allotted maximum — and so they have zero incentive to make it easier for you to manage that space).
As for the repost issue; I got into the habit, long ago, of checking the media files imported when I reblog, and deleting the unnecessary ones.
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And also worth pointing out that actually making a ‘Random Post’ menu button available alongside your categories (using the ‘?random’ after the blog URL as a ‘Custom Link’ menu item) may be another idea. That I recently borrowed from you Mr P, of course!
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Well, naturally I think that’s a good idea (even though I stole it a long time ago from someone else)… but the ?random trick can be used on other sites too, of course, whereas a button will only work on your site.
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Sorry, yes, I was expanding beyond the focus of your post… like I am expanding beyond my trousers with all this sitting about. ;)
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Please don’t let me inhibit your expansion!
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What fun! Tried it on my own site and brought up a Picture Parade that was six years ago.
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… and still as fresh as ever, right?
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Another new thing I was unaware of I may have to try this. Plus check out those you have mentioned in this post
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If/when you do, I hope you’ll be pleasantly surprised :)
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I didn’t know you could do this Colin.. Thank you and feel quite honoured that you included my site address among others on your post… I clicked it and it brought up a post on Earth’s feminine Energies… :-) So thank you.. I may use the feature in future… as while reading this post again it showed me just how Nature is converging in this cycle we are experiencing.
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You are very welcome, Sue! I hope you do use it in future, there’s a lot of interesting and entertaining material to be found in the blogosphere :)
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There sure is, and I forget often what I have written which is buried… I sometimes type certain words into my search bar on my blog that often finds a post I resurrect, :-) thank you
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Well there you go. I have learnt something. Totally agree on the value of some of our old posts. Some of them might be rubbish, but a blog post only has a fairly transient half life before he get buried in the wordpress archives. Not many new followers find those old ones unless they have extended time on their hands. In a way, blog posts live in the present moment.
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Indeed so; the gems are out there, lurking amongst the dross, waiting to be (re)discovered.
(Can I interest you in considering joining ?Random Raiders! … ?)
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Sure. I have heaps of broken links. I have begun to eliminate old posts with now pixelated photos from ten years ago, but it is time consuming. So thanks! I am in.
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Excellent, glad to have you aboard! I’ve added you in to the members list at https://randomraiders.wordpress.com/ … if you get a moment, please do click those other members’ links ;)
I’ll do my best to locate any bad links on your site… but… what’s this about ‘eliminating old posts’? Sacrilege! What if someone’s linked to one of them?
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It will be a problem for them to sort out if they have linked up and I’ve deleted the post, I don’t see that it would be too much of a frequent issue, on MY old posts. Not too much linking up going on there.
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Ah, with an attitude like that you’re never likely to become President of the Known Universe.
(I’d still vote for you, though.)
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Maybe not but I’d make a bloody good deputy!
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Reblogged this on ?Random Raiders!.
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I had no idea about the ?random thing!! wow.
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It’s a hidden gem – and it’s fun, isn’t it? :) I’m doing my best to promote it… care to help me out by joining ?Random Raiders!?
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Just did!
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Awesome! :)
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A phrilliant idea ideed!
Donkey-you a ton!😃😃
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My pleasure :)
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A herculean task indeed but worth the try benefitting those all who are interested
Brilliant!!
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