Fifty Things About My Bottom Smarts

In preparation for the fifth anniversary of My Bottom Smarts later this month, I thought it might be good to present some retrospective posts, each from a different viewpoint. This first one is a variation on the popular fifty things meme. Here are fifty facts and observations about this blog that the casual reader may not know.

1. I got spanked for a couple of decades before I ever knew what a blog was. For lack of a better option, we mostly figured it out for ourselves.

2. Many of the spanking stories I published during the first couple of years pre-date the blog. As a writer, I've always enjoyed memorializing noteworthy events.

3. Some of those old stories appeared on other, now defunct forums.

4. I started MBS as a place to share my stories with like-minded people. I hoped to attract a core group of regular readers who liked spanking stories.

5. I had no inkling this blog would become popular. I still find the numbers difficult to fully grasp.

6. I remember clearly the thrill I felt when I discovered that really successful bloggers like Dan had linked me. It was a bit like being featured by Chross today.

7. In those early days, I figured that I would run out of new material within a few months. I learned that I have a lot to say about spanking.

8. Much of the inspiration for In with the New comes from Angelbrat. She no longer links blogs, but in those early days, her blog was an authoritative source for the newest in spanking blogs.

9. As popular as In with the New is, it attracts relatively few comments. I can't explain that.

10. Readers and other bloggers ask me how I find so many new blogs. I use my statistics, Google blog search, Blogger keyword search, Wordpress keyword search, and friends' blogrolls. Once in a while, a new blogger will make the job easy by contacting me.

11. I had to agree to a list of guidelines before Randy would agree to help me with my blog. They were mostly to ensure my safety. I still follow them.

12. He actually helps a lot with the blog though his words seldom appear. We co-write the responses for Keyword Chaos. We spend a very silly hour laughing together. You should see the gags I don't use!

13. I try to maintain a certain degree of civility on the blog. I love a good joke and don't mind the occasional dirty word, but I insist that readers be treated in a respectful manner.

14. Other than spam (which gets eradicated on sight), I've deleted maybe ten comments in five years. This is not a move I undertake lightly. I want readers' voices to be heard, even when I don't agree. But I won't tolerate comments that are blatantly abusive toward me, Randy, our favorite pastime, or our friends. At those rare moments, I become a benevolent dictator.

15. I wrote a one act stage play set in a spanking booth. That's something I've never seen on any other blog.

16. I want readers to feel comfortable and at home here – sort of like your favorite sister's living room.

17. I decided early on that I would not accept any sort of advertising on the blog. I've never regretted this choice. All day long, I am a mercenary author. But in this place, I am contributing editor, publisher, and chairwoman of the board. I write what I like and everything you see is here because I chose it. Complete control over content make this medium an author's paradise.

18. I receive a lot of e-mail. I try to answer it in a timely manner, but that doesn't always occur. Too often, I begin my replies with an apology. What happens is that I ignore it for a few days and then get so far behind that I don't even want to look. Perhaps spankings would help...

19. The spanking story that readers most frequently ask about was one of my oldest. It's called The Boat Story.

20. There have been a number of occasions when other blogs have borrowed features they saw here. I consider this a kind of tribute, especially if they morph the idea into something that is uniquely theirs.

21. If this blog has a central theme, it is that consensual adult spanking can greatly enhance a loving relationship. That, and it's fun!

22. There are a few prominent and respected bloggers who want nothing to do with Love Our Lurkers Day (watch this space for our LOL 2010 announcement). I don't entirely understand their objections, but I certainly respect them.

23. I hope there aren't any lurkers out there who think they have to remain silent until October. Truth be known, we love you all year round.

24. As a professional journalist, writing fiction was never something I felt I did well. It's much more difficult and time consuming for me than describing real life events. I think my best fictional story is The Sphere. It was my first ever attempt at science fiction. It explores the physics and feelings associated with spanking and lovemaking in zero gravity.

25. One fun aspect of fiction is that it allows me to explore disciplinary themes that are not a part of my relationship with Randy.

26. The brunch began as an experiment. I didn't expect it to be an every week feature, let alone run for years. People ask where I get brunch topics. Many are submitted by readers. Others are inspired by events around here, stories in the news, or other blogs. If all else fails, I'll update an old topic.

27. For every blog feature that succeeded, there were probably two more that didn't. My philosophy is to try everything and keep the stuff that works.

28. Readers consistently tell me that the blogroll is one of their favorite features. It takes a lot of time, but it's tolerable thanks to good help from a great friend.

29. I use both the chronological and alphabetical blogrolls. I think others do too, but I haven't any way to track that.

30. From time to time, a reader will suggest that I should link this blog or not link that one. People have specific tastes, and I get that. But I try to link blogs that a reasonable segment of my audience will enjoy. If F/M, for example, is not your preference, that's perfectly fine. But let's not isolate these folks.

31. Readers write and ask me bizarre questions like, “Do you really get spanked?” “Do you really like it?” and even, “Are you a woman?” For those keeping score at home, the answer to all three is yes. I suspect some of these people ask me (or tell me) weird things just to see if I will mention them in the blog.

32. I used to write a lot more humorous posts. I'm not sure why those dried up. It wasn't a conscious choice.

33. One feature I've always wanted to try is an interview segment. I really like what Suzy is doing. I particularly appreciate her choice of subjects. Everyone interviews the spanking models, and we do love them, but it's great to hear from regular spankos too. Were I to try an interview feature, I would probably choose a somewhat similar format.

34. Nothing I write increases readership as much as a photograph of my rear. I guess we have to conclude that while the pen may be mightier than the sword, it's no match for a curvy pear.

35. I have a small group of readers I have dubbed the panty patrol. They write me to ask when I'm am going to show them more visible panty lines.

36. I love song parodies. I used to post a lot of these. Perhaps it's a good time to revisit the concept.

37. It bugs me when sites republish my content without permission and then adorn it with tacky ads. They steal my words, my readers, and my integity.

38. The MBS paddle logo was created by Dante.

39. I think I like the followers gizmo. It helps new people find my blog. But it also provides a path from my blog to spammish places I would not normally send readers. I try to block the worst of them, but I'm not very discriminating at this stage.

40. We need to invite Daisy to brunch because she is a much better cook than I am!

41. I'm glad that people liked the blogging tips post. It's off-topic, but it has the potential to assist community members. I am thinking about making it a stand-alone page.

42. The best part about blogging is the opportunity to meet and talk with so many interesting friends.

43. The second best part of blogging is when Randy reads the blog and gets inspired by what I wrote.

44. The worst thing about blogging is not having enough time to do everything I think needs to be done. I feel bad when I realize that I haven't spent time at a favorite blog in weeks.

45. Randy says my blog needs monkeys. I say the last time I mentioned the subject, I ended up up-ended.

46. Sometime around the end of the year, MBS should record our ten millionth page request. That will be an event worthy of celebration. But I'm really curious to see whether my counter will display eight digits!

47. When readers ask how long I plan to keep blogging, I never have a good answer. I'm sure I will call it quits someday. But that day is not today and it probably won't be tomorrow. I guess I would stop if blogging ceased to be fun.

48. My polls tell me that MBS readership is consistently about 60/40 male to female. Comments, however, run more like 70/30 female to male. I'm not sure why that is.

49. When I updated the template, I dumped all those little chicklet links. Did anyone miss them? I figured out that I wasn't getting many hits from those sites, so why bother?

50. I think the biggest difference between Bonnie the blogger and real life Bonnie is that my cyber incarnation is nicer and more patient. When I'm having a epic bad day, I typically don't blog.

So there you have it – Fifty things about MBS.