The leaf above is the registered trademark of Applebatch. Except for when I mention certain buzzwords (fluoride, vaccines, and fetuses), my blog has a steady visitor rate--I get a few dozen a day, usually the same people. I visit a couple dozen blogs a day, mostly those of folks who read mine. It's a hobby, it's fun, and it's cheaper than the local bar.
It burns me to get responses from folks posing as interested parties just to plug some website.
I understand someone who comes in on a flaming rocket and screams VISIT MY WEBSITE LOTS OF VIAGRAPORN--I don't like it, but I understand it. I delete the message, then move on.
What irks me is when someone poses as a teacher, then casually lists a drops the name of a website that makes their professional education life better.
First year teaching sucks. It's hard, hard, hard, and it takes some time to find one's voice in a classroom. Predators seek the weak, and first year teachers are vulnerable. Every now and then I will get a response to a post that exists just to plug a website.
Don't play me for stupid.
The latest offender is "Devin," though sometimes he poses as "Marissa." He is plugging Applebatch.com.
Here's a list of sites (besides my "Devin") that have had an Applebatch plug the few months (and this does not include folks who deleted the poseurs):
Reflections on teaching: Devin
TeacherLingo: Terri C.
Bellringers: Marissa
Teachers at Risk: Jessica Baker (and Molly in August)
Shrewdness of Apes: Devin (and Mick back in August, but Mick did not hide.)
The Blue Skunk Blog (highly recommended, btw): Kim
Newly Ancient: Molly again
Edweek: Mick is working as hard as Molly
Hey Jude: Kim
Discovering Biology in a Digital World: Mick, again not hiding
Bit by Bit: Marty does a good job here; would have fooled me, but again, the anonymity is a clue
Human for Fellow Teachers: Kim again
Teaching in the Inner City: hhutchinson--clever!
Hipteacher got hit, but she apparently deleted the message. She's earned her monicker.
The CEO of Applebatch is George Hammer III (no, really!). If you're a blogger, and you've been hit, drop him a line.
Any others I've missed?
How many other bloggers out there have been hit by disguised plugs?
