One of my hubs is blowing up with the hits, but...

1. 71

   Jeff Berndtposted 11 years ago

   I noticed yesterday that one of my hubs about responsible use of water resources had its readership just explode! It had always been steadily getting about ten or so hits a day, which I thought was respectable if not exceptional. But yesterday it jumped to over a hundred hits! It's still up there.
   
   So I checked where these hits were coming from. Turns out, noted right-wing nutjob Alex Jones (the guy who screamed at Piers Morgan on TV) linked to it in a story about how the government is going to take away our water. He cited my hub as a source for a passage about how the Aral Sea is drying up.
   
   I'm pleased that Jones thinks responsible use of water is important (and happy that I'm getting more traffic!), but his ideas on how to ensure the responsible use of water are pretty out there. It kind of bothers me that my work is being used (or misused) to support (kind of) his anti-government nutjobbery.
   
   At the same time, the point that my hub is cited to support is a true point: Soviet-era mismanagement of water resources has turned the Aral Sea into what is fast becoming the Aral Desert.
   
   My question for the community is this: Do I just sit back and enjoy the bump in traffic, or do I have a responsibility to say something to someone at Jones's website? If so, what should I say?
   
   Or should I edit my hub to say, "Welcome, Conspiracy Theorists, Tinfoil Hatters, and Wing Nuts!"
   
   Whatever the case, I thought it was pretty funny that a famous right-wing ranter linked to me, when I'm pretty consistently center-left in my rhetoric.
   
   Anyone else have something liek this happen to their hubs?

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      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hahaa, that's so funny- but fortunate! I'd just enjoy the traffic. I've heard of things like this happening before- it can be quite the entertaining experience.

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   MelissaBarrettposted 11 years ago

   LOL... Well, I don't think that insulting your readership is a great solution.
   
   IMHO, I would just be happy that an important message is getting out there.  You really can't control the opinions of your readers coming into any piece of writing... but if you are good enough you can control their opinions upon leaving

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   1. 71

      Jeff Berndtposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      "Well, I don't think that insulting your readership is a great solution."
      
      No, I'm not going to do that. It was funny to think about, though.

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3. 69

   faythefposted 11 years ago

   I haven't read the article you wrote yet..But I would think that once they click on the article and really read it ..It will speak for its self. Saying what you want it to.....

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   kaiyan717posted 11 years ago

   i agree, just be happy for the hits.  My hubs have been on many links, sometimes seemingly unrelated.  They are taking real data and using it for their advantage, but once you put out the information, you really don't get to decide where it goes.  So just be happy for the hits, imo

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5. 78

   Silva Hayesposted 11 years ago

   As Melissa says, your message is getting out there, and that's good.  Sit back and enjoy the hits is my advice.

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6. 87

   innerspinposted 11 years ago

   Gave me a laugh hearing this story, I wish I could have seen your face when realization dawned! The main thing is, they haven't copied your hub and claimed it as their own. There are so many tales of copied work. Your message is being read by lots of people, that has to be a good thing.

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   1. 71

      Jeff Berndtposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      "The main thing is, they haven't copied your hub and claimed it as their own."
      Yeah, that's a good point. Someone could easily have copy/pasted. So far I don't think this has ever happened to me. Not sure how I feel about this--isn't my work good enough for someone to want to steal it?

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         Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Congratulations, that's exciting, no matter what his other views are.
         Maybe even you and Hitler both agreed that summer days are lovely... know what I mean?

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   Ky Cardinalposted 11 years ago

   Can you put some type of disclamer at the end of your article that states that you do not support this man's view, and the relationship he was trying to make with your article and his belief are simply his way to justify his stand?

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8. 56

   Jasnavposted 11 years ago

   Hi!
   
   I was in similar luck last month - sudden spurt in traffic (100 views plus)on an otherwise gasping hub on Weight Height chart. Turned out the hub was included as one of the suggested ones on a weight loss hub that was exploding with traffic. The earnings jumped too - though it remained in single figures, so I wasn't complaining!
   
   Unfortunately it was too good to last - come march and hubpages moved on to some other hubs. End of Honeymoon!
   
   For your peculiar situation, I'd say best way out is to go with your conscience. You already have listed out your choices - so take your pick!

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9. 56

   Jasnavposted 11 years ago

   Well, as a result of all that attention, suddenly I find my hub on page 1 of Google, 4th of 91,800,000 results!
   Seems there is a silver lining after all

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      Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Aw that's wonderful. Congratulations to you as well.

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    rebekahELLEposted 11 years ago

    I would enjoy the traffic. As was mentioned earlier, once it's published, anyone may find it useful.I remember reading your hub when it was first published. It also shows that you never know when a hub may hit a sudden flow of traffic. It's an interesting, informative hub.

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11. 64

    Gypsy Willowposted 11 years ago

    I had a similar experience a few weeks back with my hub on Snow Pancakes going from one or two a week to nearly a thousand a day! Very strange! I put it down to the weather.

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