Sitemeter and Vanity

Ever since installing a freebie version of Sitemeter, it has become a minor daily hobby to see how I'm doing in terms of readership. Hardly a matter of world-shaking importance, but it's still kind of a kick to see whether we're gaining readers - or at least page hits - and if so how fast. Sitemeter charts it all out. Pretty slick.

Yesterday was looking like a record day; when I shut the 'pooter down and picked up a book for the evening, I was only two or three hits from an all-time best. So this morning I was interested to learn what the final figure turned out to be.

Three.

Three? Three? WTF? I was actually upset at this apparent glitch. I was offended. My top score in the game, just wiped out? How dare they?

Then, as I often have to, I stopped and looked at my own reaction. Joel, you wanna explain why this number, which has meaning only to your vanity, is getting you so wound up? It's not like there's a prize. If you want to look better in your own eyes, take a bath and a haircut. Put on a better looking pair of britches. Or even - I don't know - improve yourself. Geez, nobody else can even see the damned daily number. And I guarantee nobody gives a damn. Get over yourself.

I got an email from Sitemeter, apologizing for a server problem they'd had and promising to restore the log, which they later (and quite promptly) did. Yesterday was a record day - thanks. But I think I need a better hobby.