I know I usually put up repeat posts on weekends, but since I shipped (misspelling intentional) the bed yesterday, I thought I’d ask what you all thought about something. For the last week, I have been getting the most perplexing comments on a lone photo (see above) from a May 2018 post about an artist who makes art with spilled coffee. Not the deepest post of all time, but a tidy little effort on my (usually) tidy little blog.

But all of a sudden last week, I started getting these bizarre positive comments from people from whom I had not received comments before. I assumed the first one or two were because someone stumbled upon an old post, but when I went to the page where they were commenting, it was just a picture of one of spilled coffee artworks from my post about Giulia Barnadelli. Once? Sure. Someone was clicking through the photos and wrote in the wrong spot. But then came ten more. Then another 25. I finally stopped approving the comments and began deleting the earlier ones because they are so weirdly encouraging I don’t know what to do with them.

Here’s a cross section. They’re all equally flattering and bizarre.

• This was a wonderful read. You’ve gained a subscriber. Much appreciated.
• Already sharing this with a couple of friends. Let me know if you ever do a podcast on this. Cheers
• Excellent write-up. Sharing with a couple of colleagues who’ll find it a real gem.
• Every time I open a tab for this topic, it ends up being noise. Yours is different. All the best.
• This was a wonderful read. Found it absolutely on point. I honestly didn’t know half of this before. Great work as always.
• Nice work on this one. You’ve clearly lived this, not just researched it. Keep it up!
• Amazing article. Found it well explained. Great to see someone covering this properly. All the best. 

I know someone out there knows what’s happening, but it surely isn’t me. Is it a bot writing these messages of encouragement about my writing on a photo of spilled coffee that bears no words? How do I make it stop? Will they continue trying to inexplicably boost my ego until my head explodes? It’s like you’ve done a painting of which you are quite proud, and the person you’re showing it to just keep effusively complimenting you on the picture hanger. Very disorienting. Has this nonsense taken up anyone else’s time?