Fighting Spam and Tending to a Blog — Like Taking Care of a Home

Fighting Spam and Tending to a Blog — Like Taking Care of a Home

Not long ago, I spent nearly two days fending off a wave of spam bot attacks on my blog.
In the early hours of the morning, I noticed the same spam comments repeatedly appearing on one of my posts. I deleted them every time, but I knew it must have been effortless for the bot to repost—over and over again in the exact same spot.
So I decided to do something more direct.
I posted a clear notice at the top of the blog:
"Any inappropriate or spam content will be deleted immediately. "
That message wasn’t just a warning. It was a way of letting the spammers—and readers—know that this space is actively managed.
And interestingly, after that, the spam stopped.

The experience made me think.
Running a blog isn't just about writing and posting content.
It's also about guarding and tending to the space, much like taking care of a home.
Think about it. If you clean every day, fix things as they break, and keep your home bright and welcoming, it becomes a place where people feel safe and calm.
But if you leave broken windows unrepaired, trash piling up in corners, and cobwebs gathering dust, what happens?
Soon, insects move in.
It’s no longer seen as a cared-for space—it’s seen as abandoned.
The same applies to blogs.
Neglected posts, unmoderated comments, and outdated information send a message:
"No one’s watching. No one cares."
But when we check in regularly, update content, manage spam, and respond to changes—such as shifts in Google AdSense policies—we're doing more than upkeep.
We’re showing up for our work.

I didn’t always think this way.
In the beginning, I believed blogging was just about writing what I wanted and hitting “publish.”
But over time, I realized that creating content is only part of the story.
Maintaining, refining, and protecting that content—that’s the rest of the journey.
Now, I’m not as overwhelmed by changing ad policies or technical issues.
I've learned how to read the signals, adjust my strategy, and protect my site.
I’ve come to see blogging not just as a hobby or side project—but as a living space that deserves attention and care.

People often ask me, “Is it too late to start a blog now?”
And my answer is simple:
“No. In fact, now is a perfect time.”
Sure, you’ll see stories about someone who got lucky—one viral post, one hit video, one quick success.
But those are rare exceptions.
Most of us grow slowly, quietly, and steadily.
And truthfully, what we gain through luck is never fully ours.
But what we gain through daily effort and learning—that becomes our foundation.
That becomes something no one can take away.

I’ve made peace with the fact that blogging is a craft.
It takes time, presence, attention, and energy.
And I've come to love it.
What once felt like a random side project has become something much more meaningful:
a way of organizing my thoughts, sharing my journey, and tending to a space that reflects my values.
At this stage in my life—past the age of 50—I find joy in the fact that I still have so much to learn.
And for those who are considering a new chapter, I want to say this sincerely:
“Start a blog. Let it be your space to create, learn, and grow.
It might just become the most honest expression of who you are.”

​My experience with spam attacks taught me that blogs, like houses, require care and maintenance. Keeping them clean and regularly inspected is key to blog growth.