Although we can’t provide a specific reason why we could not include your site, these are the most common reasons:

There was an error reading the feed
Our server was unable to read the feed within 20 seconds
The site has not been updated recently or on a regular basis
There is not enough original content on the site
The general quality of the site does not meet our standards
The site is primarily promoting a business
There is no appropriate Alltop topic
The site is not in English

Thanks,

Alltop

——

The feed works. The site is in English. The site isn’t promoting a business. The site was updated 4-5 times a week at the time of submission back in 2011. The content is original.

That leaves two reasons.

I’m betting that I couldn’t be pigeonholed into a specific niche or topic. That’s how I like it anyways.

If the quality of the site didn’t meet their standards, that would be their point of view. That’s subjective and they have that right.

I appreciate the rejection because I’m not a designated label.

-Call it naive.
-Call it being too ambiguous to getting loyal readers.
-Call it being flawed by not having a word to describe my work.

That’s no problem. Categories are limiting and I really hate limits.

Thanks Alltop, I appreciate it.

[Note: I am not saying anything bad about Alltop as a company, I'm simply recognizing a potential flaw in their decision making in which blogs must be added into a certain category. Also, it would be encouraged to tell the reason of a rejection, however that is their right to keep it undisclosed.]

This blog has gone through many changes throughout its first year hosted on this URL. The header changed. The main themes of the content changed. Many things changed. I just updated the layout yesterday as well.

I remember when I took the leap a year ago. I had no idea what to expect and where this blog would go. It’s been a wonderful ride full of ups and downs.

-I had 5000 views in a day from having one of my posts go viral.
-I have 20 loyal views from yesterday.
-I received over 60 comments on my awkward moments blog post.
-I had many posts with 1 amazing comment.
-I have met people doing all sorts of things all over the world.
-I got lost within my own writer’s block.
-I did my best to be honest.
-I had quite a few guest post opportunities.
-I received rejections from many top sites regarding my blog.
-I enjoyed every unique email in my inbox.
-I enjoyed all 25 of them.

Is year one a success? It depends on what my definition of success is. If I define success as gaining experience and learning from the ups and downs, then I would say it has been a great success. Now it’s on to year two.

Reader: Think about your life one year ago. What positive and not so positive things has happened in your life, blog, etc.? Remember you always have the ability to change that idea to a positive experience.

I’ll be completely honest with you, the readers. I haven’t written here because I feel that this blog is at a transitional period. I have writer’s block. When I attempt to write a post, I feel the quality lacking. Instead of forcing out crap, I want to uphold myself to a certain standard.

I continue to brainstorm where I want to take this blog. Should I change the URL? Should I add in crazier experiments? Should I write about more of the people I met? All those ideas and thoughts are in my mind constantly. Please be patient with me during this period.

Why is honesty the best way to go about things? People love vulnerability. You have the guts to put yourself out there. That is an endearing quality to those around you.

This idea came up from writing the words above:

I’m going to be completely honest in everything I do starting today, April 16, 2012. I’ll do this for at least 21 days.

-If I see a girl that is really attractive, I will tell her.
-If I see something that is awesome, I will say that it is awesome.
-I will say whatever I am thinking, especially if it benefits myself and/or other people.

My personal exception:

Negative honest comments. For example, what if you think that person next to you is a joke? I would try to make it as constructive as possible. “Hey, honestly your haircut isn’t as good as I think it could be.” If you think they’re just a terrible person in general, then I wouldn’t say anything.

There is a difference between value giving honesty and being a straight up douche.

Readers: Comment on what you think about this. Be honest. Think that exception itself is a joke? Go for it. Want to give good feedback? Let me know.

It was a fleeting conversation with no guarantee of anything more.

These fleeting interactions are the only promise of this art form. It has no celebration of accomplishment. Even if it turns into friendship or whatever sort of relationship, it is what it is in the moment. Barring a photograph or recording, there is no physical evidence for that interaction happening except in your own mind.

But we need to take advantage of fleeting moments. They’re the bridges to different worlds of people. There’s something mystical about that.

Twitter is simply one of the many enablers and recorders in this highly connective human era, so why not use it?

Now it’s time for Round 2.

#5 Ask someone working at a supermarket for help finding an item.

I went to Target and asked the guy if they had small screwdrivers. He shook his head and said they didn’t have them.

#7 Ask a stranger in a restaurant or coffee shop if you can sit with them.

I actually did this a few times but I recall chatting to a girl about her teal green backpack. I asked if I could sit with her to chat for a few minutes. In the middle of the conversation, I remembered that I left my backpack inside the cafe, so I told her I’d be back. I found my backpack in the previous spot and came back. She smiled and welcomed me back. We continued where we left off and it ended up being a nice conversation.

#9 Ask a stranger for his/her phone number.

I was on campus when a girl walked past me that had green shoes on. I was curious where she got them, so I turned around and caught up to her. I asked her about her green shoes. After a few more minutes of chatter, I asked her for her #. She gave it to me and we hung out again for some coffee.

#11 Ask a stranger a ridiculous question.

I asked someone what time their class was starting (this is a little ridiculous for an opening). She looked at me a little odd and said the time. I thanked her and walked on.

#14 Wave and smile at someone you don’t know (as if you do). (Yes again!)

I waved to the people on the cable cars in San Francisco last week. I also waved to fellow students on the bus just yesterday as well. It’s funny to get people’s reactions (or lack thereof).

#16 Go the wrong way up or down an escalator.

I did this a couple of months ago with my cousin and his friends. I ended up being the most self-conscious about the situation. However, nothing bad really happened. Almost all of the time, it’s worse than you think.

#21 Unfriend someone annoying on Facebook, or send a friend request to someone you’ve only met briefly but wish to know better.

I just removed someone who got annoyed at me for lightly teasing her about her tastes. She unfriended me and then readded me. However, it never felt the same. Cheers to not working out. In order to find the right people, you’ll have to go through folks that are not.

#26 Correct anyone who mispronounces your name.

My last name is mispronounced much of the time. I correct all the folks.

#29 Ask someone attractive out on a date.

Definitely has happened but we’ll get to that.

#36 Hold a conversation with a stranger for three minutes or more.

I recall one instance where I was in San Francisco and talked to the girl next to me waiting for a bus stop. We ended up talking for seventeen minutes until the bus stop arrived. I learned that she was from a different country, a student at San Francisco State, wanted to figure out how to stay longer, and enjoyed her time traveling across the country. It’s always fun to travel through another person’s stories.

#45 Eat something you’ve never eaten before, or try a new recipe.

Yesterday, I tried Irish Pub Chips with the mushroom gravy and cheddar. Delicious really.

——

The ten examples above are ten more metaphorical punches towards knocking fear out. *(Eleven if you count an enhanced version of #14).

[Disclaimer: Nothing given to do this. I want to finish these 50 challenges for my own improvement.]