Clout Level 9 on Y!CN

When I wasn't looking, the clout level on my Y!CN page notched up from 8 to 9. Here's what the advance means to me, and perhaps to you.

Number one, I'm ecstatic. Don't let the serious, serene expressions fool you. The absence of an exclamation point at the end of that sentence in no way indicates any absence of euphoria.

Two: I'm second to the top. It means there's only one more level to the pinnacle of success. There's the little matter of gaining 500,000 page views to get there, however. It means that last step takes more than twice as many page views as it took to get the whole way to 9. Well, good luck to me.

More: As contributors march toward 10, many, I've noticed, seem to peter out. Published pieces get fewer and farther apart. So infrequent is their writing that I leave comment #2 upon reading their last article twice. Well, that's not going to happen to me. If anything, I am motivated more than ever to write, write, write.

Less goes to none: As contributors reach 10, many, I've noticed, seem to stop writing completely. Oh, there are some who drop in from time to time, to keep the account live, I suppose. Some are my personally chosen favorites. How dare they leave me.

Keep on keeping on: Going from Clout 9 to 10 is an unfairly long haul. I liken it to stumbling on scree near the top of the Rockies, where forward motion comes while creating debris. Like a mountain summit, the higher you climb, the steeper it gets.

The pageview/clout chart looks exponential to me. Yeah, I know that the old articles are clicking up pageviews and contributing to the count in volumes. But still! What waterboarder made that algorithm up?

But, as this contributor marches to 10, I'm going to give it the old Girl Scout try and keep on writing as best as I can. No promises after I reach 10, however.

A plan you might like
So, if you want hear me shut up for a change, keep me tuned in from Clout 9 until 10. Help me get there by clicking articles open, read, comment, leave them open and go take a nap. Newcomers, please feel free to fave and subscribe. I welcome those naysayers who live to disagree with me and comment accordingly. Your time on my page is appreciated too.

The steepest climb to the top starts now. Friends and Enemies, help me get there, and then I'll go quietly.

Those who don't cooperate with this plan obviously want me to stay to write on Y!CN forever.