You open a new page on your computer to go and visit your favourite bloggers or Facebook, but you never get there because you can’t resist clicking on to startling headlines about celebrities you have never heard of or, shocking events somewhere… you don’t know where till you click on to the item.
Why do you feel compelled to find out why the unknown celebrity, who appears on a programme you have not heard of, is so devastated with the news about …what? Obviously you can’t concentrate on writing your blog without finding out if that really is an alien ‘mummy’ or how someone choked to death on a marshmallow.
And where had that woman been for forty two years? Do not be tempted to go down rabbit holes as most of the dramatic headlines involve death sneaking up at the most unlikely times and places, under the strangest circumstances. Suffice to say anyone can be struck down by a mystery illness, the only symptom of which is sudden death. If you are amongst the lucky few to be in perfect health, do avoid alligators, bears, anything higher or deeper than two feet and best to avoid sleeping and eating as well.
Scroll down further and cheer yourself up by reading why you have ruined your joints and what you must never feed your dog. And look in the mirror and reassure yourself that you probably look better than the numerous famous stars whose appearance NOW will shock you, perhaps they were the Mexican mummies?
Times and Tides of a Beachwriter 
Thanks for sharing this idea. Anita
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You’re welcome Anita.
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You need an adblocker!
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And spoile the fun?
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What a spot-on post! Have you been spying on me???
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Ha ha, perhaps my computer was.
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I thought as much. 😉
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I have a built-in clickbait detector, although years ago I was sucked in to clicking on something that purported to tell me why “doctor says to throw this vegetable.” Maybe I wanted to find out what I should throw it at. No luck, though. These things lead to rabbit holes.
On the other hand, I’m frequently enticed by questios on Quora. They at least offer answers, even though I have doubts about some of them. Same time-wasting effect, though.
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Hello Audrey, yes the clickbait detector is a good idea. Amazing how many doctors and vets pop up to give advice! Now you have mentioned Quora it reminds e I have not noticed it for a while.
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That might be just as well, considering how often the topics promise to “blow your mind.” 😃
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Every time I see “Ad” in the corner, I’ve learned to bypass this stuff.
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Very sensible Pete.
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I got too many headlines popping up on my phone. I was fooled a couple of times, but I just ignore them now. Great post. I would get tricked by the “42 years late” also.
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Hello Miriam. when I first started writing on an old laptop, not connected to WiFi, I used to wonder what writers were talking about, being distracted by social media!
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I can definitely relate to your post. I go to google to find something, get distracted and then totally forget what I originally was looking for 😂.
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Yes Ally we could be gone for days…
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After wasting some time on such foolishness when I first had a laptop in 2002, I soon learned not to bother with those ads or ‘features’. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pity, because you could do one of your blogs about them Pete!
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The greatest thing about having a Blog is that I can justify all the detour distractions as merely research for a potential post.
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Yes Geoff you’re so right.
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Ad blocker will solve the distraction. 🙂
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