Yeah, I know. Another whiney post about the block editor. But I still hate it and I hate the fact that WordPress is trying to force it down our throats.
Look, I’m not a professional blogger. I don’t run a business and I’m not trying to make any money with my blog. Blogging for me is a hobby, a pastime. So I don’t need a bunch of fancy bells and whistles, many of which in the block editor seem to be geared toward commercial blogs. I just need a straightforward word processor-like editor and a way to insert photos/images into my posts.
I don’t claim to be perspicacious or to have any unique insights into what drives the decision-makers at WordPress. And I may possess some unorthodox perspectives about blogging, but I’ve been a blogger since 2005 and I feel like I know a little bit about what makes blogging enjoyable.
The block editor does not make blogging enjoyable. It’s not at all intuitive and it’s unnecessarily complicated for a casual blogger like me. And because my iPhone is my device of choice for my blog, there’s limited real estate on the relatively small iPhone screen (versus on a laptop) to make using the block editor feasible.
I’m even considering spending $1,100+ to upgrade to the newly announced iPhone 12 Pro Max solely because its screen size is 6.7” versus my three-year-old iPhone 8 Plus, which has a 5.5” screen size. And the only reason to do that would be to see if the block editor is more feasible to use on a 6.7” screen than on the 5.5” one on a device that currently works fine. That’s crazy, right?
Written for these daily prompts: Ragtag Daily Prompt (professional), Word of the Day (hobby), Your Daily Word Prompt (perspicacious), and Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (unorthodox).
This, That, and the Other 
When I first started blogging again, I didn’t understand the block editor. It did seem unnecessarily complicated to me. I did get used to it and now I’m starting to like it in that it does make it easy to add features such as images in an attractive way.
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I felt the same. At first I didn’t like it, then I didn’t mind it so much, now I’m okay with it.
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Do either of you use a smartphone for your blog?
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I use a computer. I hate touchscreens.
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It’s a lot easier on a laptop or a desktop with a full-sized screen.
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yeah we get used to it lol 🙂
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I am not able to like posts anymore. This is the pits.
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Even in the reader?
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It has been a really weird day.
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Sorry this issue just resolved itself.
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Good. Glad to hear it.
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I don’t know why they’ve made things more complicated. It’s like New Math. Old math worked, so leave it alone. I don’t see how blocks are better for people who post only for pay…
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It is really useful for customisation and bloggers who are trying to earn money. But I can also see how this would be annoying when your not doing that. 😊
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I fall into that latter group.
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I only use my laptop and it won’t let me edit my own posts. It is frustrating for sure.
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I stepped away from my blog for over a year and when I returned this week I was unpleasantly surprised, then frustrated, then determined and ended up exhausted. I hope to adjust to the new format soon but right now all I find myself saying throughout my draft is ‘this is so unnecessary.’
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It must have been a ride awakening to return after a year and find the block editor.
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Yes it was! My last post was done on my iPhone so I feel a fraction of your pain.
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I couldn’t agree more! I avoid so many blogs that have all the plugins and advertising — I just want to read content! I did start to use affiliate links – though I don’t feel super comfortable about it. Although, I feel like it’s a good compromise between having a readable blog and earning a small commission on a few books {so I can buy more books}.
I’m glad it’s not just me – I have a 2-step process now: add images from my phone through the app, save it as a draft, go to my computer, edit and post/schedule to post.
Annoying!
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Very annoying!
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🖤🖤🖤
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Unfortunately, technology giants have us cornered. You have to upgrade somewhere.
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When a new iPhone model rolls in, we are tempted to get it. But you have a valid reason
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I really feel like the “busiest” blogs with all the different styles and colors and sections detract from the comment. If I see a blog with light writing on a dark background, I just pass it on by because it is too hard to read. I love photos and stories, articles or poetry..And I like it to stand out, not the fancy backgrounds.
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All of these bells and whistles are a waste of space and they don’t even make magazines and other documents look better. I can’t read white on a dark background either.
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I agree. Clean, neat, and easy to read.
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Yes, it really IS crazy. Get an iPad. You can do more stuff with it.
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I’ve been thinking about an iPad Mini. But that’s just one more device, in addition to a cellphone. And the mini has a 7.9” screen, so the iPhone 12 Pro Max, at 6.7”, is not that much smaller.
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I just want to be able to write… nothing fancy, just words and a couple of pictures… hey can keep the rest. But apparently there is no way to default to the old editor any more… you have to jump through their hoops to even access it.
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Yes, I know. I wish they had either left well enough alone or given us the option to choose between the classic editor and the block editor.
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I did ask… navigating unneccessary complexities is the last thing I need at th e moment. But no…
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That is indeed crazy. If you’re at the stage where you’re throwing money at things, surely you could pick up a crappy tablet for a few hundred bucks and use it for nothing but WordPress?
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In case you hadn’t made it clear enough already, the image you used for this post cracked me up laughing. I’m sorry, I’m sure it’s terribly irritating. Then your idea to spend a bunch of money to see if a slightly bigger device would work better… no, not good.
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Block editor sucks big time…
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Since the block editor arrived, it is taking me so long to put a post together….I have had no time to go to parties, all night raves, karaoke contests, live music concerts, football matches, Star Trek conventions or bring and swap clothes parties.
Hold on….no, no maybe I haven’t been doing all that since Covid arrived, sorry about the mix-up.
But seriously, if it was not for the fact that we don’t have much of a social life here anymore, I would be fed up about all the extra time it is taking me to put together posts. Simple posts, yes, I can do pretty quick now. But the longer posts are driving me loopy!
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Ha! You had me wondering about all those things you were doing! But yes, it takes a lot longer with the block editor, which is not a good outcome.
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Block editor I am new to WordPress but I have got used to it all you have to do is hold put your finger on it and delete as simple as that
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I personally wouldn’t invest in a device just in case it MIGHT work better. Now if you need an excuse to level up and get a new toy, then it is absolutely a valid reason for a new phone. 😂
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