Use Affinity Testing To Identify Problems

When you go to the doctor to report a health problem, you'll likely tell her (him)

Doctor, I have a pain.

and he (she) will likely ask you

Where does it hurt?

If you tell her

My stomach hurts.

he will probably ask

When does it hurt?

and

How long has it been hurting?

None of these are formalities or mere protocol, they are systematic problem identification procedures.

If you write in BHF: Something Is Broken and report

My readers can't access my blog.

or maybe

I can't access Blogger!

you'll likely get similar questions. If enough people report a similar problem and provide useful details, we can identify an "affinity" to the problem. This may help Blogger Support to isolate a segment in their code base, or an errant server in their network, that's causing your problems.

If you report

Some of my readers can't access my blog!

you might be asked

Where are your readers located, who can't access your blog?

and maybe

What language do your readers speak?

and

What language is the blog published in?

None of these questions are asked, by the "doctors" in the clinic, or in the Blogger Support forums, as an attempt to annoy you, or to show off. And as simple as they sound, they are actually lead ins to much more complicated diagnostics, or maybe to referrals to other specialists.

One of my simplest "tools" which I may use to identify an affinity would be my simple 6+ link set. That set of 6+ links (6 base links, plus more links which I may add, varying according to your initial problem report) is a carefully chosen array of addresses. Some addresses are in the Blogger / Google hosting space - and others may be outside Blogger / Google. Systematic analysis of the results of trying each link, one after the other, can lead to any of several different diagnoses.

If you have readers complaining of a problem with your blog, you can email the list to your readers, and have them click on each of the links. If the problem comes and goes on your computer, you can click on each of the links, repeatedly. By observing the results, you can identify an "affinity".

If you are given that list of links, as a reply to your question, and you're able to say (for instance)

I can access only #4 and #5.

or maybe

I cannot access #2 and #3, but I can access #1, 4, and 5.

you are on the way to a diagnosis. On the other hand, if you can only reply

Some of the links get me nothing.

you are a long way from having your problem identified.

Blogger provides a simpler (and no more obediently observed) affinity dialogue, at the top of the "Post a question" wizard.

• Your Blogs URL:
• Browser(s) used:
• Location:

When properly answered

Your Blogs URL: http://blogger-status-for-real.blogspot.com/
Browser(s) used: Firefox V3 / IE V8
Location: California USA

There are good clues, that may help the helpers, or Blogger Support to identify a new problem, and may help them to help you faster. On the other hand, a frequently seen set of mildly amusing "answers"

Your Blogs URL: blogger-status-for-real.blogger
Browser(s) used: i dunno, it came with the computer
Location: planet earth

are less useful. It's your choice what details to provide, just as you get to chose whether to tell the doctor that you've been smoking again.

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