Recently I was having trouble with the RSS feed on this blog. Who knows why? It’s just one of those things that happen without an obvious cause. And it’s one of those things that seem to right themselves without an explanation. That’s what happened here.
The other day the RSS feed for this blog wasn’t validating. I tried a few tricks to correct the problem, but no dice. So, with some reluctance, I called Network Solutions, my web service provider. Calling them is usually a pain in the neck. Oh, they’re very nice. But usually not very helpful.
After a fairly short wait, thankfully, I got through to Chris who was going to troubleshoot my problem. When I explained the problem he told me something like, “Well, the blog runs through WordPress, which we don’t support. So, I’m afraid that I can’t be of much help.” Yeah, I know that.
But this blog, Telofski.com, runs via WordPress on the Network Solutions server! I’m not running my own server, nor do I use a local copy of WordPress. Everything is running through Network Solutions.
If Network Solutions is offering a service, a WordPress blog in this case, and they charge me for that service, why don’t they support the service? What they are doing now is analogous to an auto dealer refusing to service a car battery because it wasn’t made by the car manufacturer.
Well, luckily and inexplicably, while I was waiting on hold I was pressing revalidation buttons trying to get the RSS feed to validate and just as Chris came on the line, the feed validated. My guess is it was something very technical and complex at Network Solutions like some technician sitting on the wrong button as he was eating his lunch. And then just as Chris came on the line, oooops, the tech finished lunch and got up. Problem solved. No thanks to Network Solutions assistance. And I’ve written about Network Solutions before and their less than satisfactory service.
My suggestion? Network Solutions change your name to Network Insolutions.
