Blogging feels a little redundant this week. HouseGoesHome has developed a life of its own. A post I wrote on Saturday, called HouseGoesHollywood: Princess Kate’s nude scandal, has hijacked my site. It’s received 5478 views so far, still going strong.
In normal circumstances I’d be thrilled with 5478 views. But I feel a bit empty about these ones. They’re not the result of me writing something witty or insightful or heartfelt. They’re purely because people are curious about royal nipples.
I’ve been waking to 500+ views every morning. I check my stats throughout the day and shake my head as they steadily rise. The viewers don’t hang around to read much else, they just pop in for a perv then pop straight back out again.
It’s strange to receive so many views for something so silly. Why do people care so much? Is it because they like seeing posh people with toffee accents getting caught out. Like Hugh Grant with the transvestite hooker?
And if my little blog has scored this much attention, imagine the traffic bigger news and gossip sites are receiving. According to Mamamia it’s the most-read news story on most news sites around the world this week.
A fellow blogger, Shambolic Living, had this sobering view on the subject (and me): “HouseGoesHome has a particularly unhealthy interest in the antics of the famous – you can take the woman out of the mags but you can’t take the mags out of the woman – I’m trying to not let that stand in the way of liking her. Yesterday she posted about the flashing of the regal titties and her page views leapt up. If they can do that for blog imagine what they do for magazine sales – if these royals keep on undressing it could just save the industry from extinction! Why are people so interested? I posted a comment at House saying I found the topic boring but supposed it was a fascination with watching others screw-up. Then realised I was probably just jealous of a woman who still had perky, attractive boobs worthy of being flaunted. The size F, droopy, sagging babies I possess could seriously impede my ability to walk if they weren’t hoisted and contained.”
Yes, I know, I’m part of the problem. I’m the one writing HouseGoesHollywood gossip posts each day. What did I expect? And I was once the editor of a celebrity magazine, Woman’s Day. Scandal has been my bread and butter for years.
But if it didn’t sell, I wouldn’t have been pedalling it.
And that’s the bigger issue that needs examining. Sure, there are moral questions to be asked about the photographer who took the photos of Princess Kate and the magazine editors who’ve chosen to run them. But they did it because there’s a public hunger. People are clammering to see those pics. What’s that all about?
Royal sauciness brings out the voyeur in humanity. It always has: Edward and Mrs Simpson, Fergie and her toe-sucking millionaire (shudder), Prince Charles wanting to be Camilla’s tampon (double shudder), Princess Diana everything … click through to UK Huffington Post if you want a few more …
As for all the hand-wringing from Buckingham Palace and the self-righteous British press, I’m liking Gawker‘s take on it: “All in all, though, isn’t this the classy way to have your privacy invaded? Instead of, you know, being surreptitiously photographed by a fellow nude billiards player”
PS I’ve discovered that when you Google “Princess Kate nude scandal” my blog is the SECOND thing that comes up. How did that happen? Does go some way to explaining why I’m Miss Popularity … Fluke choice of zeitgeist heading.
housegoeshome 
Oh no, I didn’t mean to offend you. I like you very much, even with your hollywood gossip. I just find it absolutely fascinating that we all buy into this stuff (and I have been known to purchase a mag or two on the basis of a scandal myself). I don’t know how this could possibly end, while ever people consume the stuff to this level, photographers will continue to shoot the pictures and magazines will publish them. Yet if they didn’t exist would people miss them? In the meantime, just enjoy the extra page hits, who knows a few may stick around to discover the witty and entertaining writing that is this site.
Relax! Not offended. But I *was* all anxious, thinking you were struggling to like me. Aren’t humans funny!
One thing the whole affair does for me is make me realise that my problems are relatively small beer in the grander scheme. Here am I worrying about Mr 6 not knowing the required 200 sight words to go into Year 2. But at least the whole world doesn’t know about it. Nor do they know how I look without a top on 🙂
Can’t understand what all the hoo haa is about. So she has 2 boobs like the rest of us. Big deal. It would be more interesting if she had 3 boobs, now that would be a story. The only issue I see with this is the fact that she was on private property when these photos were taken. There definitley needs to be some law against people taking unauthorised photos on private property and then selling them for financial gain. Otherwise, who really gives a damn except for those people who have nothing of any substances in their lives and need to get a cheap thrill from these images.
They should seriously leave her and her norks alone. It is sad that from all that you write, that’s what hits the lottery…
Yes! I know! It’s still going mental. When will the insanity end? And will I miss it ….?
You will miss it, because we all like to be liked, so don’t beat yourself up about it, even if it is through the insanity of others!! I’m so with Bea. Who cares who you are, you’re on private property in Provence, do as you wish. I so wish we weren’t all so fascinated by it, maybe goes to the mundanity of day to day existence. Thank you for providing a safe place for me to say My name is Lianne Cawood and I am a celebrity magazine addict. But, I like you for your take on things, not the other stuff. That I like anyway. Don’t judge me 😉
Thanks Lianne. It’s at over 10,000 views now. Freaky!
You’re so right, you know. One of my biggest posts – as far as hits go – was the one I wrote when Prince Harry’s goings-on in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas. I was so excited about my stats; it wasn’t until I read your post that I started thinking more about WHY they might be clicking on my blog. *sigh* So shallow, I know.
I feel a bit sorry for Kate. I mean, the photographer was over a kilometre away! But it could have been worse. If you were going to have your boobs recorded for posterity, better to have them photographed at a time when they are pert and pre-childbirth perfect, right? 🙂
I didn’t get that much of a kick along from Harry. Will check yours out to add to the pervy tally.