While I was interacting in the RealityFragments Facebook page (join in!) about the use case issue of allowing users to log in to interact with content on RealityFragments and here, it occurred to me that WordPress probably does allow for people with Google accounts to log in.

WordPress does have a plugin for allowing Google accounts to log in. It exists. So I went over to my administrative page, mentally slapping myself on the forehead about it, when I found out that even though my account is premium (paid), I would need to upgrade to a WordPress.com business account for what is now $25/month. What?

This should be the default, even for free sites on WordPress.com, because people interacting with content is how people with weblogs grow, and when they grow, they might consider the tiered pay accounts.

Instead, effectively, they’re screwing themselves over – and their users – to try to force people to pay more when their monetization plans are at best… blech, particularly if you live outside of the geographic areas Stripe supports.

Just one plugin would cause more interactivity on sites. It should be a default. How annoying is that?

Now I have to go compare options before I renew my sites on WordPress.com, which has been otherwise trouble free but annoyingly myopic regarding monetization and usability for the users of their users. The readers.

Or maybe they will read this, have an Eureka moment, and change the way that they do things.

For now, please use the RealityFragments Facebook page to interact with content here, to stop in and say hi, and to meet others who are doing the same.