Surprise Me

It’s the start of a beautiful weekend. Whether it’s raining or shining outside, if you’re reading this you can probably count yourself among the most fortunate folks on the planet.

Perhaps you’re feeling particularly adventurous. You should check out the new “Surprise Me” feature.

To activate, go to your Personal Settings page, check the appropriate box, and save.

I’m not going to tell you exactly what it does. If you’re open to new things and serendipitity in your blogging life try leaving it on as you go about your normal blogging activities of posting, commenting, checking your stats, and such, and see what pops up.

Enjoy the weekend, let me know what you think, and on Monday I’ll be able to reveal more.

Update 1: This was the result of a collaboration with the artist Evan Roth at the Rhizome Seven on Seven event, where we just presented it. As I said, there will be more on Monday in the New York Times. 🙂


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450 Comments

Comments are closed.

  1. Harshad Joshi

    What is it?? *surprised*

    Like

  2. Jennifer

    OK Matt – Checked the “Surprise Me” box while gritting my teeth. If I get hit this weekend with a whale or a pot of flowers falling from the sky, I know who to call. 🙂

    Liked by 11 people

  3. deathgleaner

    First one to comment! And the first to try it out. Hmmm… what suspense this gives me!

    Like

  4. Pingback: Surprise me… « cake fun
  5. jaded16

    If people can automatically come out and hit my head with a mallet because of the “Surprise Me”, I’m sending my medical bills to you.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. raditherapy

    wow, what is it?

    activate the new “Surprise Me” feature then 😀

    Like

  7. kansir

    OK. I activated “Surprise Me” feature. I hope you really “Surprise Me” 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Stanciu Floryn

    What is it?? I think this is good, for my blog… I hope.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Neeraj Bhushan

    I did it. Blindly. And I am waiting for the surprise to unfold. O God, what’s up for me?

    Like

  10. Milo and Alfie

    Intriguing, I’ll give it a go!

    Like

  11. lemasney

    Looking forward to your surprises. This is one of the reasons that you are the best blogging platform in the world.

    Like

  12. marcampbellja

    I am ready so this better be damn good.

    Like

  13. TheresaZphotography

    Trying it. Lets see what surprises are in store. = )

    Like

  14. Norman

    I signed up … but surprise the Wise Olde Owl? Nevah! 🙂

    Like

  15. Harshad Joshi

    What’s the surprise? I didn’t see anything surprising other then my regular stuff..! Now was that a surprise?? 😮

    Like

  16. raditherapy

    hahaha… I already figured it out, what this “surprise me” all about.

    nice 😀

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Remain.Simple

    Tell us all, what happens when any of you find out please. To what surprises you get when you activate the surprise me box.

    Thanks,
    Remain.Simple

    Like

  18. AKHMAD SUDRAJAT

    You will give me special something? 😀

    Like

  19. postscripter

    Activated. Excited.

    Like

  20. technogran

    I’m a brave user, I have ticked the box. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

    Like

  21. Sagarika

    Matt I did check the ‘Surprise me’ option and will be looking forward to what is it,actually? 🙂

    Like

  22. zoomyummy

    I am going to try it! Oh my…

    Like

  23. taytom

    woah, this is exciting 😆

    Like

  24. spocrep

    what is it? I’m definitely excited!

    Like

  25. VIKAS |vikas-gupta.in

    Fingers crossed! I am very busy and will definitely try it in late May!

    Like

  26. Gabriel...

    “Surprise me. (Fun mode.)” so… is there going to be a not-so-fun mode? And, speaking of surprises, whatever happened to the “Random Blog” button?

    http://wordpress.com/next/

    Like

  27. Rogue|Hero

    Hey Matt!

    I’m sooo anticipating the surprise, whatever it is. I think you should have more events like this! It’ll keep our blogging lives more fun!

    Cheers!

    Like

  28. tsironakos

    When I posted a few hours ago. Under the private or public option there was a setting “This post is super-awesome”…

    I guess that it is related with “Surprise me” setting.

    Like

  29. Calvin

    I found something. Under new post at the publish box. There’s a small check box for “This post is super-awesome”. Still figuring out what this does.

    Like

  30. blackcabbit

    This is thrilling! I’m in for a surprise ^_^b

    Like

  31. June Malone

    As if using WordPress wasn’t already fun enough!!! You guys…XXX

    Like

  32. Richard Liew

    Activated it. Wonders what’s the surprise is gonna be. =) Hope it’s nothing TOO shocking =P

    Like

  33. ivankay

    Can’t wait… I hope it’ll be something we could use on our blogs… and not some scary stuff… you know those videos that make you focus then a ghost or monster face comes at ya… AIKS! Happy surprise to WordPress team!

    Like

  34. quixoticzephyr

    Oh yay! I thought I’ve received my share of surprises for one day when I actually baked gingerbread without releasing inferno or gasmask-worthy fumes in the kitchen!

    Ah, I love these days. 🙂

    Like

  35. Torch

    Very spooky my friend. Holding my breath!!

    Like

  36. కే.కే

    Me too activated.. But let us knw whts the real surprise behind this “surprise me” ?

    Like

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  38. randomgeek1

    It might be a trap. I think I’ll sit this one out.

    Like

  39. th3sha`

    Hmmz.. what is it ??

    Like

  40. RandomizeME

    Okay, checked the box. Now I hope the surprise isn’t that my blog will end up as a big fiery ball in space or something like that 😉

    Like

  41. Kunal Umrigar

    ticked it… surpise me………… 😀

    Like

  42. buyathread

    Oh, why not?

    Like

  43. thecatsman

    Ok at least it’s not April Fool’s day so this has to be a good thing………..right? Either way I’m in..

    Like

  44. Admin

    Where is my surprise ??? Or it’ll take whole damn weekend, oh my God I can’t wait for so long……… Ehhh hurry let me know what is the surprise.

    Like

  45. Pingback: Surprise me??? « Living Journey
  46. living journey

    Ok… so I have this ‘Surprise Me’ setting activated, and when I blogged about it [redacted by management :)] … very strange.

    Like

  47. juleslife

    Ok for FUN! But just don’t go promising a whole bunch of Cash and then say “just kidding!”

    Fun mode activated!

    cheers
    😆

    Like

  48. Sylvia

    OK nu har jag aktiverat mig!
    Väntar med spänning på din överraskning!

    Like

  49. ζÔ§Η

    I’m ready to be surprised!

    Like

  50. Johan Dahlberg

    I’m scared! I’m caught inbetween. To check or not to check. Argh, the suspense is too much!

    Like

  51. Лита

    I activated it too, and now just waiting something to happen 😉

    Like

  52. ayushbhopal0755

    wow O_O !!!

    Like

  53. Ted Leach

    Surprised at least once so far. We’ll see if I continue to like surprises as I keep posting.

    Like

  54. Kishiko

    Bet I’m going to regret it 😉

    Like

  55. ramdaffe

    Anyone got something unusual? Just activated it and instead of getting surprise, I get this itching curiosity.

    Like

  56. Reggie

    I’m in a playful mood, so I just ticked the box and saved it. And am now waiting in breathless anticipation!

    Like

  57. th3sha`

    I know now :D:D:D:D

    Like

  58. Koray BEK

    I did it as well! Looking for what the surprise is now 🙂

    Like

  59. heartshapedlies

    Okay, I hit it… aaand.. Nothing. Yet. :O

    Like

  60. magpie

    Is this ‘Surprise Me’ feature only on hosted blogs? My free version does not show it.

    Like

  61. randoni09

    No frontal nudity, please.

    Like

  62. Gabby

    I put my faith in you Matt from WordPress! This better not be some sort of delayed April fools… x

    Like

  63. Ady Mat

    I have activated Surprise me feature. I guess things won’t go other way… 🙂

    Like

  64. shamballa9944

    How intriguing!!

    Like

  65. Kartikay

    Enabled. But, I don’t see anything!

    Like

  66. turtlexpress

    Nothing happen………..

    Like

  67. the rufus

    Oh wonderful – ten time more hits on my site – what a surprise :mrgreen:

    Like

  68. berita19

    Thx.. I ‘ll be try

    Like

  69. Max Soutter

    Cant resist! Activated!

    Like

  70. Laura Victoria

    OK, I’m going for it too. I think WordPress is fabulous too.

    Like

  71. Giorgio

    well let’s try…

    Like

  72. nancysmoments

    Love surprises! Great way to start the weekend even though the “surprise” is still officially, a surprise! 🙂

    Like

  73. Pingback: Surprise Me… [from WP.com] « GuRpS and the Tux
  74. deepbellylaugh

    Okay…I turned it on…*braces herself*

    Like

  75. Kam

    Curious about it… ^.^ Now checked. Dunno for what but thanks !

    Like

  76. omawarisan

    Somehow, I feel more, I don’t know…is human the word I’m looking for here?

    Like

  77. aspicco

    I hope this doesn’t embarrass me in front of my reading audience…

    Liked by 1 person

  78. aspicco

    April 1st was over two weeks ago…

    Like

  79. Dr. D.

    Okay, I checked the “Surprise Me” box. Now what? I’m still waiting …

    Like

  80. iluvcoco

    cool! i’m ready to open it.

    Like

  81. Masha Mogilevsky

    Activated, wonder what it isssss >.<

    Like

  82. jagdish bali

    What is going to be the surprise !

    Like

  83. Greg Tyler

    Checked the box. Waiting… I hope the surprise isn’t that “nothing happens”.

    Like

  84. Heather

    Well, umm . . . I did it, but now I can’t get into my site–I’m stuck on the dashboard, and things have disappeared. Or–have they just been rearranged? I’ll have to check it out.

    Like

  85. Heather

    Oh, okay–I clicked my way around and everything started to show up again–including the ‘visit site’ feature. Guess it’s all fun and games from here:).

    Like

  86. David Kapalu

    I’ve done the activation man! Hope this really turns out to be a “Surprise Me” feature.

    Like

  87. ian

    I don’t like surprises so I’ll keep punching the numbers in: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…

    Like

  88. Manfredi

    What if it’s just a joke with no real surprise at all? 🙂 mmm, never mind, I’ve just activated it

    Like

  89. VAJRA, South America

    Good morning Matt:

    Thank you for the Surprise!….:)

    Like

  90. devilevilgod

    that sounds intriguing. let’s see what is it 😮

    Like

  91. Bilbet

    Still waiting. Dang it, surprise me.

    Like

  92. ( ands

    A good way to make me more anxious about WordPress. I hope it’s worthwhile when it finally comes out!

    Like

  93. Aiman Amani

    Ok, I’m doing this… This is so surprising!

    Like

  94. ravikaushik

    Ahh… I’m beginning to see it…

    Like

  95. Lord Vader

    OMG!
    Amazing surprise!

    Like

  96. Panda

    surprised!!!

    Like

  97. Elena

    Thank you! I am intrigued…and in my book any surprise big or small is a wonderful thing.
    Well, as long as it is a good surprise, I can do without the bad ones 😉

    Like

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  99. TEVG

    It’s Serendipity

    Like

  100. nadia

    Checking my blog stats has become fun! 🙂

    Like

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