For a very long time now -- not quite as long as the blog has been up, but for a good long time -- one IP address has been of interest to me. Originating from AOL/Time Warner in New York City, this IP -- which my statistics software has allowed me to name "DC Comics 1" (see 2nd postscript) -- has visited my site many times -- as of today, 169 times:
"magnify this user *IP censored* *Browser censored* Unknown 169"
Now, I have had similar IPs with similar patterns of search and the same browser also return visit on my blog hundreds of times. I'm not a computer expert, but I guess in theory it might be the same user, on different "streams" (see, not a computer expert).
After nearly two years of reading my statistical info, "DC Comics 1" has become an old friend, a familiar presence on my data lists. This user will very often access my blog from "When Fangirls Attack," as a way (perhaps) of covering his (or her, but probably his) tracks. It would probably look less suspicious to have that site bookmarked. But once accessing "Occasional Superheroine" from that link, "DC Comics 1" will proceed to browse the site for some time.
Often there will be searches on the site done on certain phrases or names. "Dan DiDio" was a very popular search, as well as variations of the name plus other words like "clusterfuck." Sometimes the search terms will be phrases like "Val Goodbye Comics" or "Occasional Superhero Val." Today it's "Nachie Castro Disney":
"http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22nachie castro%22 disney&start=40&sa=N"
And lo and behold, if you Google that phrase, my blog entry on the subject comes up second. After this post, it will probably come up first. My "Two Mutilated Chicks" post, referencing violence to women in "Teen Titans" (and the source of one of my death threats) was also of particular interest today.
I used to write posts guessing what new move DC was going to make based on what "DC Comics 1" would search for. For example, my guess about JM Straczynski doing work for DC was based on intense searches on my site from "DC Comics 1" on him.
"(*host deleted*) (IP deleted) [Label IP Address]
occasionalsuperheroine.blogspot.com/search/label/J.M. %20Straczynski"
I could also gauge what scandal DC might be embroiled in at any given time based on the search topics. And so "DC Comics 1" became not only a friend but a research tool. An uncannily accurate research tool.
In the past I've saved some of the IP/search data, especially some from earlier this year corresponding to a certain repeat patron of my blog. Nowadays, especially with the occasional death threats, I keep far better records.
Today the activity is rather interesting. As of now -- lunchtime -- two corporate Time Warner-related IPs are looking at my blog within roughly the same narrow time frame, two referencing the same post -- "Two Mutilated Chicks."
"1st October 2008 12:14:06 occasionalsuperheroine.blogspot.com/
occasionalsuperheroine.blogspot.com/2008/09/teen-titans-63-two-mutilated-chicks.html"
Hm. Must be a really popular post.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank "DC Comics 1" for the continued interest in my blog. I hope I have been able to provide you with some useful information over the many many months. And if sneaking around my blog doesn't provide you with the info you are looking for, always feel free to let me know.
Best,
"Occasional Superhero Val"
Postscript: As of 1:17, "DC Comics 1" is still on the "Two Mutilated Chicks" post.
"1st October 200813:09:40 occasionalsuperheroine.blogspot.com/2008/09/teen-titans-63-two-mutilated-chicks.html"
Must have touched a nerve with somebody.
Postscript Postscript: The only way we could really know who "DC Comics 1" is, is for DC themselves to run a check on the IP. So really, it is only a guess on my part. It could be that it's just from some random place with an AOL/Time Warner internal server in New York City with an intense interest in the comic book business and the minutia regarding past and present DC employees. In which case, I've totally jumped the gun, my apologies.
Postscript Postscript Postscript: It wouldn't be a crime if a DC employee was so intensely browsing and searching through my site. It would just be pretty goddamn funny.
Val, you've scooped me! I am secretly Ditko.
ReplyDeleteHilarious.
ReplyDeleteI will say, though, that a person might not be trying to hide interest in a site by always coming via a link from another site. I have the weird habit myself of not bookmarking sites that I look at every day, and instead travel via static links from other sites which I have bookmarked. This may be a quirk that others share.
But have you heard any strange clicking noises when talking on your landline?
ReplyDeleteActually most companies have an outward facing IP address that is "public" and different from the internal address of each users computer. So while possible that one person at DC visited your site that many times in one day, more likely multiple users within the building checked out your website just a few times each.
ReplyDeleteYou can experience the same thing if go to http://www.myipaddress.com
Now go to your computer (assuming its a PC) and go to start > run > type CMD > in the black box type ipconfig (for MAC > blue apple > location > properties is how get I think).
You will notice that your individual ip address is probably something like 192.168.xx.xx or the like and different then the one above.
The one from the website is the addres assigned to either your modem or router by your ISP and the one at ipconfig is your internal network address.
Anyway, my point is you don't have A fan at DC comics but multiple fans, up to 169 potential fans (on that day anyway).
eh, I like the idea of Stalker DC more than Multi-users-of-the-same-IP-address-cuz-of-the-way-its-set-up. Its more fun that way. I mean, there needs to be a villain in this story, right?
ReplyDeletethat is pretty damn funny..i really never think of looking that shit up. then again i'm not sure exactly if i could do this sort of thing with deviantart-where i get a bulk of vile shit spewed at me. it would be really interesting to see what the disturbing angry people really do on a random day of screaming how i eat babies and punch kittens.
ReplyDeletei know for a time on another blog i have got weird hits from odd places and even weirder searches..i barely wrote about comics..but when i did i'd gt some hits from someone similar to this DC comics 1 person..so i'm thinking that they have a bunch of these people out there trolling the web as like a means of research..like that nightwing badness..preparing to get the spin machine running..or they could be bored dc employeess that really have nothing better to do..like instead of masturbating in a broom closet they just went..'meh..lets see what val had to say about a random teen titans genital torture' or whatever.
i wonder..am i one of the kooks you're keeping track of? maybe i'm a bit paranoid..but i know i never threatened you like that..but seeing as someone came to me calling me a scumbag because i disagreed with something you said..i get a bit jumpy.