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. 
Apr 17th at 7:06 am
What is it?? *surprised*
Apr 17th at 7:10 am
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.
Apr 17th at 7:11 am
First one to comment! And the first to try it out. Hmmm… what suspense this gives me!
Apr 17th at 7:18 am
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.
Apr 17th at 7:18 am
wow, what is it?
activate the new “Surprise Me” feature then
Apr 17th at 7:21 am
OK. I activated “Surprise Me” feature. I hope you really “Surprise Me”
Apr 17th at 7:21 am
What is it?? I think this is good, for my blog… I hope.
Apr 17th at 7:23 am
I did it. Blindly. And I am waiting for the surprise to unfold. O God, what’s up for me?
Apr 17th at 7:23 am
Intriguing, I’ll give it a go!
Apr 17th at 7:23 am
Looking forward to your surprises. This is one of the reasons that you are the best blogging platform in the world.
Apr 17th at 7:29 am
I am ready so this better be damn good.
Apr 17th at 7:35 am
Trying it. Lets see what surprises are in store. = )
Apr 17th at 7:40 am
I signed up … but surprise the Wise Olde Owl? Nevah!
Apr 17th at 7:40 am
What’s the surprise? I didn’t see anything surprising other then my regular stuff..! Now was that a surprise??
Apr 17th at 7:42 am
hahaha… I already figured it out, what this “surprise me” all about.
nice
Apr 17th at 7:45 am
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
Apr 17th at 7:50 am
You will give me special something?
Apr 17th at 7:57 am
Activated. Excited.
Apr 17th at 8:06 am
I’m a brave user, I have ticked the box. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Apr 17th at 8:10 am
Matt I did check the ‘Surprise me’ option and will be looking forward to what is it,actually?
Apr 17th at 8:10 am
I am going to try it! Oh my…
Apr 17th at 8:14 am
woah, this is exciting
Apr 17th at 8:18 am
what is it? I’m definitely excited!
Apr 17th at 8:20 am
Fingers crossed! I am very busy and will definitely try it in late May!
Apr 17th at 8:23 am
“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/
Apr 17th at 2:28 pm
Good question — we should bring that back.
Apr 17th at 8:34 am
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!
Apr 17th at 8:38 am
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.
Apr 17th at 8:51 am
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.
Apr 17th at 8:51 am
This is thrilling! I’m in for a surprise ^_^b
Apr 17th at 8:53 am
As if using WordPress wasn’t already fun enough!!! You guys…XXX
Apr 17th at 9:19 am
Activated it. Wonders what’s the surprise is gonna be. =) Hope it’s nothing TOO shocking =P
Apr 17th at 9:23 am
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!
Apr 17th at 9:30 am
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.
Apr 17th at 9:38 am
Very spooky my friend. Holding my breath!!
Apr 17th at 9:42 am
Me too activated.. But let us knw whts the real surprise behind this “surprise me” ?
Apr 17th at 9:50 am
It might be a trap. I think I’ll sit this one out.
Apr 17th at 9:54 am
Hmmz.. what is it ??
Apr 17th at 9:54 am
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
Apr 17th at 9:54 am
ticked it… surpise me…………
Apr 17th at 9:55 am
Oh, why not?
Apr 17th at 9:57 am
Ok at least it’s not April Fool’s day so this has to be a good thing………..right? Either way I’m in..
Apr 17th at 10:02 am
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.
Apr 17th at 10:04 am
Ok… so I have this ‘Surprise Me’ setting activated, and when I blogged about it [redacted by management
] … very strange.
Apr 17th at 10:05 am
Ok for FUN! But just don’t go promising a whole bunch of Cash and then say “just kidding!”
Fun mode activated!
cheers
Apr 17th at 10:09 am
OK nu har jag aktiverat mig!
Väntar med spänning på din överraskning!
Apr 17th at 10:14 am
I’m ready to be surprised!
Apr 17th at 10:16 am
I’m scared! I’m caught inbetween. To check or not to check. Argh, the suspense is too much!
Apr 17th at 10:32 am
I activated it too, and now just waiting something to happen
Apr 17th at 10:36 am
wow O_O !!!
Apr 17th at 10:37 am
Surprised at least once so far. We’ll see if I continue to like surprises as I keep posting.
Apr 17th at 10:49 am
Bet I’m going to regret it
Apr 17th at 10:55 am
Anyone got something unusual? Just activated it and instead of getting surprise, I get this itching curiosity.
Apr 17th at 10:58 am
I’m in a playful mood, so I just ticked the box and saved it. And am now waiting in breathless anticipation!
Apr 17th at 10:59 am
I know now
:D:D:D
Apr 17th at 11:00 am
I did it as well! Looking for what the surprise is now
Apr 17th at 11:01 am
Okay, I hit it… aaand.. Nothing. Yet. :O
Apr 17th at 11:02 am
Is this ‘Surprise Me’ feature only on hosted blogs? My free version does not show it.
Apr 17th at 4:25 pm
It’s there, under your personal settings.
Apr 17th at 11:06 am
No frontal nudity, please.
Apr 17th at 11:18 am
I put my faith in you Matt from WordPress! This better not be some sort of delayed April fools… x
Apr 17th at 11:20 am
I have activated Surprise me feature. I guess things won’t go other way…
Apr 17th at 11:26 am
How intriguing!!
Apr 17th at 11:31 am
Enabled. But, I don’t see anything!
Apr 17th at 11:36 am
Nothing happen………..
Apr 17th at 11:40 am
Oh wonderful – ten time more hits on my site – what a surprise
Apr 17th at 11:41 am
Thx.. I ‘ll be try
Apr 17th at 11:49 am
Cant resist! Activated!
Apr 17th at 11:49 am
OK, I’m going for it too. I think WordPress is fabulous too.
Apr 17th at 11:55 am
well let’s try…
Apr 17th at 11:59 am
Love surprises! Great way to start the weekend even though the “surprise” is still officially, a surprise!
Apr 17th at 12:14 pm
Okay…I turned it on…*braces herself*
Apr 17th at 12:16 pm
Curious about it… ^.^ Now checked. Dunno for what but thanks !
Apr 17th at 12:31 pm
Somehow, I feel more, I don’t know…is human the word I’m looking for here?
Apr 17th at 12:34 pm
I hope this doesn’t embarrass me in front of my reading audience…
Apr 17th at 12:36 pm
April 1st was over two weeks ago…
Apr 17th at 12:46 pm
Okay, I checked the “Surprise Me” box. Now what? I’m still waiting …
Apr 17th at 12:46 pm
cool! i’m ready to open it.
Apr 17th at 12:47 pm
Activated, wonder what it isssss >.<
Apr 17th at 12:51 pm
What is going to be the surprise !
Apr 17th at 12:56 pm
Checked the box. Waiting… I hope the surprise isn’t that “nothing happens”.
Apr 17th at 1:16 pm
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.
Apr 17th at 1:18 pm
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:).
Apr 17th at 1:22 pm
I’ve done the activation man! Hope this really turns out to be a “Surprise Me” feature.
Apr 17th at 1:23 pm
I don’t like surprises so I’ll keep punching the numbers in: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42…
Apr 17th at 1:24 pm
What if it’s just a joke with no real surprise at all?
mmm, never mind, I’ve just activated it
Apr 17th at 1:28 pm
Good morning Matt:
Thank you for the Surprise!….:)
Apr 17th at 1:29 pm
that sounds intriguing. let’s see what is it
Apr 17th at 1:31 pm
Still waiting. Dang it, surprise me.
Apr 17th at 1:36 pm
A good way to make me more anxious about WordPress. I hope it’s worthwhile when it finally comes out!
Apr 17th at 1:40 pm
Ok, I’m doing this… This is so surprising!
Apr 17th at 1:51 pm
Ahh… I’m beginning to see it…
Apr 17th at 1:57 pm
OMG!
Amazing surprise!
Apr 17th at 2:15 pm
surprised!!!
Apr 17th at 2:24 pm
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
Apr 17th at 2:32 pm
It’s Serendipity
Apr 17th at 2:39 pm
Checking my blog stats has become fun!