"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
03/21/2015 at 09:40 • Filed to: None
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"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
03/21/2015 at 09:40 • Filed to: None | 16
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It's been about a year since I started posting here and along the way, I've had a few pieces that got traction. I've had a few that didn't, but let's not talk about those. And I write weekly for Car Buying so a couple of my pieces that did well were on that venue. So, if my memory serves me, here are the pieces of mine which got the reads.
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That was my first to break 100K reads - and it blew past 200K and then 300K and kept on going. At one point, Yahoo! had it on their front page. People still use Yahoo!?
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I had a couple with traffic ticket advice. Hey, if it works, run with it. This one broke 300K but drove me crazy because about half of those readers all came up with the original joke: "#1: Don't be black."
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Traffic ticket myths ran well too. 100K and change.
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This was my first piece on Car Buying. I figured they should all do this well, right? Eh.
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Then a recent one about confusing disclaimers on car sellers' documents. Who'd have thought people want to read this stuff? I could have sworn I had one more that broke 100K but for the life of me, I can't remember. I have one that is getting close (mid 90s) but I have to wait . . . .
By my math, the reads on the posts above total 1,276,392 .
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Meanwhile, if you have not heard my most recent podcast please check it out. Among other things, I apologize to all non-attorneys for the things attorneys say. Listen. You'll understand. And the pic at the top is from the collection I saw a few weeks ago. Gotta love the ragtops.
-Steve
Nibby
> SteveLehto
03/21/2015 at 09:48 |
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(I only jest)
505Turbeaux
> SteveLehto
03/21/2015 at 09:49 |
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so are they cutting you a check yet? Because of all the stories that hit the front page, yours are the only ones I ever really feel compelled to read and comment on, and you dont recycle the same crap over and over again. Well, besides the fact you are a lawyer and all, but I guess you earned that :)
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SteveLehto
> 505Turbeaux
03/21/2015 at 09:52 |
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The Car Buying stuff yes. I could coast and do nothing but those but that is just once a week. I tend to get restless and feel the need to write more than once a week. The embarrassing thing is when the Oppositelock piece outperforms the Car Buying piece of the same week. It's happened but that's just because these things are so hard to predict.
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505Turbeaux
> SteveLehto
03/21/2015 at 09:56 |
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it is very true man. Not that I am saying we need another sub blog in the FP universe, but I would imagine you would be one of the more popular one. I think the one thing I respect most about your authorship is that you haven't abandoned your Oppo posting. Tom and Tavarish though... _
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SteveLehto
> 505Turbeaux
03/21/2015 at 10:00 |
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I enjoy writing here. There is a community and I like the feedback (for the most part). I have other writing projects (primarily books) and those involve a different kind of effort. They take longer, usually involve deadlines and oftentimes - tedious editing. When you work on a huge project (I've had a manuscript go over 220,000 words) the payoff can seem so distant. It's fun to come up with an idea, write it and post it the same day.
BAM! Instant gratification.
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505Turbeaux
> SteveLehto
03/21/2015 at 10:06 |
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so true. So you are like the Prince of automotive journalism haha
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-… interesting article on that I just read
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SteveLehto
> 505Turbeaux
03/21/2015 at 10:34 |
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That's funny.
I also admit I am morbidly fascinated by some of the commenters. If I am critical of any profession, a few people will pop up about ten hours after the piece goes up (with burner accts) and lay into me. I assume it took them that long to find the article because they aren't regular readers?
And then there are the people who will claim they are whatever expert they need to be to refute me. I had a guy who claimed to be an attorney for "24" years - because I had noted I had been one for 23. They guy might have been an attorney (the jury is still out) but he had not been one for 24.
People think that no one has figured out yet that the internet won't refuse to publish anything you type.
I once went to the moon with Kate Upton and played a round of mini-golf up there with Jim Morrison (who cheats, by the way).
See? I wrote it. You believe it, right?
And then there is the fallacy that so many commenters don't understand. If I say, "X is generally true," I will get a dozen comments saying, "I once had X not be true. Therefore, you are wrong."
I had a guy argue with me for a day saying there is no longer odometer fraud in America. And he would know - He sells used cars! Some of the things people will try and argue about is startling.
I used to try and discuss these things with these people and have now (after a year) realized the folly of those ways.
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505Turbeaux
> SteveLehto
03/21/2015 at 10:37 |
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I can only imagine this to be a great source of entertainment if you look at it with the right attitude (like it sounds you have)
About that Kate Upton thing, must have been a hell of a time. Sign me up for the next one please. I have all the internet monieez but I only drive a 31 year old French car because it is fun.
DerW220
> SteveLehto
03/21/2015 at 11:28 |
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That podcast was great. Haha, you've seen some... unique moments.
DrScientist
> SteveLehto
03/21/2015 at 12:03 |
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congrats steve!
your pieces have a great mix of useful, practical information supported by real-world experience. its also reassuring to read all of your disclaimers ("in michigan, where i practice...") and not come across the blanket statements proclaiming fact based on anecdotal events that are pervasive on the internets.
keep 'em coming!
Heroesandvillains
> SteveLehto
03/21/2015 at 15:55 |
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Congratulations, Steve.
You've become my favorite writer on the Gawker media blogs.
I really wish your articles were cross-posted (or at least shared by other Gawker bloggers) more often. Your advice is excellent. For example, my mother just purchased a new car and I told her about your gap insurance piece.
More people need to see this stuff!
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SteveLehto
> Heroesandvillains
03/21/2015 at 16:44 |
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Thanks. Lifehacker often reposts my stuff but those decisions are all made in ways and places I am not privy to.