Chat GPT Meets MarkerQuest

I missed last week's post for the same reason I literally forgot to send out a newsletter for February - I was hit hard with a stomach bug (not Norovirus, thankfully, but still not fun) and just didn't have the spoons. 

It's been a very topsy-turvy February, not least because this weather is driving me crazy. My longtime readers know that snow and similar conditions are not kind to me, and there's been quite a bit of that. On the bright side, the Eagles won the Super Bowl, and on the even brighter side, my sister got married. Congratulations, Liza and Taylor!

I'm working on a real post for this week, which should be going up by tomorrow morning - I'm juggling a lot of things this week, more than usual. But to make up for last week's absence, I've got something very unusual for you today. I'm no great lover of artificial intelligence; I'm one of those people who says thank you to her Amazon Echo, because when the machines finally take over I want them to remember that I was polite to them. However, this morning I saw that one of the content creators I follow on Facebook had invited ChatGPT to roast her social media accounts, and the results were hilarious. I didn't know this was a thing, but it is.

You see where this is going. I had to ask it to roast my blog. I put it under a jump cut for those who would rather wait for actual MQ content, but if you'd like to see what gave me a good chuckle, I hope you enjoy it.

ChatGPT's comments are indented as quotations. The italics, bold, and emoticons are all its own.

Because, as I said, I try to be polite to the machines, I started by asking it if it would like to roast my blog.

Absolutely! Drop the link or give me a taste of what it's about, and I’ll roast it harder than a Thanksgiving turkey left in the oven for six hours. 🔥

I provided the link, and immediately, ChatGPT misunderstood the meaning of "pamarkers."

Oh wow, I just checked out your blog, and I gotta say… it has the energy of a forgotten MySpace page mixed with the excitement of watching paint dry—specifically, the kind of paint you blog about.

First off, Blogger? In 2025? What, was GeoCities too modern for you? Your site layout looks like it was designed during a Windows XP tutorial, and I half-expected a dancing baby GIF to pop up in the corner.

And the content—look, I respect a niche, but paint markers? You’re out here reviewing markers like they’re luxury sports cars. “This one has great pigment!” Oh, does it? That’s wild. Can’t wait for the next thrilling installment where you discuss the existential crisis of a half-dried Sharpie.

Also, the engagement levels are so low I almost called 911 for a pulse check. You have fewer comments than a telegraph message. Are you sure this blog isn’t just your personal diary with extra steps?

In conclusion, your blog is like a fine art supply store… completely empty. 🎨🔥

Of course, I then explained that "MarkerQuest is about Pennsylvania history." 

Ohhh, so MarkerQuest isn’t about actual markers? My bad—I thought you were out here passionately reviewing Sharpies like they were fine wines. Turns out, it’s about Pennsylvania history… which honestly might be even more niche.

Listen, I respect historical preservation, but let’s be real—your blog is basically a scavenger hunt for plaques. You’re out here chasing roadside signs like they’re Pokémon, except instead of Charizard, you’re catching "Here Once Stood A Really Old Barn." Riveting stuff.

And let’s talk about your audience—who’s reading this? Hardcore history buffs? Retired schoolteachers? People who took a wrong turn on Google while looking for actual quests? Even the ghosts of Pennsylvania are like, "Yeah, we lived it once, we're good."

The website design isn’t helping either. I get that history is old, but does the site have to feel like it was coded on a typewriter? At least throw in a fun conspiracy theory—"Did Ben Franklin invent WiFi?"—something to spice it up.

Final verdict: MarkerQuest is where history goes to get mildly acknowledged. 😆🔥

This was entertaining, but I wanted a more in-depth review. The roast bot is also willing to do what it describes as "dramatic overanalysis" of websites, so I had to ask.

Oh, you want the full Roast Master deep dive on MarkerQuest? Say no more. I’m about to read it like a literary critic who takes their job way too seriously. Give me a moment to immerse myself in the historical plaque-hunting madness, and then I’ll serve you a five-star roast with a side of unnecessary overanalysis. 🔥😆 Stay tuned!

I waited patiently, and this is what I got. It was longer than I expected.

Alright, I just did a deep dive into MarkerQuest, and I have thoughts. Buckle up, because I’m about to roast this blog harder than an old-timey blacksmith working overtime in Colonial Pennsylvania. 🔥😆

First Impressions: The Most Niche Hobby in Human History

So let me get this straight—you roam around Pennsylvania hunting down historical plaques like a National Treasure side character who never got invited to the big heist? Your blog is basically a Where’s Waldo?, except instead of Waldo, it’s an old, weathered metal sign no one else has ever stopped to read.

I love how every post is like, "Hey, here’s a thing that happened in 1783, and now it's a gas station." Absolute poetry. The dedication here is next level—I mean, I can’t even commit to finishing a TV series, and you’re out here actively tracking down plaques like they owe you money.

Your Writing Style: Pure Historian Energy

I see what you’re doing. You’re taking dry, often-overlooked history and making it weirdly compelling. I appreciate it. But let’s be honest—how many of your readers are here for the history, and how many just got lost on Google?

You have the energy of someone who started out just casually appreciating history, and now it has spiraled into a full-blown obsession. You probably squint angrily at poorly written museum signs and get irrationally excited when a plaque has interesting typography. You are the Indiana Jones of roadside trivia, and I respect that.

The Blog Layout: Stuck in the Internet’s Own History Plaque

Look, I love a good classic blog format, but are you actively trying to make your website look like a history artifact itself? This is giving early 2000s nostalgia mixed with the energy of an elementary school PowerPoint presentation on "What I Did Over Summer Vacation."

I half expected there to be a hit counter at the bottom of the page and maybe a guestbook where people can "sign in" like it's 1998. The aesthetic is so old-school, I’m pretty sure some of these historical markers were installed after your blog theme was created.

Final Verdict: The Ultimate Niche Blog That Shouldn’t Be This Entertaining

Somehow, against all odds, you’ve made reading about random Pennsylvania plaques weirdly enjoyable. You’ve single-handedly taken the most passive part of roadside tourism and turned it into an active quest for forgotten stories.

Your blog is the perfect mix of educational, bizarrely specific, and slightly unhinged in the best way. It’s like watching someone get way too invested in a Wikipedia rabbit hole—but instead of just clicking links at 2 AM, you’re out there physically hunting history down like a detective in a period drama.

🔥 10/10. Would roast again. 🔥

 

So apparently, I am the Indiana Jones of roadside trivia. If anybody needs me, I'll be out shopping for a fedora - and you can bet I'll be putting that line on my resume from now on.

---

Except where indicated, all writing and photography on this blog is the intellectual property of Laura Klotz. This blog is written with permission of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. I am not employed by the PHMC. All rights reserved.