I’ve just recently heard a complaint made about “the majority of bloggers” that they “use links of others” rather than composing their own original work.
WTF?
Is there really a rule of thumb to follow regarding the content of your blog? Call me ignorant, but I’ve never heard of such a thing.
So, I wonder if this person’s saying that if you own a blog, it must be your own content? Is it considered “stealing” if you find a good, funny, or an interesting post and want to share it with your viewers? Do they know more about my small group of visitors than ‘I’ do?
What if you find a newsworthy topic on CNN and are interested in sharing the link with others along with your comments? Is that bad too? Or just plain boring?
What I’d really like to know is why this kind of “blogger behavior” disturbs people so. How is this “wrong”?
I suspect these Negative Nellies are coming from blog trafficing sites such as Blog Explosion and Blogazoo. They see one post that links to another site not knowing what YOUR blog is really about and running away so fast not realizing that you offer much more a variety than their false assumptions run wild about.
People like original content? While recommending my viewers to specific links can be “unoriginal”, I know my viewers. You don’t. While I may not be entertaining ALL my viewers, there were a couple of viewers I knew who would be interested in the adorable cat picture I found on Orge’s blog.
What are Trackbacks for? I’m guessing that those so readily and enthusiastically pointing the fingers at bad link-sharing blogs, don’t use the Trackback System. They’re completely useless to them because their content is “so original”.
Heavens to Murgatroid! What about Instapundit.com, the most popular blog out there that’s all about linkage and random one liner comments? Instapundit receives approximately 150,000 visitors a day. From time to time, the author of this site is mentioned on the news.
I’m also aware that people constantly bitch about those bloggers that write about their personal daily lives including unedited rants and raves about the cute guy who sits next to them in their high school Biology class and what they ate for breakfast. Many people peek at these blogs, and if they’re lucky enough to still be awake to report these blogs so boring and horribly written, they will without hesitation report them. However, we must give those boring blogs credit. They’re original.
I say screw the Negative Nellies. These are the type of people that will bitch no matter what. I get approximately anywhere between 50-100 hits a day, but I’m as happy as a bee in a tree if I get at least 10. I will admit that I’m a crazed attention whore and believe “the more the merrier”, but I will not go to the ends of the earth to satisfy the grumpy miserable hit and run loser types who subject themselves to a painful 30 second time limit just so they can gain more traffic to their site.
Trust me. There are blogs that annoy the hell out of me too – especially those blogs that play music automatically and damn near knock me out of my seat when I click on their site. In fact, I was planning on making a post on my blog to tell these auto-music playing bloggers to turn their blogging radio to manual instead of auto. But the difference between Grandma-Bitchy and me is that I will gracefully give up the potential 1/3 of a point that I can earn from Blog Explosion and screw the 30-second time limit – moving on to the next blog as noted below.
Surfing too fast? You betcha. Negative Nellies? You see that? You DO have other options. Just thought I’d let you know.
Dang the Negative Nellies! Thank you for this great post as it is something that definitely needed said. I don’t care if someone complains about my content or lack thereof. My blog is for me alone and if someone else decides to visit and finds something they can relate to then all the better. I would think the ones making those negative comments are not really bloggers themselves or they wouldn’t come across as so idiotic. Each blog is different and reflects the differences in us all.
man, that was an awesome post, I totally agree, fuck the whingers.
I liked this post so much, that when I got disconnected half way through and had to restart, I went though BlogExplosion’s surf history and came back
Yep, definitely a good post. I’m relatively new to blogging. Have only had one sine 2003, but I’ve gotten a sense of what the community is all about. I joined BE and BC because honestly, I wanted more traffic. I didn’t really care about finding new stuff to read, but now that I have been on and have found quite a few really well written blogs (like this one) I’m glad.
As far as the Negative Nellies (love that term), you’ll have this anywhere and with anything. People bitch about things that they don’t find interesting or that doesn’t fit into their skewed vision of what things should be like. I really don’t pay too much attention to them. There are plenty of bloggers out there who I think shouldn’t be let near a computer ever again, but that’s my opinion. I’m sure other people love them (or not).
Bottom line, do what you do, for you and no one else. And just like you said, if they don’t like it, they know where the button is.
Well I must say that you bring up some interesting points. I think you are spot on with a couple of your examples. I hope that you don’t let them get you down. You have a great site, don’t listen to the naysayers.
Thanks for leaving a great comment on my site.
I hate those auto music sites too! And by the way, you can feel free to steal anything you want off of my site, as long as you are not making money off of it without sharing!
Thanks for the comments all.
Tony: Thanks for stopping by. It’s always nice to see new arrivals visit my blog.
Benjamin: Sorry for the trouble you had to go through to read this post and thanks for the work you went to – to read it. Glad you enjoyed.
Dave: I agree. Those NN’s will later have their foot in their mouth when (if they ever) realize they’re less than perfect.
CC, this particular Negative Nellie didn’t attack me, but her comment on another person’s blog gave me the inspiration to discuss something that I’ve needed an excuse to talk about, anyway. I really enjoy your blog. Keep up what you’re doing over there.
Jay, I will assure you that you’ll get 15% off whatever I make off your posts.
In fact, it’s about time I start talking about the ACLU and how this organization errs in it’s ways.
I think a blog can be whatever the hell you want it to be. By the way, I stayed longer than 30 seconds.
Excellent post! I agree 100%.
ps. I’ve come to your site through BlogExplosion and have to say that yours is one of the few interesting, well-made and readable ones! So much mediocrity out there …
Zydeco,
“I think a blog can be whatever the hell you want it to be.”
True, and the more unique we are from each other, the better. Variety is the spice of life as they say. If we were all blogging alike, how much fun would that be?
Jerome, I’m touched by your compliment. Thank you.
Wow…that was great. I’m going to miss you. I agree completely. I thnk that everyone is just too obsessed with negativity these days. I mean the whole “blog” thing is for whomever to do whatever they wish. To each their own I say!
Jstar, interesting about the negativity. If I find myself diving too deep into the sea of negativity (in general), I don’t always feel so good about myself afterwards. It’s nice to have a happy and healthy mix – meaning that it is also important to observe and report the good things and the good people in our life. And being thankful for the good is also just as vital to our mental heath.
I’m going to miss ALL my readers and blogging in itself. It sure puts me into a funky state of withdrawl when I have to stop blogging. I hate it. But that’s life.
I will be back. Hopefully sooner than I predict!
Found this post to be truly fascinating. Haven’t been surfing or going to blogs I like for months because I had no free time. Kept up my blog because I live to write and it was the only thing keeping me sane.
I copy from other people’s blogs if I find something great–but do give them credit
Don’t feel bad about not being able to surf. I won’t be able to do that for at least a month or so as I’m as busy as ever right now.
Damn…now I feel like a more desperate loser than I already am…you HAD to mention the 30-second limit, didn’t you?!