Image credit: PuppyDogWeb.comSomewhere in the world, it's Blog Amnesty Day, which is about the dumbest name I could think of for what this event is, particularly since it's no longer just a day. One of its originators, Skippy The Bush Kangaroo, explains how it's supposed to work:
the basic rule for blogroll amnesty day weekend is simply this: take a moment to write a post linking to (and pointing out to your readers) 5 blogs w/traffic smaller than yours. this inclusive and magnanimous yet easy-to-do gesture will not only expose your readers to new voices and those voices to new readers, it will foster a sense of community, support and all-around kumbaya amongst the progressive infrastructure.
b.a.d. days are here again!
They've also chosen an unfortunate acronym, since I, for one, am not linking to bad blogs. Unfortunately, things already start to go off the rails by the end of this paragraph. Nothing makes me eager to don a hockey mask and start up the chainsaw like all-around kumbayas. If that were the worst of it, though, I'd probably go along.
As one of my honorees, Earth Bound Misfit points out, some of these rules are rather difficult to follow:
[H]ow the frak is anyone supposed to tell, unless the blogger has a public traffic count widget? Beats the hell out of me. I do try to pay attention to where people came from and reciprocate if they've linked to me.
Blogroll Amnesty Day
I labor under an additional constraint, which is that I have a hard time imagining a blog that gets significantly less traffic than this one. Oh, wait, they've covered that one, or so they think:
Small and newbie bloggers please be aware of the ironclad rule that you are not allowed to make "hey no blog is as small as mine" jokes regarding Blogroll Amnesty Day. The rule is, straight from the queen of the indy blogs herself (ahem), that you are not allowed to complain or mention your blog's low traffic until you have been posting daily for a year. If you're little, link other blogs that are new or still growing their audience, and encourage them to practice their craft daily. Then, show them how.
Blogroll Amnesty Day is next Tuesday. STEAL THIS VIDEO.
No complaining? Just what in the world do you think a blog is for? Besides, it's not complaining, it's self-effacing humor. Learn to tell the difference.
This is what happens when too many people are allowed to contribute to an idea. Before long, it's "I don't like seafood, so no mention of fish". I'm not even going to bother to read Jon Swift's rules. B.A.D. is already way more complicated than it has to be.
This is a good idea even if certain details of it suck, so I'm starting a tradition that I'm going to call "Who Names Something Like This 'Blog Amnesty Day', And People Who Don't Like My Attitude Can Kiss My Furry Butt Day". Call it "Not Bad Day" for short. Here are some blogs you should check out:
- The aforementioned Just An Earth-Bound Misfit, in which Comrade E.B. Misfit delivers interesting commentary on a variety of issues that are about as eclectic as you find on this blog.
- NP's Coffee-Stained Writer is a good place to go if you want to learn what people go through to become writers, which is what she's trying to do.
- Over at Outta The Cornfield, One Fly's generally got something interesting going. His areas of specialization are Colorado, the various wars we're in, and the ever popular stuff that pisses him off.
- Efrique's Ecstathy, is a collection of interesting analyses of the often irrational way we use mathematics in public discourse. Think of it as Numb3rs for people who don't watch television.
- Of course, I couldn't make a list like this without plugging my blogging friend and LOLWars adversary Dana Hunter. Her blog En Tequila Es Verdad features buttloads of snark and seriousness about politics, science, and writing. It gets way more traffic than SnS does, but she's only been writing that blog for a year or so. Besides, around here it isn't Blog Amnesty Day, so I can do whatever I want.
The best part about "Not Bad Day" is that there are no rules, except that you should list five blogs that you like reading that you figure not enough of your readers are reading. So if I've linked to you, then you don't have to feel any obligation to link back. Hell, I don't know what I'd do if you did. I might have to get another digit added to my hit meter. Who needs all that bother?
On the other hand, if I've misstated or misrepresented your blog in some way, feel free to complain.
UPDATE: Courtesy of Hope at Deep Confusion, who ironically, found out about this link from Jon Swift, here's a sixth link for you to peruse: Fuck You Penguin. It's a wonderful collection of faux-dysfunctional rants about pictures of animals. Like certain video entertainment, you'll either get it or you won't.
7 comments:
Wow, every blogger should have a niche, and you've almost cornered the misanthropic nitpicker throne.
The problem is, you know how to spell and compose a sentence, which kind of sets you apart. Blogrolled, babe.
I've added you as well.
Almost???
Thanks, Blue Gal and Comrade.
Thanks for the plug Cujo. You've been on my blogroll forever damn near.
I always thought because of the quality I find here at S&S that your numbers much be huge. I will still think that.
I actively participated in BAD because it's what really got me started and helped me learn the ropes so to speak.
Always look forward to what you put up.
Thanks for the kind words, One Fly. Needless to say, I enjoy your place, too.
I don't know why folks prefer not to come here, but the truth is that I blog here rather than at one of the cooperative blogs because I'm doing this the way I want to. That approach has its downside, one of which is that we're one deep at every position, but I'm willing to live with it. Better to rein at Blogger than serve in FDL, I suppose. (I'm only kidding, Jane. ;) )
Even if I technically didn't participate in BAD, I feel as though I've adhered to the spirit of it, so I don't feel bad.
How do I list blogs that have less traffic than mine, when my blog is the one with the least traffic? Oh well, this gives me a chance to find other great blogs...a silver lining, so to speak. I like your attitude and I've added you to my blogroll.
I don't know, Pamela D., I could probably give you a run for your money there. Thanks for the blogrolling and the mention, though...
Pamela has a couple of interesting blogs. Part of what makes them interesting is there, shall we say divergent subject matter. Click on her ident link to find out more.
Post a Comment