How to build good blog karma without a sidebar badge declaration
Posted by Heather in I'm Deep Like a MarshmallowSo the latest mommy blogger angst that has everyone gnashing their teeth while girdling their loins is about PR and blog ethics. Or is it free products and FTC regulation? Or liars and soothsayers? Hell, there’s even something about the energy crisis in there. I keep hearing about a blackout so I’m a bit confused.
I admit I haven’t closely followed this most recent knicker bunching because, frankly, I become bored reading about it. I mean, my husband works in advertising and PR so you have no idea how much of this I already pretend to listen to every night at the dinner table. My talent for feigning interest is reserved for my husband. You can’t accuse me of having my priorities mixed up.
Maybe this makes me an uninformed blogger, maybe it makes me a blogger with just enough of a life outside the computer to say – can we all get over ourselves a little? I’m not really sure which.
I’m confident my blog will survive the energy crisis blackout, but I’m not sure if it will survive if I go against some popular mommy bloggers by not mindlessly agreeing to a sidebar badge proclaiming my integrity.
Obviously this bugs me – this idea of having to publicly declare my honesty. The way I see it, if I have to visually assure you in my sidebar of my integrity, then it’s a lost cause.
The only person who needs to feel secure in my integrity is myself and I don’t need a badge to remind me. As long as I feel secure in my honesty so will you, my lovely reader, and we can all click away from my blog happy and aesthetically pleased by the uncluttered sidebar.
So no, no badges saying I’m not a two-faced lying whore who uses her keyboard to perform dishonest consumer mind-control tricks. Besides, my karma and charisma are so forceful I don’t need one.
The one time I did come face-to-face with a PR rep interested in mommy bloggers, I was a little tipsy during a blog conference cocktail party and I just had to tell him all about the benefits and usage of silicone menstrual cups.
When the inebriated conversation was over, he asked (perhaps jokingly) that I not mention their company on my blog. So now I can only say I don’t pack Fiddle Freddie Sack Cakes in my kids’ lunch boxes because they contain high fructose corn syrup.
People, learn from me. This is how you build good blog karma and avoid unnecessary sidebar badges. Talk about your period to perfect strangers while drunk. PR people won’t touch you and your integrity will be as safe as a virgin’s hymen in a nunnery.
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Love this!
I think people need to just calm down already. If you don;t like what you’re reading, click that there pretty little X in the corner. Doesn’t everyone already know they’re bombarded with hidden advertisements all damn day long?
I’m with you. Quit your whining and blog what you want to.
The end!
You know, when I read about the whole badge thing yesterday I was baffled. I didn’t understand why it was necessary or what the big deal was. I Twittered as much and got a message back offering to talk to me at BlogHer to explain it to me. I’m not sure anything will change my mind about the whole thing. Not because I’m opposed to what they’re doing so much as, like you, I just don’t feel the need to publicly proclaim my honesty.
I’d rather assume bloggers are being honest, rather than assume they are lying. SHRUG. Guess I’m strange that way!
Oh…Heather…
No one can say it like you, no matter WHAT the “it” is.
Funny, but I’m at arm’s length from all the PR/Blackout stuff b/c apparently they look at my blog (maybe) and have no idea what my focus is (there isn’t one) and move along. There’ nothing for me to black out from!
If that’s what they’re talkin’ about.
But I’m with you about the need to declare ANYTHING. I’m the world’s worst about sidebar bling anymore anyway….I’m so flippin’ tech impaired, it takes me FOREVER to add anything ’cause I have to figure out how to do it every time I wanna change.
S i g h.
Thanks for the smile this morning…I needed a little energy boost and this w/my coffee is workin’ just fine.
I’m getting on the plane in a few hours, but the badge thing bothers me too. A lot. You explained why really well. I think for me, having been born in the Soviet Union and being honored with several badges early in my childhood, they just reek of GroupThink to me.
I totally get that I’m not in that giveaway-review world. I’ve done a few giveaways last year and know that it’s not for me.
I also don’t know enough about the FCC regulation to be critical of it.
Of course there are plenty of other things that I don’t enough enough about that I am very comfortable being critical about, so it’s a slippery slope. I really need a badge that says that.
Robin: I always thought PR people didn’t contact me because I’m vulgar and talk about my periods. But I like your link of thinking better – it’s because I’m undefinable.
Marinka: I’m awaiting your Don’t Give Blow Jobs To Strangers badge. I want to put it in my sidebar.
I don’t even pay attention to the sidebar thing, so does it really work?
Alexandra: Apparently that’s where all the evil mind control powers reside. In sidebar buttons.
Amen.
I pissed off Nintendo by flat out saying one of their latest crop of games made me lose faith in them as a company. They haven’t sent anything since.
Will: Please direct Nintendo to my blog. I have integrity, but I also have a price.
I’m fucking lost. I just blog. Read it if you want. Believe it if you want.
You uninformed? Well, I had no clue about this till I read it here, so if you’re uninformed, I’m living under a rock. In a cave. A thousand years ago.
But seriously, I hate when “big” bloggers preach to us little people about what we should or shouldn’t do on our blogs. Like they’d bother to check up on us anyway.
A pox on them, I say!
Well thanks for the education. I had no idea this was going on. I blog and read blogs for fun. I find them hilarious, informational and entertaining. If they don’t satisfy any of those requirements then I don’t read them. I dont’ care if it is real, honest or whatever. If it makes me laugh, gives me a great recipe, great idea for creating something or just purely entertains and interests me who gives a damn whether it is fiction or not.
I think the info on the first link above is weird. What the hell is that all about? I am not a mommy blogger. I have children that are grown and I have grandkids. I do write about them. Sometimes in anger, sometimes in humour. Who is going to monitor that? They can all kiss my big arse.
What others do is not my concern. What I do is not their concern. If people like reading my blog, and there are only a few : ( then what does it matter. If a person is lying on their blog how do you know? If they are a liar what makes anyone think they won’t post a badge saying they have integrity when they don’t.
It is just a button on your blog. It means nothing. If you are lying the blog police aren’t going to come and arrest you. Unless maybe you are one of those that tells a really big blatant lie that solicits donations and such. Then you are in another world of poo. And then you deserve it.
Honestly, if someone wants to make up stuff purely for the entertainment value I dont’ have a problem with that. If I am not entertained then I go elsewhere. WTH… I got long winded.
Holy Ritz Cracker! Do these people have anything better to do? This is just another way for some mothers/bloggers feel inadequate.
Hell, I posted yesterday about road rage and me packing a gun…I’m nowhere near being PC.
Truth is I don’t care and am not changing myself for anyone.
Thanks for being the voice for all us small bloggers who don’t care to buck the system.
“Talk about your period to perfect strangers while drunk. PR people won’t touch you and your integrity will be as safe as a virgin’s hymen in a nunnery.”
bagahgahgahhahahaha. You totally just made my day.
Clearly I am NOT that important because I have no idea at ALL what you are talking about. Not even a little. And now I’m a little deflated because now I know I’m not sort of a big deal after all. Hmph.
First of all, when you wrote “liars and soothsayers”, I read “lions and sabertooth tigers”. Which was pretty kick-ass.
Second, I saw this whole badge thing yesterday, and I’m like, huh? They want me to publish my “policies” on my blog? I just started the damn thing, and so I really don’t have any policies other than the whole “Do unto others” thing.
OK, I have a little rule in life. Actually, I have many, but this is a biggie.
If someone feels the need to tell you out loud “Trust me”, clearly you should NOT.
Another very important one: Never trust a guy name Victor with a mustache. Never.
Good God Almighty. Will it ever end? First of all, I’m a mother, but I don’t consider myself a mommy blogger. I’m a FEMALE blogger with real issues and problems, even without my children! How dare I! LOL
And a badge stating my integrity? I don’t get that. I mean, who the fuck really cares if I lie or not, except the people I would lie about, and I wouldn’t even consider lying about anything on my blog, because there are people that read it that would KNOW I was lying, but still, I just wouldn’t do it. It’s not me.
I could make up a blog and spin it from my make believe life. THAT would be fun!
I’d like to thank all of you who had no idea of this recent event. You make me feel like a I’m actually informed about something.
Ashlie: I don’t get the concern over the lying either. Come on, people. Truth is always funnier and harder to believe than lies.
Oh, please don’t put up a Don’t Give Blow Jobs To Strangers badge. I have high hopes.
Funny enough, I just recently started branching out and reading more blogs and I noticed “that blogger” in a lot of blogrolls. I stopped over and that time it was also soapbox speech about the real mommy bloggers vs those just in it for cash and free stuff. I couldn’t agree with you more. And seriously, I don’t really give two craps if people DO make stuff up on their blog. As long as I’m not giving them money (which I wouldn’t do unless I knew them anyway), it’s entertainment. Hell I watch tv every day and I don’t expect that to be real.
I clicked the link to the badge and it creeped me out a little. Content should speak for itself. Yours does. You seem to me to be one of the most genuine and transparent writers around. Just felt like kissing some ass this morning.
You? Are awesome.
I’ll disappear back to lurking now.
x
I’ve been reading about it too. I’m confused by it all as I thought we were seen as individuals… Now with this, perhaps not.
Now I am kinda glad I have been without internet all week…
Sheesh.
Integrity? PR dudes wont touch me cause I swear too damn much.
Would it surprise you to hear that I like this post? Mindless agreement in general is about the worst scourge on this planet (although for now I’ll try and ignore the implication that everyone who does in fact agree with the pledge is mindless).
The Blog with Integrity pledge isn’t about drawing lines in the sand – you’re with us or you’re an asshat – and we’ve tried to make that very clear. It’s simply common sense guidelines for what the vast majority of us are doing already, and for those of us for whom our blogging is our livelihood, it’s (admittedly sadly) become important to unite around some core beliefs.
If it doesn’t suit you, by all means carry on.
Of course I wouldn’t be surprised. I mean, I’m all sorts of awesome, so much so I know Daniel Craig is waiting for that clause to be added.
As far as the mindless reference, what I mean is that when we (meaning bloggers) read these kind of movements, some people jump onto the bandwagon without thinking it through. Because it is a persuasive argument and, let’s face it, most of us like to consider ourselves morally upright.
But I still say the necessity of declaring it calls it into question. Something along the Shakespearean line of me thinks thou dost protest too much. True integrity comes through without an announcement. It can’t be helped.
P.S. I also think we all have a price. It may be a high one, but still.
Hey, Heather. Guess since it’s BlogHer week and I’m not there but here, I’ve been thinking about you. Actually, I’ve been on vacation and wasn’t thinking about you until I got home yesterday, knowing that I’d be joining Amy and Jamie, ur friends here, I think, for Margarit-Her last night. So, I’m now peeking at all the attendees’ blogs bc I refused to get online during vacation and I saw a link to you and came here to say, hi there! And, per usual, I was entertained. Cheers!
I think i have a badge? is it bad that i don’t know? the chick who designed my blog put things on there. is that the little square button with my blogs name on it that people can put on their blog?? if it is, i find it quite funny personally.
i have had SO MANY bloggers e-mail me saying “if you add my button (badge) i’ll add yours to my site” Um, this was from people i don’t even know, nor have i EVER seen their blog. why would i do that? some have been offended when i didn’t do it. i don’t know, i put some close friends and blogs i enjoy on there but in a little scrolly box so it doesn’t clutter my side bar (HATE THAT!!) i am a natural pack rat and am always working against myself to not be that way, so you’ll see my sidebar get cluttery, then i’ll freak out ad take it all off. yup i’m weird 
i don’t think i would put that button on my blog, but that doesn’t mean i don’t blog with integrity. i don’t want to be bound by someone else’s interpretation of what blogging with integrity means. i blog and say what i want because it’s what i choose to write. i don’t need a button reminding me or telling others that though- can’t you get that from reading my blog itself?
i know why they started it though- i think they felt it was necessary to get back to the basics of blogging in a time where those basics are lost, gone, fucked up, etc. either put the button up, or don’t.. no harm no foul.
but don’t stop blogging- cause then i’ll have you kilt.
You’re absolutely right — having a badge doesn’t give a blogger integrity, and someone who *doesn’t* have it isn’t going to magically have it after posting a 125 pixel square.
However, the debate has gotten increasingly polarized, and we wanted to reframe it in a more positive context. Hence the pledge and badge. It’s also not just for parent bloggers. The FTC guidelines will affect all bloggers on some level.
For the record, I’m not a big fan of badges or anything that can lead to implied rankings — on the record, on my blog. That’s how important I think this is.
That said, if it is not for you, it’s not for you. Peace.
Susan: Yes, I do question why the debate has gotten increasingly polarized and how the ones with the integrity have played into the debate of questionable integrity.
Heather
(In other words, if us honorable and upstanding bloggers had gone on doing our transparent, honest blogging without giving power to these mysterious lying bloggers, would there have been a debate at all? Or would the whole drama have blown over? Who knows. It’s all a game, so whee!)
Unless the other nuns have really long fingers.
Oh, wait, that might be not the point of the post. My bad.
The reason there’s drama is because bloggers with integrity (you know, what does that mean? If I’m blogging about having wild sex with animals and my cousin but not getting paid does that mean I have integrity?) want everyone to follow what they think is right – you know, keep it FAIR – because life is fair and so they’re trying to call out for a citizen’s arrest against the horrific immorality that is immorally immoral and keep everything safe for the children. It’s all about the children.
It’s like having the promise keepers right there to keep you honest and willing and barefoot and…it’s too late for me to be posting comments on blogs.
i’m not one of the big power bloggers. i blog to my own beat. we kind of touched on this on twitter. and i kind of touched on this on my blog. it won’t end. women are competitive and caddy and petty…except for me
but i’m not putting a badge on my blog. because i think my friends know that i blog with integrity. i tell the truth. the whole truth. and nothing but the truth. after all, i am the daughter from a long line of attorneys. it’s what i know. and to throw business cards out the windows at the scene of an accident.
i don’t know what the answer is to this. just keep on being who we are. let everyone else hash it out. in the end, blogs like ours will still be standing. because we always, from the get go…had integrity.
.-= melissa´s last blog ..Because He Dares To Be Different And He’s Happy That Way =-.
So, I signed the pledge because I was doing that stuff already and I even added the badge to my sidebar for literally five minutes [the time it took me to read this all] and then I pulled the badge.
Some of the comments on here are things that I was thinking even as I was installing the badge. Some of what you had to say were some of the same things that I’ve been thinking.
Also, I just pulled my BlogHer ads for a couple of months because I wanted control of my own site again. Putting that badge up made me feel like I was losing control again. I think the concept is wonderful but my words and actions are how I want to be judged and not because I have a badge in my sidebar.
However, I do worry about NOT having a badge hanging out on my site.
Do you think that people will start to assume that if you DON’T have a badge that you’re a lying, stealing ass hat?
.-= Amy @ Taste Like Crazy´s last blog ..Do You Know the Super Nanny? =-.
Commenting on this now because I’m always weeks behind on all the cool stuff. Seriously a button? Please. It’s just a damn blog people. But more importantly what are these silicone mensuration cups you speak of? Talk about always being late to the party! That’s what I want to know more about.
.-= Melizzard´s last blog ..25 things that will happen when your iphone battery dies, and evidently IT. WILL. DIE. =-.
“The FTC guidelines will affect all bloggers on some level.” Um, just to nitpick, that would be American bloggers. The rest of us, not so much. Because, yes, I’m nothing if not pedantic. :p
I’m also late to the party. Hadn’t heard about the badge fiasco, but I frequently don’t know anything, so this is no surprise.
I have no problem having stated policies in place – I do about some things, I don’t about others – but I can’t see me doing the badge thing either. I don’t really see the need, nor will it necessarily reflect what I mean or do. Plus I’ve never been much of one to belong to the crowd. Although now it’s beginning to look like I belong to the crowd of dissenters…
Ah, chaos, ’tis a happy place.
.-= Laurie Ashton Farook´s last blog ..The Sizzle, The Scam =-.