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9/19/2008

Friday Night Lights

I am having a tough time with schedules, lately. And my schedule today has been too tight to allow me to spend the two hours or more necessary to properly do the awards. So the Grand Finale is going to have to wait. And it will be worth waiting for. The blogs I'm going to finish up with are as good as the ones I've mentioned so far.

As for awards. I think, perhaps, that I'm not going to get involved with getting and giving awards anymore. I think, instead, I am going to display a blogroll, which will change from time to time, and this blogroll will be my method of paying homage to those blogs I would otherwise be tempted to slap with awards. And, perhaps, once in a while, I may devote a post to a blog or two that I might find particularly to my liking during the recent past.

There is a school of thought that says the awards are just chain letters who's real purpose is to build traffic into people's blogs. I would rather build my traffic by word of mouth. If I'm good enough, if my blog is honest and straightforward enough, if the stories I write are of enough quality, people will come here to read what I have to say. That is MY award, and reward.

Of course, if someone were to give me an award, I would certainly acknowledge such a gift on my blog. I'm just not going to pass it on. So Monday, the Grand Finale Day, will be the last time I do something like that. It is too much like Sophie's Choice for my liking. I don't like the idea that people could be offened by an assumed rank they didn't achieve, by not being included in the list, etc. That, most of all, bothers me about Awards. The people left off the list.

I don't ever want to leave ANYONE off my list.

As I have said before. I love you all.

29 comments:

Shadow said...

this has been bothering you by the sounds of things. i understand your feelings here. many a valid one too. so do what makes you comfortable and happy. that's the only way to go after all.

Ndinombethe said...

Have to admit, the chain letter aspect of it struck home when Vicki posted about it. I agree.

My blog roll is there and perhaps in need of refining. I'm trying to avoid putting too many on but there are just so many I check regularly, for good reason.

Christy said...

I think I'll re-up my blog roll too.

I forgot why I got rid of it...

Feel the same about the awards, although I'm always flattered when someone thinks of me....

Honeybell said...

I agree, and to be honest I quit passing on awards and memes a long time ago just for that reason. Like Christy, it's always nice that someone thought of me, but I'd prefer folks just took a peek at my ever-changing blog roll!

Theresa said...

I don't like that ''chain-letter'' thingy too. Thats why I just gave my last one to everybody reading it. Plus there are only so many blogs that I get a chance to read anyway.

And if the number of your comments is anything to 'judge' by, then you are doing great!

Patsy said...

You do express my thoughts well. For some not being given an award is sorta like being picked last in gym class. And to me awards turns blogging into a competition. The one and only one I have displayed on my sidebar came from my daughter --that is one I'll keep -- I'm sentimental that way, and I couldn't stick it in a box with all the other *World's best ....* that they have given me over the years. :) Now I have to start reading everyones sidebars.

moneythoughts said...

As I have written to you before, I don't know how you do it. With everything on your plate, I don't know where you find the time. I hope you have a nice weekend. Take care.

Joyce-Anne said...

I see your point about blog awards. While I don't have a blog, like most other people I receive chain letters. I delete these letters from my email before reading them. Some of them just are out of line (there is at least one which indicates people will die if you don't pass the letter on). Really now, it's out of control!

Myst_72 said...

It is a hard thing to choose 'x' amount of people - and if you read a lot of blogs even harder.
It is a bit like not being picked for the netball team - not that I EVER cared for netball or anything Lou....but if I did I may have been disappointed all those times....
Haw Haw!

G
xxx

Anonymous said...

Totally on board about the awards and memes. I have a few gathering dust in a post. Nobody but the recipients enjoy reading them, anyway.

Eve Grey said...

You're such a sweet and thoughtful person Lou.

Crimzen Creative said...

It's nice that you are doing the awards, but I think the blogroll is a nice way to pay homage. I am working to bring my blogroll back to the front page - it takes time. And I don't think anyone here would be offended if they are not chosen - we all know you love us just the same :-)

Anonymous said...

I've been honored to receive a few awards this past week, one from you (many thanks, again!!), and I'm overwhelmed with trying to award them. So? I kind of haven't. I mean, some of the decisions are made, and the post is sitting in my drafts, and I might still pull the trigger once I put a few finishing touches on the post, but I might not. I might just do a thank you mention post and then dole them out once in awhile or never. Not in the spirit, I know, and I do want to make someone else's day by awarding, but I, too, have a difficult time choosing. All this blather is just my way of saying that I get it and to thank you for letting me know that others feel this way, too.

Unknown said...

I agree with the other commenters who've said 'it's like getting picked last in gym class'. Nobody wants to make their readers feel like that. You are so kind to think of those things.

I had never even given thought to the chain letter/ driving traffic thought. Goes to show I learn something every day.

I hope your weekend is RESTFUL! You need it. You deserve it.

I, personally, will be hanging a painting.:)

Unknown said...

shadow: I've known for some time that I was uncomfortable about Awards - the Sophie's Choice thing. Vikki North posted about it on Red Chair and all of my discomfort just clarified, right then and there.

tash: Yes, It was Vikki's post that really pushed all of the background discomfort out there where I could look at it for what it was.

christy: Yes, there is a flattery component to all this. It IS flattering. But then you have to choose. I remember what it was like to be chosen last. I don't want to do that to the people I read. But this forces you to.

honeybell: Which is one of the very reasons I read you - who and what you are.

theresa: Thanks. You are a sweetheart.

patsy: Yes. Being picked last. Like I said - I remember what it felt like, I'm not going to do that to anyone else - especially the people I read.

moneythoughts: Thanks, Fred. You have a nice weekend, as well. And I'll be by to see your Saturday Art.

joyce-anne: I can't wait for you to start a blog.

myst_72: Hey. We've seen that RACK. You would have gotten picked first with any team I ever played with.

witchypoo: But that is, after all, part of the play. Flattering the recipient. But we've been through all that. I'm glad you understand.

eve grey: I learning a lot of that from the people out here - honest. Just look at Vikki North.

lady language: Hi, Cheesehead!! For those of you who might not understand that reference, people from Illinois (me) are wont to call, from time to time, people from Wisconsin (LL) cheesehads, because Wisconsin is famous for cheese, and the flatulent bovines who are the source of a things cheesey.

maggies mind: Maggie, if you don't want to award them, that's okay. I understand too well the motivation NOT to pass on the Awards.

Hyphen Mama: yes, boys and girls, Hyphen Mama got her painting yesterday evening. The UPS covered wagon showed up at her door and delivered an unblemished and unharmed package. One or the other of us will display a picture of the framed image soon. Perhaps, both of us. Who knows? That, BTW, is the first painting of mine to leave my hands for someone else's.

Maddy said...

Ooo dear. I agree with quite a bit of the underlying sentiment.

For me, now that I can actually figure out how to do them with all the links and such, I quite enjoy them.

On the other hand, I feel an obligation to pass them on. Sometimes that can be hard depending upon the nature of the award.

There have also been a few with some weird code or sub something or other that messes up the blog and I have no way of telling which ones those are until I hear [much later usually] on the grapevine.

I try and pass them on at the weekends when I have more time to do the links which are quite hard work for my tiny brain!

I detect that I begin to ramble so I'll head off now.

Cheers

Unknown said...

I've been chuckling in my head that you could call your Blog Roll: Lou's Harem. But that might annoy Fred and a few of the other men. Bummer.

Vikki North said...

Well said Lou. Big hugs.
Vikki

Tara R. said...

I love this idea... I always feel guilty too when I can't pass along all the little lovelies to everyone. Nicely said. You are fabulous!

Anonymous said...

A while back I stopped passing on awards, not because I wasn't grateful, but because I somehow really did hurt feelings and just realized it wasn't worth it. I tuck awards in the bling folder and move on. I think you are smart in your decision.

Jennifer said...

well said. it is sort of like a chain letter... but i do have to admit... i'm rather quite honored that you had listed me among the other blogs that you read for the award.

i myself am bored with my blog... it would a lot more racy and more the REAL me if my family didn't read it. lol perhaps i should start a new blog... one for blog friends and then keep this one for family. :)

oh well... we'll see. but thank you very much again for my award. i appreciate it. :)

good luck finishing up your list...

we are off to see a house tonight... the first on our house hunting adventure... we'll see how it goes.

xoxoxo much love.

Holly said...

Yeah, I always feel stingy when it comes to giving away awards that come with stipulations like "Now pass this on to seven people," and you're like, "How can I pick only seven?!" Congrats on all your awards.

Anonymous said...

Good thinking Lou. I have stopped for the same reason. As soon as I hit publish I remember someone I have forgotten and then I get a sad comment from them.

It is just too hard.

I love that people give me awards and always thank them profusely, but won't be handing them out on my blog anymore. It is too 'highschool' for my liking now.

Nan Sheppard said...

Hey, congrats on sending your first painting out into the world!May there be many more! Some artists mourn when they send their work away, but I love the empty space that's left behind... waiting to be filled up again.

Hyphen Mama, I think "Lou's Harem" is a totally perfect name for Lou's Comments Section. I vote!

OHmommy said...

Yeah. I agree. I hate to miss anyone and when I do it makes me feel bad. SO I just don't do them anymore because honestly, I really do love everyone.

Eric S. said...

Lou's Harem, LOL I love it. I also am not a big fan of memes and awards. I have the same problem everybody else does. I have done a few, but just how do you choose. I too feel guilty about the ones I couldn't list because there is a limit.

The Blog Roll is a good idea.

Momisodes said...

I am right there with you. I've given up on handing out awards. The guilt drives me nuts. I LOVE far too many blogs. So I now have a separate page for the sweet awards others have bestowed upon me.

ConverseMomma said...

You will always have readers because you have integrity as a person and talent as a writer. Who wouldn't stop by to check that out.

Anonymous said...

One pity about the awards is like you said it, that you can't acknowledge all the blogs you like.
One reason I have one whole blog for my linklove :)