This subject, along with people thinking that the Irish Blog Awards are “fixed” has been done to death over the past week, and I’ve had my say on several blogs (on the ones I was able to comment on!). But I was writing a comment over on The Dossing Times this morning and wanted to re-post it here. A few people seem to think that you need to be a sponsor or a friend of Damien to win, they forget that judges are involved and they vote and make the final decisions.
I didn’t really agree with all the winners this year myself, but since I wasn’t able to participate in judging (I did the previous year), I’ve held my tongue, as I didn’t have a right to comment on it.
Photo owned by simplified complication (cc)
All this talk of cliques within the Irish blogosphere is driving me nuts though, so I tried to explain my feelings about it with the following comment:
I don’t really mean to target a minor point, but many of the bloggers out there could easily name (and do follow) more than 20 irish blogs. They tend to be the people that are accused of being in the clique (“friends of Mulley“) because they go to many of the events and network and get to know people and then continue communicating off the blogs (whether on or off-line). This networking and communications has helped many people and businesses grow because they can turn to others for advice when needed.
As the UK lottery slogan used to run “You’ve got to be in to win”. If you put in time at real-world networking events you become known and communicate in a more friendly manner on-line because you actually know the people. I’ve barely blogged myself last year due to an injury severely limiting the time I could spend on a computer, but I continued going to events. This meant at the awards ceremony I’d guess that at least half the people knew me (or knew of me), even though I may only have posted about 50 times during the entire year.
It’s not just about the blogs, it’s about the people behind the blogs.
Finally someone with a bit of sense, and the ability to voice her opinion, has said something, thanks for not talking in riddles, and acting as if people won’t know what you’re talking about. You rock Elly, and the other bloggers need to be more like you.
Posted on February 28, 2009 at 4:50 pm.
Aww, Alan, you’re too sweet!
Posted on February 28, 2009 at 4:53 pm.
true true, its great to see an honest opinion on the awards, I do feel that those who won deserved it fairly , like you I dont agree with all of them but at the end of the day there are judges like u said, but its the events that get me, not everyone can get to all or any of the events
Posted on February 28, 2009 at 5:51 pm.
@Lette – there isn’t a need to get to all the events, I don’t think that anyone has managed that all year – even I didn’t! But even to get to a few of the more major ones makes a big difference – the first couple of BarCamps that I attended doubled my readership overnight!
Posted on February 28, 2009 at 5:54 pm.
Hi Elly. Firstly,I completely went blank on your name when I saw you at the awards! and don’t think I said hello properly as a result. Sorry / next time
And yes I agree with what you say here. I can see how it would be very easily percieved as cliquey but everyone I’ve meet is so open and friendly that it is the exact opposite of a clique.
Also – I knew hardly anyone when I won an award last year, and I got ahrdly any comments, so I know first hand that the awards are not some kind of popularity contest.
Posted on February 28, 2009 at 6:15 pm.
Hello
I didn’t attend the awards but I was a judge on the first and second rounds and I can tell you honestly that I don’t know any of the people who own the blogs I was voting on. I read lots of Irish blogs and there is some great talent out there, I’ve met lots of bloggers but really don’t know them much more than saying Hi.
So my point is, as far as I’m concerned there is no fix.
Posted on March 1, 2009 at 9:36 am.
Hi Elly, I feel at times that people take the blog awards too seriously, yes it’s nice to win but anyone who is involved in blogging to win awards has the wrong attitude.
Posted on March 1, 2009 at 11:45 am.
“It’s not just about the blogs, it’s about the people behind the blogs.”
What a depressing notion.
Posted on March 1, 2009 at 4:03 pm.
Hi thanks for the comment. In many ways my point was trying to be your point.
I myself prior to my PhD getting busy was quiet active in the whole community and found it quiet welcoming. However now that I live in the UK networking is not easy.
I my self have 2 blog awards at home (for Irish Election) which Damien paid to have duplicates made of as myself and Cian shared the prize. So I can’t say to much bad about Damien.
My point is basically the blog awards are not quiet the blog awards. To actually fairly judge every blog would be impossible. It is more the blogging community awards. Which is fair enough.
As made marian says it probably is taken a bit too seriously.
Posted on March 2, 2009 at 1:51 pm.
As always, a voice of reason. I have bookmarked this to return to at a later date…
Posted on March 3, 2009 at 12:31 pm.
It’s the biggest clique I’ve ever seen if so then. people take things too seriously. Get over it. move on. Have fun.
Posted on March 3, 2009 at 2:52 pm.
@John Braine – Don’t worry, I was doing the same thing all night to people – peering at them thinking “you look familiar, but I can’t remember your name”. It’s impossible with over 300 people in the room. And as you say, large followings are not pre-requisite for winning!
@Jennifer – There was a good mix of judges by all accounts, some that knew a lot of the people behind the blogs they were judging, and others that barely knew anyone – that always reassures me that the overall scores are good and fair.
@made marian – well said! For me, it’s always about the Ladies Tea Party and a good night out!
@Fergal – everyone’s entitled to their opinion, not sure why you think that statement is so depressing. It’s all about meeting new people and making new friends for me.
@Simon – I’m always the same – I write a post and then see someone else’s take and think they’ve said it so much better – it’s always the way!
@Darren – Thx – interested to hear your take on it as someone who knew practically no-one that blogged before last year’s awards.
@Lottie – too true! I sometimes think that the people that call us a clique only do so because they have imagined “barriers to
joining”, whereas it’s really a free-for-all as long as people don’t take pot-shots at others…
Posted on March 4, 2009 at 1:30 pm.
I Must be out of the loop…… didn’t realise there was any fuss
Posted on March 7, 2009 at 4:41 pm.
Fergal and Simon get it. “Blog awards” is a misnomer. He has a right to call it that, as much as the Academy Awards in the U.S. gets to claim they are the shining light of American cinema awards. The fact is they are both constrained to the people involved and hardly open in recognizing anyone/everyone. It is about who you know (you confirm as much with your post elly) and therein, what is depressing (per Fergal) is that they are “blog awards” not “the blogs of people we know and like awards”
That a blog can be nominated yet not appear before the judges is the frustration. Yes, the judges are impartial and I truly believe, as is indicated in comments here, that judges participate with an open mind and passion for choosing the best. But the set of blogs from which they choose are limited.
It is taken too seriously but recognize it for what it is. There are “barriers to joining” otherwise everyone nominated would be on the roster.
Posted on March 11, 2009 at 6:43 am.
“It’s not just about the blogs, it’s about the people behind the blogs.”
If that is the case, then the blogs aren’t judged on their own merits. Or, to use an Irishism – it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
P.
Posted on March 17, 2009 at 6:39 pm.
Seriously, does anyone actually read posts anymore before commenting?
Paul, the line you pulled out of my post to quote was referring to the talk of “cliques” in irish blogging, not referring to the awards or the judging.
Posted on March 17, 2009 at 11:10 pm.