(the misadventures of an expatriate corporate dropout)

Thursday, November 27, 2008

awards...

okay, I'm going to take a risk here and talk about blog awards. A blogger I recently started reading put up a post questioning what the awarding and meme'g and tagging thing was all about. Being a fairly new blogger, they had questions ...

got me to thinking more about it ... I always have mixed reactions to awards ... on the one hand, it is of course nice to have recognition... when an award is bestowed and there is feedback given about one's writing efforts ... it is gratifying. It is also nice to write about others I admire and/or enjoy. And memes can be fun because you learn something new about the blogger.

then come the rules. I understand that providing some guidelines might help the 'love' get passed along. but they seem to get a little strident at times. somewhat demanding.

Also, since the purpose of the rules is to mandate who and how to pass the thing along ... well, there are only so many blogs one can read and gain familiarity with. So inevitably the same circle of bloggers within a 'following' tend to get hit over and over again. And they seem to come in waves because of this phenomenon as well.

I admit I have found it stressful to receive an award. Kind of damned if I do and damned if I don't. How am I going to come up with new recipients so I don't keep burdening the same folks? How will I find time to read some newer blogs more thoroughly so I know whether or not to tag them? If I don't respond, will I insult the blogger who gave it? How do I react if I am ignored?

what would Jenny do? (since she is my blogging idol ... ) well I kind of know. She always seems to find time to come and comment on my peasant blog, if she receives recognition. But I've never seen her actually respond on her site. But then she's famous. What if I did the research and found out her history includes a series of awards that led to her success? hmmmmm.

what say you?

18 comments:

leon's life said...

What say you? I’m obviously REALLY thick today but what is the question actually?

About Memes I never read them as I find them so boring, but that’s just me. They are page fillers for me.

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

pauline - what say you = what are your thoughts on blog awards...

leon's life said...

Ohhhhhhh I told you that I was being a bit dim. So what are my thoughts on blog awards ? I think it’s bit of silly back slapping, like the Oscars on a very, very small scale. Can you tell that I’m a cynical old witch?

M said...

lol- I am with Pauline, though as I said to Chez Rigby, I thought the one you bestowed on us was fun as it tied in with the whole French obsession and was all taken as a bit of fun. The fact I found a couple of new not show-offy blogs was a bonus. I don't know if those who read my bestowing of awards (excuse bad language- have just survived three hours of French classes with wine) thought it was in fun, and actually don't care that much.

Mostly they(blogs loaded with awards)make me feel a bit creeped out and I tend to avoid reading most of them.

But that's just me, like Pauline I'm a bit of a cynical old witch.

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

well, as much as I'd like to think MY awards are special and fun, methinks you are just being nice or as we say in francais 'avec la politesse' (or at least I THINK that is how it is done) ... I don't mind the awards if there is a stretch in between. If they come in waves, they feel obligatory.

thanks for letting me know what's what, then, ladies...

M said...

Nah, if you stick around you'll discover I don't really do nice for nice sake (well not that often). Your awards are special and fun.

Yes, awards with a stretch is fine. 34 awards down the side of the page is not cool. Miss America acceptance speeches are not cool either.

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

d'accord, Michelle - je comprends!

Utah Savage said...

Well, I have been thrilled with a few awards. I started blogging last January and was astounded that ANYONE read me much less liked me enough to give me the time of day, much less an award. One of my little problems with a lot of awards is that so many are so unattractive. Snob? Maybe. But I was thrilled with the last two awards because they look so good together. One, believe it or not, was the Marie Antoinette blog award. And it gave me the opportunity to talk about my essential Madame Defargeness. I'm all for the revolution and uncrating and sharpening the guillotine for the event.

The next was an original piece of art painted by another blogger I greatly admire. It's a lovely heart mandala. And with a closed heart chakra I'm hanging on to it for awhile.

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

US-isn't it funny I never thought of the actual award graphic?! the Marie Antoinette is my favorite for obvious reasons. I enjoy receiving the attention, but I just don't have the broad network of blog-buddies that you and others do. so it stresses me out a bit!

La Framéricaine said...

I'm quite intrigued with the timing on this post. It's either the world's weirdest coincidence or a really cool, clever,and imaginative riff. In any event, I sent you an email to inquire which it might have been. I am so curious!

While I wait for the answer to the $64,000 question, I'd like to weigh in on this one:

--I have misgivings and feel ill-at-ease, on general principle, with blog awards.

--They have too many rules and regs; require tapping too many other bloggers; make me feel put in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" kind of bind; and push on lots of my "insecurity in groups" buttons.

I share Michelle's sentiments about, and slight aversion to, blogs with their electronic sidebar trophy cabinets on display for all to see and admire. (I mentally hear Sally Fields accepting an Oscar.)

Rather than feeling creeped out, however, I feel more like I've been put on notice that there is a competition going on. I also feel like I've intruded on an exclusive sorority event to which I have not been invited to pledge.

That said, I accept that blogs are private public locations and that the decision to collect and post awards in a sidebar and participate in blog award bestowing is strictly a personal matter.

It seems that my discomfort comes from not being sure, as you yourself wrote, whether or not someone will be offended if I don't play.

My own preference for my blahg would be to have comments from interested readers, to be riffed on, quoted, linked to, or otherwise included in the ongoing, ever-evolving blog conversation when something that I have written or posted resonates with the thoughts and feelings of another author.

I, also, enjoy participating in memes if they are flexible, brief, and circumscribed in terms of what I'm invited to do and how many others I'm supposed to "tag."

Thank you very much, NJNRR, for, once again, going out on a limb and writing on this subject in a great post!

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

I remember when I first started blogging, France Tales did this introduce a blog thing where he wrote about one blog a day for a week. He invited bloggers to let him know if they wanted to 'play' ... I did and I remember thinking how cool it was that now some new readers found me.

I like that approach because there was no obligation to do anything. Around that time I figured out how to 'link' and so I wrote a thank you with a link back.

That whole process was spontaneous and beneficial. And I think blog awards can be that same thing. I have never felt a competition. And I don't think one is required to display the awards. I do it because I am flattered by the kindness of the bestower.

It is a a conundrum. I certainly don't feel offended nor would I want to offend anyone by the comments or discussion here. Interesting points of view.

Randal Graves said...

I don't mind them because it prevents me from having to come up with anything.

Nunhead Mum of One said...

I love awards and meme's and I love reading blogs because, well, I'm interested in other people (which people could say is called "being nosy") and I've made so many pals since I've been blogging, including those over the pond/across the Channel very much like your good self!

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

RG-lazybones.

Nunhead-that doesn't surprise me about your chipper self! I had lunch today with fellow blogger Amy Rigby and I told her to check out your blog. She mentioned Armistead Maupin's writing and I told her how your character descriptions remind me of Maupin.

La Belette Rouge said...

I love all the blogs I read or I wouldn't read them and so when I give an award it is not out of obligation but out of appreciation.

When I get an award I am truly honoured and I do display them on my side bar out of any kind of need for recognition---but because if someone thinks enough of my blog to give me one it means something to me and I really appreciate it. That said, if I give an award I don't expect anyone to follow the rules or to even acknowledge the award---I just want the recipient to know I think they are super groovy and that is enough for me. Rules shmules. Do want you want with no regrets!:-)
xoxo

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

LbR: touché

Stacey said...

So... (completely non sequitor on this post, but...) I was at the doc this morning, waiting for my turn, picked up an issue of Sunset magazine, (Sept 08) and opened it up to a page that had a picture of YOUR DAUGHTER, and talked about MIGNONNE! (among other veeeeeedy interesting places!)

I said, HEY! and the doc said "what?" LOL. I said "um, nevamind."

But still, it was way cool.

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

Stacey!!! we were also veddy excited! I'ma callin' you today ... I's in Portland!