Comments on: The 2008 Bloggies - A Joke Or A Smack On The Face? http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/ Knowledge comes from inspiration - one bit at a time Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:20:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Eric http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12435 Eric Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:02:59 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12435 Hi Vivien, You don't think myterritory is a blog? I think it is certainly a photo blog, even if unconventional... and that's the category I was going for, if any! (btw, i did encourage my visitors to vote for Veerle as well). Eric Hi Vivien,

You don’t think myterritory is a blog? I think it is certainly a photo blog, even if unconventional… and that’s the category I was going for, if any! (btw, i did encourage my visitors to vote for Veerle as well).

Eric

]]> By: The Cool Bloggers - Epiblogger http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12273 The Cool Bloggers - Epiblogger Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:17:18 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12273 [...] more to say. I honestly hadn’t felt that way until I read Vivien’s post yesterday on Inspiration Bit. Vivien doesn’t know this—how could she—but I am one of her many subscribers. She [...] […] more to say. I honestly hadn’t felt that way until I read Vivien’s post yesterday on Inspiration Bit. Vivien doesn’t know this—how could she—but I am one of her many subscribers. She […]

]]> By: Vivien http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12260 Vivien Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:56:59 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12260 @Lauren - huh, yeah, I see the awards got you a little worked up too ;-) No, I didn't go to Heather's FAQ page, her About page was enough for me to stop exploring her site. Regarding PostSecret or ican - I might go there once or twice (which I already did, and don't really expect visiting them any time soon), but these are not the type of sites I would subscribe to and visit on regular basis. Yes, it's hard to judge these types of contests, but it's not impossible. Obviously the organizers didn't really think through all the details carefully, or they just don't care. In my opinion, if a blog wins one year, it should not get any more nominations the next year, if it's still around and doing well the following year, then welcome back to the game. Perhaps I'm going a bit overboard with this, but that's how we will have a chance to see new blogs and new stars there. As much as I like Jack Nickolson and Meryl Streep, I would get bored seeing them winning Oscars year after year. That's interesting how the progress bar of your browser moved backwards on sparklette, and how the site crashed Jacob's browser. Jacob Carter, it's nice to see you here. Hi Adrian. Yes, you're right, Chris Pearson's site was nominated last year, but it didn't win - it lost to Gizmodo, which we see once again nominated for the best designed blog this year. I was actually <a href="http://www.inspirationbit.com/flattering-influence/" rel="nofollow">blowing off some steam</a> at the last year's awards as well. @Lauren - huh, yeah, I see the awards got you a little worked up too ;-) No, I didn’t go to Heather’s FAQ page, her About page was enough for me to stop exploring her site.
Regarding PostSecret or ican - I might go there once or twice (which I already did, and don’t really expect visiting them any time soon), but these are not the type of sites I would subscribe to and visit on regular basis.

Yes, it’s hard to judge these types of contests, but it’s not impossible. Obviously the organizers didn’t really think through all the details carefully, or they just don’t care. In my opinion, if a blog wins one year, it should not get any more nominations the next year, if it’s still around and doing well the following year, then welcome back to the game. Perhaps I’m going a bit overboard with this, but that’s how we will have a chance to see new blogs and new stars there. As much as I like Jack Nickolson and Meryl Streep, I would get bored seeing them winning Oscars year after year.

That’s interesting how the progress bar of your browser moved backwards on sparklette, and how the site crashed Jacob’s browser.
Jacob Carter, it’s nice to see you here.

Hi Adrian. Yes, you’re right, Chris Pearson’s site was nominated last year, but it didn’t win - it lost to Gizmodo, which we see once again nominated for the best designed blog this year. I was actually blowing off some steam at the last year’s awards as well.

]]> By: Jacob Carter http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12251 Jacob Carter Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:12:52 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12251 That sparklette site crashed my browser, so it obviously deserves special recognition. I love how you pointed out that 14 sties all had the same theme. Maybe the whole internet should move to that theme! Haha. That sparklette site crashed my browser, so it obviously deserves special recognition.

I love how you pointed out that 14 sties all had the same theme. Maybe the whole internet should move to that theme! Haha.

]]> By: Adrian http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12246 Adrian Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:38:42 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12246 I took one look at the awards last year and never went back - for the same reasons you state in your post. I mean, good Lord, just look at those nominations you linked for "best designed blog"! Some are horrendous, and wasn't Chris Pearson nominated last year? I took one look at the awards last year and never went back - for the same reasons you state in your post. I mean, good Lord, just look at those nominations you linked for “best designed blog”! Some are horrendous, and wasn’t Chris Pearson nominated last year?

]]> By: LaurenMarie - Creative Curio http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12245 LaurenMarie - Creative Curio Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:32:50 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12245 Hahaha, you know what this reminded me of? Nominating the Homecoming Queen in high school... total popularity contest, instead of being focused on quality and discovery like it should be. When I saw Dooce in the category for best design I was stunned. What design?! (I think you're right about it being the dog pic, btw!) The ones you've been showcasing throughout your redesign articles are a bazillion times better! I feel your outrage, Vivien, and I'm right there with you (as are many others it seems from the comments!). I just came across the Bloggies this year and what a disappointment. Lifehacker... BWAHAHAHA. Whatever! I'm sorry but if you have more than 1,000 subscribers you are <em>not</em> a secret! At least they ban a blog from winning a category more than 3 times. PostSecret? Ok, cool idea, but icanhascheezburger is way better ;) Yeah, and I'm glad John moved to Japan just so iLT can get more traffic. If his blog isn't a smashing success with an awesome design, I don't know what is. I don't think there's a practical way around the one with the most votes wins. Ideally it would be something like a percentage of the readership so that if you have a blog with 10,000 readers that gets 1,000 votes and a blog with 700 readers that gets 500 votes, the one with 500 wins because more of the readers voted... but that won't work. I can't see any other way than most votes wins, unfortunately. I think the reason many of these blogs made it to this round is recognition; the people like you and Lani who were overwhelmed by the number of blogs to look at in such a short time just picked either from the first few on the list or the ones that were a recognized name (as in heard others talk about them before). The first thing that wouldn't go amiss in improving this contest is disqualifying blogs that do not meet the requirements (unfortunately there really are no requirements for the categories). Like you said, as much as Darren is a valuable asset to us bloggers, his blog is not about web development! I definitely didn't like Heather's (Dooce) foul mouth either. Did you read what she said about her daughter on her FAQ page? I know she was joking, but I don't think that's something to be joked about >:( Ok... so I was watching the Sparklette site load and my progress bar really did move backwards!! NO JOKE! I've never seen that before... omg. And sorry, but puke with the girliness of that blog. Ick. So can you tell I got a little worked up over these too? It was disappointing <em>at best</em>. Hahaha, you know what this reminded me of? Nominating the Homecoming Queen in high school… total popularity contest, instead of being focused on quality and discovery like it should be. When I saw Dooce in the category for best design I was stunned. What design?! (I think you’re right about it being the dog pic, btw!) The ones you’ve been showcasing throughout your redesign articles are a bazillion times better! I feel your outrage, Vivien, and I’m right there with you (as are many others it seems from the comments!).

I just came across the Bloggies this year and what a disappointment. Lifehacker… BWAHAHAHA. Whatever! I’m sorry but if you have more than 1,000 subscribers you are not a secret! At least they ban a blog from winning a category more than 3 times. PostSecret? Ok, cool idea, but icanhascheezburger is way better ;) Yeah, and I’m glad John moved to Japan just so iLT can get more traffic. If his blog isn’t a smashing success with an awesome design, I don’t know what is.

I don’t think there’s a practical way around the one with the most votes wins. Ideally it would be something like a percentage of the readership so that if you have a blog with 10,000 readers that gets 1,000 votes and a blog with 700 readers that gets 500 votes, the one with 500 wins because more of the readers voted… but that won’t work. I can’t see any other way than most votes wins, unfortunately. I think the reason many of these blogs made it to this round is recognition; the people like you and Lani who were overwhelmed by the number of blogs to look at in such a short time just picked either from the first few on the list or the ones that were a recognized name (as in heard others talk about them before).

The first thing that wouldn’t go amiss in improving this contest is disqualifying blogs that do not meet the requirements (unfortunately there really are no requirements for the categories). Like you said, as much as Darren is a valuable asset to us bloggers, his blog is not about web development!

I definitely didn’t like Heather’s (Dooce) foul mouth either. Did you read what she said about her daughter on her FAQ page? I know she was joking, but I don’t think that’s something to be joked about >:(

Ok… so I was watching the Sparklette site load and my progress bar really did move backwards!! NO JOKE! I’ve never seen that before… omg. And sorry, but puke with the girliness of that blog. Ick.

So can you tell I got a little worked up over these too? It was disappointing at best.

]]> By: Vivien http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12244 Vivien Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:40:22 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12244 Thanks for dropping by, Jen. Gosh, four years ago... I can't even imagine how different was the blogiverse back then... I bet professional blogging hasn't been "invented" yet ;-) Thanks for dropping by, Jen.
Gosh, four years ago… I can’t even imagine how different was the blogiverse back then… I bet professional blogging hasn’t been “invented” yet ;-)

]]> By: jen http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12239 jen Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:07:09 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12239 Four years ago I came across the bloggies and was able to find a couple of blogs that I still read today and it got me blogging soon after. Since then, though, the Bloggies seems to be a popularity contest and pretty much the same old blogs keep getting nominated. I tend to ignore these awards nowadays and have just glanced through to see who's nominated. Four years ago I came across the bloggies and was able to find a couple of blogs that I still read today and it got me blogging soon after. Since then, though, the Bloggies seems to be a popularity contest and pretty much the same old blogs keep getting nominated. I tend to ignore these awards nowadays and have just glanced through to see who’s nominated.

]]> By: Vivien http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12238 Vivien Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:30:16 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12238 Lani, thanks so much for your input. Glad to see that I was not the only one who had a frustrating experience judging the nominees. Good luck with the Aussie awards, you've certainly got some very talented bloggers out there! Lani, thanks so much for your input. Glad to see that I was not the only one who had a frustrating experience judging the nominees.
Good luck with the Aussie awards, you’ve certainly got some very talented bloggers out there!

]]> By: Lani Giesen http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12236 Lani Giesen Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:54:15 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-2008-bloggies-a-joke-or-a-smack-on-the-face/#comment-12236 My experience is very similar to yours. I cast my votes there for the first time this year and was one of the 50 on the panel as well. I made a gargantuan effort to visit all of those 300+ blogs in the time allotted (skipping over sites like Perez Hilton & Celebrity Baby which just didn't stand a chance with me) but that didn't allow me to spend much time assessing the blogs I was unfamiliar with. And it was even more difficult with the random categories. For you, it was the Teens, for me it was Sport. When I saw the shortlists, let's just say they were disappointing. But I did learn a few things being on the "inside" so to speak, and as the Aussie blogging community is currently thinking about setting up our own awards, I hope that there are things that we will do better. My experience is very similar to yours. I cast my votes there for the first time this year and was one of the 50 on the panel as well.

I made a gargantuan effort to visit all of those 300+ blogs in the time allotted (skipping over sites like Perez Hilton & Celebrity Baby which just didn’t stand a chance with me) but that didn’t allow me to spend much time assessing the blogs I was unfamiliar with. And it was even more difficult with the random categories. For you, it was the Teens, for me it was Sport.

When I saw the shortlists, let’s just say they were disappointing.

But I did learn a few things being on the “inside” so to speak, and as the Aussie blogging community is currently thinking about setting up our own awards, I hope that there are things that we will do better.

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