you asked for it.

Day 22 - Rant about something. Are you sure you want to tell me to do that? Okay....



The blogging community is fucking stupid.
Well holy shit. I went there. 
When I started this little blog of mine (<-- how many times have you read that exact phrase?) I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew is that I wanted to write and tell stories. And then I learned about FOLLOWERS and SPONSORS and GIVEAWAYS and I was like, holy shit I am clearly doing this wrong! I don't even have a proper bun! So I drank the koolaid. Out of a mason jar, naturally. I tried my hand at giveaways. I wanted followers, damn it! Those numbers on my sidebar meant everything to me. 

Look over there now. Yea, I deleted that shit. And even though I see it when I log into blogger, it doesn't define my blog. The stories I write define my blog and it will continue to be that way. I have officially hopped off the bandwagon.
Here is my favorite example of blogwagoning: When Google announced that they were banishing Google Reader to the depths of internet doom, the entire blogging community simultaneously shit their pants. HOW WILL PEOPLE FOLLOW ME NOW? Through Blogger. No seriously, through Google Friend Connect. No really, it isn't going away yet. 
But not one single person said that. Because one person shouted JOIN BLOGLOVIN from the rooftops of blogville everyone did. Are there better options? Absolutely. But because the blogging community listens to those that have more followers because obviously they know everything, there was only one option and that is where the Bloglovin' monster came from.
Bloggers don't think for themselves. They do what is popular — what will get them the most pageviews or followers. It is as simple as that. They will write a SUPER DARING POST or a SUPER SILLY POST and really put themselves out there. This said "community" celebrates mediocrity and there is far, far too much ass-licking going on. And then I said ass-licking on my blog.
No, there aren't any rules to blogging. But you should aspire to stand out. You should aspire to be different and to make a difference. Be known for something other than what you wore or how many times you went to Starbucks. 

I'm not trying to abandon the few readers that I have, because I do appreciate those of you who read my madness. And comment. And share your stories back with me. That is the part of blogging that I love, and what really keeps me going. That, and all of the Russians that contribute to my stats. Hi, Russians!
I do my best to share parts of my life that I find entertaining. I try my damnedest to be original and I will continue to support the friends I do have in this community. I promise you I will always be genuine. Always.