The Real Reason Why Blog Bloke is Not Speaking at Blog World This Year
We need more “pure” bloggers representing the blogosphere, not just the entrepreneurs.
Not long ago I wrote that I couldn’t get in touch with Blog World president Rick Calvert and I assumed that he had reconsidered his invitation for me to speak at this month’s expo. Well Rick and I have been in contact via email since then and he reiterated that he still wanted me to be there.The problem was I had a few concerns that I wanted to talk to him on the telephone rather than by email. To be fair we both tried our best and he’s a very busy guy (and I’m not that easy to get a hold of either) but we couldn’t connect.
So as it now stands it looks like I won’t be there and I thought I would post my reasons here as to why I will not be attending Blog World this year.
1. First of all the finances are not in good shape right now. To be fair Rick did offer to fly me there but the airline does not come this far and I would have had to book a connector flight out of my own pocket. Also, I had to cough up the hotel costs so it was still a fairly expensive proposition.
2. My health is not that great. I’ve had a recurrence of a kidney problem and it would cause me a fair amount of trouble whilst travelling.
3. Homeland Security and post 911 has made it a requirement to have a passport to travel the U.S. Because there is a backlog of applications and the short notice there wasn’t much time for me to get my passport done.
4. I was somehow demoted from being a speaker to only a panel member. I don’t know how it happened but it seems like I was an afterthought when Rick contacted me again only a couple of months ago. By that time the speakers had already been lined up and I couldn’t find a panel that still had positions open. So the Bloke became a fifth wheel.
5. I have heard that Wendy Piersall and rookie bloggers like her are speaking there. Now don’t get me wrong because I have nothing personal against Wendy.
But what does bother me is she has been blogging for … how long? Oh yeah, maybe a year if that. So my question is how does that make her qualified to speak at a blogging convention? I’ve been doing this gig since the new millennium and I’m still learning every day.
I have to admit that rookie bloggers who have not been blogging for long and achieved a measure of success (whatever that really means) can seem impressive. Indeed, they are very good at networking and marketing themselves but I would argue that does not qualify them as experts in blogging which should be a requirement for speaking at a blogging convention. That only makes sense.
You see, blogging is my passion and admittedly I feel insulted that I was demoted to playing second fiddle to rookie bloggers who are only in it for the money and/or the ego trip. Sorry Rick, but that’s how I feel.
I can already hear the tap, tap, tapping of their keyboard as they eagerly pad their resumes to promote their next gig.
Being a pioneer in this field, it’s ironical that someone like myself who has the passion and has freely given so much to blogging will not be speaking.
We need more (what I call) “pure” bloggers representing the blogosphere, not just the entrepreneurs who want to exploit it.
So as it now stands they will be attending the conference whilst I sit here idly on the sidelines. Oh well, to say that I’m disappointed would be an understatement. Life can be funny sometimes don’t you think.
I’m probably going to be accused of being anal over this but I can still have my pride can’t I. I wanted to tell this to Rick on the telephone but I guess this post will have to suffice.
Nonetheless I’m not bitter and I want to say that from my conversations with Rick my impression is he seems to be a standup guy. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for the mixup.
His event will no doubt be wonderful and I’m sorry that I won’t be able to participate. I wish him all success and perhaps we will have better luck next year if God willing the Bloke is still around.
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I think it’s a shame that so much of your blogging lately is about how you feel hard done by because you’re not being recognised or appreciated or rewarded or noticed or linked or….
When are you going to actually start blogging about your passions again, rather than complaining about other bloggers?
I’m sorry, but with all due respect, it’s getting a little old. Let it go, or it’ll eat you up and you’ll have nothing left to blog about.
Hi Bloke,
I’ve been blogging for less than 2 years, but have been in Advertising and Marketing for 15 years, Online Marketing for the last 10. I’m not sure that time has much to do with success or authority in a field, though.
Should we hold back athletes that are rookies? Should we only allow people to own a business when they are a certain age? The list goes on and on.
I don’t know Wendy and I’ve not read what she’s doing, but if she’s a rookie that is a great public speaker - perhaps it’s worth while. If she’s a rookie that’s grown a great following, that might be worth it as well.
I mean this with the most utmost respect, of course, but I’m surprised at your reaction to a ‘rookie’. After all, it was ‘rookies’ that seem to start the next best thing each week on the net!
Bring on the rookies!
PS: I started a new job so I just can’t take the time to go out to the conference, otherwise I would love to.
Doug, the reason for this post was to explain my reasons why I won’t be attending the conference. Mentioning Wendy was only an afterthought and the circumstances of my no longer being asked to speak, but I stand by my opinion.
Speakers at blogging conventions should be experts in blogging or at least blogging related. Not just because they are great speakers or entrepreneurs. And how do you know she is a great speaker anyway?
So maybe we should just ask the Dale Carnegie grads to line up. Who cares if they know anything about blogging? I’m sure Guy Kawasaki would agree with you.
Is that what you’re saying? By the way, don’t rookies usually sit on the bench until they’ve at least seasoned a bit? Congrats on your new job.
Thanks Alan. I love you too. I think I’ve already adequately explained my reasons for writing this.
You and I have already discussed this in detail via email. I respect your opinions regardless if I agree or not. But next time you want chastise me perhaps the public forum might not be the best place for it.
I think I’ll take that break now.
I just want to reiterate that I’m not trying to rag on Wendy or anyone else for that matter. I have been accused of being too reclusive in the past and not sharing more about myself to the public. These are things that have been weighing on me so I suppose this week was my time to let my feelings out.
Obviously not everyone is going to agree with me and all that I ask is that you be respectful of my feelings as much as I try to respect yours.
I’m truly sorry if I’ve hurt anyone by opening myself up, but like it or not these are the issues that I have been personally dealing with.
This is the chance that you take when you open yourself up. Some people may like it whilst others do not. You can please some of the people some of the time, but…
I’ve got news for Howard. If you are passionate about something you are emotionally attached. I think it’s admirable that Blog Bloke has opened up regardless if you agree with him or not. It takes a lot of guts.
As far as I’m concerned I’m with the Bloke on this one because if I’m paying to listen to speakers I want to hear the most knowledgeable people, not a hustler who’s looking for a Photo Op.
Um, I just want to add that Alan has emailed me an apology and asked me to delete his comment. Apology accepted, but I think I will leave it along with my response because I’m sure some of my detractors are probably chomping at the bit to say something similar.
Asked and answered… so let’s move on.
I just noticed some of Wendy’s friends are showing up so I guess I can expect a barrage from that crowd soon. Oh well.
it’s refreshing to find a blog that’s transparent instead of the manufactured bullcrap that’s out there
Dennis, I moved your comment over to this post that is relevant to your question.
I just want to add that Rick emailed me his regrets over my not attending Blog World this year. Just so you know Rick, I feel the same and I hope that we can make it work for next year’s conference.
Well, that answers my question of where your keynote was on the net, there is none. I’d rather see the pure non BS approach to things versus a manufactured response. Well Bloke, theres always next year
Yeah, hopefully next year I won’t be demoted to singing in the choir. I prefer to preach from the pulpit
Dec 30th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
[…] Bloke.1. I’ve had another setback in my health. 2. I had to resolve myself to the fact that I won’t be attending Blog World this year. 3. I decided to become more open and transparent with my opinions and feelings about […]