Site news: The mother of all blog controversies (UPDATED)
Some members of my blogroll object to the category in which I have placed them. Specifically, I started a category called “Mommy bloggers.”
Anyone who reads a lot of blogs knows there are bloggers who have a lot of post about their kids and they funny, sad, happy, etc. things their children so and say. That doesn’t mean that’s ALL they blog about. In fact, every single blogger I have put in this category is included in one or two other categories.
I have categories so that people who are looking for those sorts of blogs can find them. If my blogoll was just one list of blogs, it would not be as useful.
But some folks have objected to being included in the “Mommy bloggers” category, even though it gives them an additional link on my site.
For as while, I was thinking of creating a category called “Cat bloggers,” because there is at least 1 local blog (who shall remain unmentioned) who does a lot of cat blogging. I think I’ll pass for now.
So here’s the deal: I will add or remove any blog from this category at the blogger’s request.
It was NOT my intent to belittle anyone’s site or the quality of their posts. If it was, I’d have a category called “Bloggers I think are idiots” or “Bloggers who spell worse than me.”
UPDATE: It’s worse than I thought. There’s some annoyance at being included in the “Trying to be funny” category. OK, I admit that category sounds more sarcastic than I intended. I’ll change it.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
“Bloggers who spell worse than me.â€
How about: “bloggers who are grammatically challenged”???
PS: I am happy to be included as a “left wing” blogger, even if I am backing a pragmatist in the Presidential election.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Billy,
Hey, why no “daddy bloggers” catagory?
Jennifer
October 31st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Yes, but why Mommy Bloggers and not Daddy Bloggers or Single Bloggers or Senior Bloggers? Why make a classification based on one’s gender but not make the same classification for the other gender? There are many, many men who blog who are also fathers. So, if you want to categorize, be even handed about it.
And yes, I do not want to be on your mommy blogger list.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Ummmm…Grandma’s Attic (no k) doesn’t exist anymore, but thanks for including me when it did.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:12 pm
The list for “Bloggers that spell worse than me” would be empty or at best contain a trackback to your own blog
October 31st, 2008 at 4:13 pm
The phrase “Mommy Blogger” has a very specific and (to some, including myself) very negative connotation. It is usually used to designate blogs that have very limited widespread interest from the public. As you can see from some of the comments on my post, Mommy Bloggers are not respected as valid actual members of the blogging community. The phrase Mommy Blogger implies someone who has ceased living for the joy of living an individual’s life, and lives solely for the lives of her children and sometimes, also lives in the shadow of her husband. Some women live like that and don’t mind being defined by one role in their lives. Most women don’t, particularly professional women. Take a poll. See how many men actually want to be classified as “Daddy Bloggers.” I bet it won’t be very many.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I am honored and priveleged to be in the “Mommy Blogger” category. Although I wear many hats, the Mommy hat gives me by far the most responsibility and God willing, some day bring about my greatest achievements.
This is not to object to, in any way, some-one not wanting to be on the “mommy roll”.
I will take it in the spirit of which it was intended and just say Thanks.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:40 pm
My kids are the light of my life, but they are not my life.
I appreciate the intention of giving us a point of reference for folks to check out, but I think ‘Personal Interest’ may be a better fit for that category.
If I didn’t know any better, I would assume that I would be directed to a homeschooling/breastfeeding/live-thru-your-kid kind of a blog. Which would be unfortunate since none of us have those type of blogs.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I’m tickled you placed me in the “Libertarian” section. But…um…I haven’t lived in Peoria for…oh…about a year and a half.
Glad ya didn’t put me in the “cat blogger” category…but I do TRY to be funny. Occasionally. heh
October 31st, 2008 at 6:29 pm
How about Genius Bloggers? Just asking
October 31st, 2008 at 6:38 pm
How about a “Selfish” category? And you can add me there!
October 31st, 2008 at 10:08 pm
How about if they don’t like where you put them, take them off your blogroll.
No one wants to read a blog from a femi-nazi anyway
October 31st, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Well, THAT was productive. Thanks for the input, Ryan.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
If my kids were younger, I would definitely be mommy blogging. Maybe I should, anyway. Among other things, Mommy Bloggers are a political force. Mommy Bloggers can and do represent big marketing dollars. Mommy Bloggers are good.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I can understand those whose blogs don’t strictly deal with the raising of their children wanting to be removed from that list. However, some of the commenters who are in such an uproar seemed almost insulted by the situation which strikes me as kind of odd. Would those of you commenting be as miffed if the category was “professional female bloggers”?
October 31st, 2008 at 11:40 pm
I agree with the idea that your blogs are not typical mommy blogs. However, I think that point could have been made without disparaging those who do write in that vein. There are plenty of self identified mommy bloggers who don’t have anything any common your homeschooling/breastfeeding/live-thru-your-kid example.
November 1st, 2008 at 12:27 am
Where’s the “I’m not quite sure after all of this time what this guy is about” category? If that’s too long, how about a Bob Dylan Blogger category? You can put me there if you wish. I’m OK with trying to be funny, trying to be serious, trying to be insightful, trying to write posts better than I did two years ago, trying to confuse people as to my political affiliation. Those are all good, just don’t call me a daddy blogger (or a mommy blogger, for that matter)
November 1st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
anything I can do to help
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I am late in the game on this one!
I have no problem with the category. Thanks for thinking of me!
However, I do appreciate the insight from the others mentioned in the category. I think it’s great they stood up for what they believe. I never realized “Mommy blogger” was a bad thing.
Still, it doesn’t bother me. I would be happy to be the only one in the category in big, bold letters. Tim says he wants to be in a category called “Daddy Bloggers!”
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Oh-I ddin’t mean to alude that I wanted Diane out of the category! I still hope she becomes my neighbor!