Buckdog Will NOT Withdraw From 2008 Blog Awards!
I was recently approached by two individuals who asked me to withdraw from active competition in the 2008 Blog Awards, specifically in the category of 'Best Canadian Blog'. It was argued with me that I should withdraw and throw my support behind another blogger (someone who is neither a Progressive Blogger nor a Blogging Dipper).
I declined the request.
One of the individuals who asked me to withdraw is misquoting my email exchange with her. In her blogpost she states, "One progressive blogger who declined to participate said, among other things, that we are fostering right-wing style competitiveness. I'm hard pressed to see how bowing out of a race and asking readers to vote for someone else fosters competitiveness."
What I DID write was this:
"I think that we all find the 'freeping' that SDA advocates and
encourages is not a good aspect of the blogosphere. It is much more
popular with Right wing thinkers because:
-it is essentially fairly adolescent ... similar to their
developmental level
-it taps into the highly competitive world view of Right wing
thinking
-it has an element of nastiness that adolescent Right wing thinking
is attracted to.
It is not often seen amongst progressive thinkers because, I
believe, we are more reasoned, seasoned, and objective in our
thinking.
As repulsive as we all find SDA's methods, trying to 'out' freep
them is not, in my opinion, the best strategy.
The fact that kate is not in the category this year, puts her in a
wholly new area for her adolescent minions to freep to their hearts
content. I think Kate will have a hard time giving her blessing to
one of her remaining pals.
Again, I think that trying to do a coalition of progressive
bloggers to one anointed blog competitor, makes us just as
ridiculous as the sda legions.
I encourage you to drop the idea altogether.
Leftdog
Regina"
I am actively in the running for 'Best Canadian Blog' in the 2008 Blog Awards. I want your vote! Voting is underway HERE!
Screw that - VOTE BUCKDOG! http://www.acreativerevolution.ca/node/1615
I cannot believe you were asked to withdraw. Simply stunning. Good on ya for bucking the "coalition".
Posted by Prole | 11:43 am, January 05, 2009
Thanks!
Posted by leftdog | 11:47 am, January 05, 2009
Prole, we weren't so much asking Buckdog to withdraw as we were suggestion *we all* withdraw and form a coalition. It's not really stunning - it's just a fun idea. But each to his own. No biggie.
Posted by laura k | 11:56 am, January 05, 2009
Also Leftdog, reading over your email, and re-reading what I posted this morning, I don't think I misrepresented your views at all.
It wasn't the totality of what you said (hence "among other things"), but it is an accurate representation of part of your sentiments.
Posted by laura k | 11:58 am, January 05, 2009
misquoting my email exchange with her
I was not quoting it at all. I was summarizing one item from it.
Posted by laura k | 12:11 pm, January 05, 2009
As you know, that's not what was asked.
It's a the mentality of a six-year-old. Lie with a straight face even though the lie can be easily discovered (in this case, with the one single mouse click).
Posted by allan | 1:21 pm, January 05, 2009
To each their own.
Good luck to everyone.
But um, what the heck is a blogging dipper?
Sounds kinda dirty.
Posted by Redneck Mommy | 2:37 pm, January 05, 2009
Redneck Mommy ... these are the 'Blogging Dippers'!
Redsock ... who are you calling a liar? If you would like, I will post here ALL of the emails that I got from L-girl and Saskboy ... who approaced me to not actively compete in the 'Best Canadian Blog' category, but. instead, to throw my support first to 'Abandonedstuff by Saskboy' .... (and when I didn't agree with that) ... to 'Redneck Mommy'.
If you are calling me a liar, be cautious.
Posted by leftdog | 3:02 pm, January 05, 2009
Well at our place...lgirl said:
He apparently interpreted my "coalition" idea - of all of us endorsing one blog - as asking him to withdraw. But I never said that.
If you want proof, ask him for the emails. If not, you're believing lies.
I think that says that we are believing your lies there Leftdog? Unless it's another instance of evil twins....
I know it looks like we are stirring the pot, but it's so darned easy when they keep digging with their shovels. :)
Posted by Pale | 5:28 pm, January 05, 2009
What is this world/blogosphere coming to when decent bloggers are "asked" to withdraw from a nomination?
Let me guess: the "asking" was along the lines of broken kneecaps in the event of non-compliance, right? After all, we all know what the SDA crowd is like ...
Posted by George | 8:20 pm, January 05, 2009
Actually the wingnut blogs are much more likely to game the system, to try to force out like minded competition and to grovel like curs begging for votes.
I will vote for you and no other!
Posted by moondancer | 8:37 pm, January 05, 2009
OK, so if I understand this properly, they didn't ask you to withdraw, but to stay in the race yet endorse someone else at the last minute as the 'best chance to win'?
Hmmm, I've heard that song (from Liberals) before ....
Posted by A reader | 9:00 pm, January 05, 2009
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN'T READ! .. I WILL REPEAT AGAIN WHAT I HAVE BEEN SAYING ....... "They asked me to withdraw from active competition ..." to NOT actively compete.
In other words, step aside, take no moves to actively compete, and endorse their chosen blogger - first one, then another.
No thanks ..... not my style. I have NO illusions of ever winning because mine is a small blog.
HOWEVER, I hate 'freeping' - whether it be a poll or a competiton.
Freeping is childish.
Posted by leftdog | 10:18 pm, January 05, 2009
No one was asked to withdraw.
I emailed three other progressive bloggers - there would be four including myself - and suggested that we all endorse one blog, ask our readers to vote for one blog, rather than split the vote between us. A coalition.
I suggested Saskboy's Abandoned Stuff.
He said he was thinking along similar lines, but instead of his blog, suggested Attack of the Redneck Mommy. I agreed.
Leftdog didn't want to participate.
That was that.
No one was asked to withdraw. And certainly I didn't ask anyone to do something that I was planning to do myself.
There's nothing wrong with my having suggested this idea, and there's nothing wrong with Leftdog's declining it.
I do think there's something wrong with the distortion and disinformation that followed, both here and at A Creative Revolution, but it's not a big huge deal. It's just silly and unnecessary.
Posted by laura k | 7:16 am, January 06, 2009
Here is the email I sent to Saskboy, Leftdog and Calgary Grit.
Hey guys,
Have you seen the finalists for the 2008 Weblog Awards?
http://wmtc.blogspot.com/2009/01/yet-another-award-nomination-not-sure.html
I propose we team up and ask all our readers to vote for only one of us, to avoid splitting the progressive vote and letting the likes of Ezra Levant win. SDA is not eligible this year, but as you know, she's won it every year in the past. I hate that one of those wingnuts will represent the Canadian blogosphere.
I nominate Saskboy, since he did so much work for the CBAs.
What do you say?
Laura a/k/a L-girl
As you can see, no one was singled out or asked to withdraw.
I don't consider this freeping, as I wasn't suggesting anyone cheat or try to run up the vote. I thought of it as a coalition.
Obviously Leftdog disagreed, which is fine. But there's no need to misrepresent my proposal.
Posted by laura k | 7:55 am, January 06, 2009
L-girl .. your selective hearing is really starting to tick me off. Go back to my original post on this issue ... I wrote, "They asked me to withdraw from ACTIVE COMPETITION .."
(to withdraw from actively competing. -why?- to throw my support to Saskboy.
My contention from the beginning, as I stated to you at the time, WAS:
"I think that we all find the 'freeping' that SDA advocates and
encourages is not a good aspect of the blogosphere. It is much more
popular with Right wing thinkers because:
-it is essentially fairly adolescent ... similar to their
developmental level
-it taps into the highly competitive world view of Right wing
thinking
-it has an element of nastiness that adolescent Right wing thinking
is attracted to.
It is not often seen amongst progressive thinkers because, I
believe, we are more reasoned, seasoned, and objective in our
thinking.
As repulsive as we all find SDA's methods, trying to 'out' freep
them is not, in my opinion, the best strategy.
The fact that kate is not in the category this year, puts her in a
wholly new area for her adolescent minions to freep to their hearts
content. I think Kate will have a hard time giving her blessing to
one of her remaining pals.
Again, I think that trying to do a coalition of progressive
bloggers to one anointed blog competitor, makes us just as
ridiculous as the sda legions.
I encourage you to drop the idea altogether.
Leftdog
Regina"
Posted by leftdog | 9:52 am, January 06, 2009
Your selective hearing is really starting to tick me off.
I wasn't clarifying for you. I was clarifying for other readers who did not see my original email. Get over yourself.
Posted by laura k | 10:18 am, January 06, 2009
Ahhhhh ...... DITTO!!!
Posted by leftdog | 10:50 am, January 06, 2009
Let it go. Move on. This is not worth all the hostility that it is causing.
Going by the voting, none of you are in the running even if you do pool your votes.
Although, being a "right-winger", I am enjoying it...
Posted by Trent | 4:07 pm, January 06, 2009
Note to Trent ... I keep looking at the SDA site to see if you gave them the same advice that you want to try and leave here ... I don't see anything similar from you .. therefore I must assume that you are merely trying to make mischief in the Progressive blogosphere.
Posted by leftdog | 4:27 pm, January 06, 2009
SDA isn't getting as upset as y'all. You really are taking it far too seriously. Whether or not you win or lose really changes nothing. It is just a fun, simple little contest. Like Canadian Idol or something.
Posted by Trent | 8:00 pm, January 06, 2009
Go, leftdog!
Posted by Dr.Dawg | 11:33 am, January 07, 2009
What does "freeping" mean?
Posted by Trent | 10:23 am, January 08, 2009
To put it shortly:
This kind of Awards helps leveling the quality of Blogs.
A vote from Norway is under way.
Posted by TorAa | 5:16 am, January 09, 2009