What's Wrong With This Picture

I like to check in on them every so often in large measure because of him and now him - for whom, by the way, I have completely arranged our blissfully sexual life together in all of perpetuity in my fantasies. And the guys over at Fleshbot definitely know how to keep the site novel. So, yesterday, when I discovered this - the 2006 Gay Bloggies - I was, like, oh-no, not another self-congratulatory, popularity-driven blog awards circus. But, sure enough, it's another self-congratulatory, popularity-driven blog awards circus. And what's so pathetic is not that a) you can vote for yourself  and as many times as you like which completely renders the whole exercise meaningless or that b) the categories include such intellectually complex nuggets as "Best Body" and "Best Smile" or c) there is absolutely no explanation for the randomness of both the categories and the criteria for which those categories should be voted upon or d) that a perfectly fantastic opportunity to inspire writers to excellence was wasted on a fruitless exercise in narcissistic glad-handing or even e) that cloyingly sycophantic sites like this which have demonstrated about as much originality as a Friday the 13th sequel (but have achieved about the same level of popularity by cloning a truly original idea and then filling it with - for the most part - nothing but mindless visual fluff) are nominated for something as majestic sounding at "Best American Blog," or f) some of these sites are actually begging for your votes! but, BUT that g) sites like Ultranow and Nakedcamei were systematically ignored. Ultranow is consistently one of the funniest blogs  yet. It's filled with imagination, creativity and a slant on life that deserves a much, much wider audience. And Nakedcamei is without peer. He is the Gore Vidal of the blogosphere. Vote if you want. It means about as much as a vote did in the 2000 presidential elections.

Comments

[Carla]

In five, no make that next year nobody will remember these obscure things. I mean really who cares? Only insecure people with too much time on their hands.

[QueerClick]

Ouch.

[avi]

thanks for the shout! lone star verve has an awards deal too now with some categories you might find more meaningful and which did turn me on to some new blogs. the queerclick guys are supernice and it's their first time and maybe the categories will change some next year. overall i think it's pretty innocuous, though for next year might i propose "best frown" or best "anti-american" or best "schizophrenic"?

[Danny Boy]

It's much ado about nothing. MOC is well written and besides it's just one point of view. Queerclick was offended because they were criticized for their first stab at this. So what? The awards were meant to be fun. Everybody needs to lighten the fuck up. But MOC is write about one thing...Ultranow is FUCKING HILARIOUS!!

[paul]

Generally I have enjoyed reading your blog over time and I understand that not everyone likes or enjoys award ceremonies, etc. I actually even nominated MOC in the Gaybloggies a couple of weeks ago. But I found post rather scathing and innacurate.

Quote "And what's so pathetic is not that a) you can vote for yourself and as many times as you like which completely renders the whole exercise meaningless." unquote

Errr like read the rules and you will see you cant vote multiple times. You will cancel your first vote out by trying to do that. I checked it out, and you have to be verified via email, so Im not sure how you arrived at that conclusion?

Quote "or that b) the categories include such intellectually complex nuggets as "Best Body" and "Best Smile"" unquote

So what? since when did an award have to be serious?

Quote "or c) there is absolutely no explanation for the randomness of both the categories and the criteria for which those categories should be voted upon" Unquote

Errr well the nominations where open to public submissions too, so if you werent nominated you wouldnt be in the running. As to the categories, how detailed an explanation do you need for Best Writing, or Best design? I mean... cummon!!

Quote "or d) that a perfectly fantastic opportunity to inspire writers to excellence was wasted on a fruitless exercise in narcissistic glad-handing" unquote

So not everyone on the net writes in such an intellectual challenging way such as you (and I DO enjoy your blog) But thank goodness for diveristy! personally Im not sure how you could inspire say a Video site to write intellectually but i guess there is room on the net for all types isnt there?

As for narcissistic glad-handling is that what having a personal blog is all about? LOL! At least they had a category for Best Exhibitionist! LOL!

Quote "or even e) that cloyingly sycophantic sites... etc, etc

OK so you dont like Dudetube, but lets face it, they cater for peoples desire to see porn (which Youtube doesnt) Using your logic it would appear then that your idea of having an orignal blog has also been copied by millions of others (or your idea isnt original). Hey man, like what gives?

Cloying for votes? Would you be if you had been nominated? Who knows? I guess you would have to check with the organisers if you or other sites where "systematically ignored"?

But considering it was the public who voted for the nominees then I guess that statement isnt entirely accurate (although I understand its is your interpretation of it). As for how you vote in American presidential elections, well we've all seen how you do that!

I agree with you though that there could be some changes to categories but I still feel your post is rather scathing and innacurrate. I wouldnt want to say sour grapes cos for all I know MOC was in the nominees (I voted for you) but hey, whatever! Its an award ceremony!

OK Ive written far too much, and for too long, just wanted to give you an opinion of a humble reader and fan of your site :)

I think your innacurate in saying you can vote multiple times adn so the . If you read the rules you will see that you will cancel your first vote out by trying to do that. Admittedly in any public voting system you will have people who will try to cheat. I hope you're nominated next year as I enjoy your blog :)