our tribe.The title of this post is “stolen” from an email I received.
When I read the subject line (Big bloggers are so cliquey!) it took me a moment to realize the sender did not mean STATURE but perceived reach.
Apparently Im slow that way.
But I digress.
Essentially the message asked if, when I started blogging, “big bloggers” (I still envisioned highlymuscled post-writing machines) had been exclusive & cliquey.
If they left newer bloggers to fend for themselves as they do now.
Later this same day I received emails asking if Id be at Fitbloggin (yes yes!!) & expressing concern about attending because “bloggers can be so clique’y.”
Which leads me circuitously to the point of my post.
Do I think bloggers are cliquey.
I did.
I experienced.
I finally understood.
Allow me to elaborate.
Bloggers are busy. Especially the big ones of which we speak. When I launched MizFit I was excited. Overly. Id read healthy living blogs for ages, I put up my first post, I **waited** for “big bloggers” to pour in & comment. Ever aggressive assertive, when they didnt, I reached out to one & asked if she’d guest post. She declined (nicely!) saying she was too busy. My feelings weren’t hurt (I was thrilled she responded) — but I was surprised. Which leads me to point #2…Blogging is a job. When I launched MizFit I had a day job & blogged at night. I hadnt realized blogging was what some people did for work until Big Blogger shared that with me. Id assumed most bloggers either had a day job too or….Im not sure what! What I’d initially perceived to be cliquishness was merely the fact these bloggers were busy. They were juggling families, life, work and simply trying to keep it all together. They werent being standoffish–they werent thinking about me at all.Bloggers are offline friends. This was a huge realization for me. I made MYRIAD faux-pas—especially on twitter — when I started in social media. I tried to join conversations & insinuate myself into friendships I had no clue existed offline for eons. While this isnt always the case—I realized bloggers Id initially viewed as insular/cliquish merely started blogging at the same time. They’d launched blogs, grown, made mistakes, learned, collaborated for years and developed deep friendships as a result. They were cordial—but not in the same way they were to their blog-friends with whom they shared a history. Id falsely assumed everyone only knew each other only for those few fleeting moments on Twitter or Facebook.Bloggers do a lot we do not see. Big or not, Im grateful to have created a career out of my blog. I believe it’s incumbent upon those of us who have been successful to assist others (the ole service is the rent we pay for living notion). I mentor. I help. I can not aid everyone. I dont speak for all bloggers–but I know much of what I do is behind the scenes. The NOs I say arent a result of being cliquey—just the fact Im currently busy mentoring others.Im the first to admit when I burst on the scene like a crazy misfit Id initially thought “big bloggers” were cliquish and insular.
Yet when I stepped back (& ceased thinking only of myself/my blog) and viewed blogging/bloggers as a whole I realized we’re a pretty helpful, inclusive bunch.
And you?
Do you perceive bloggers–especially (finger-quote) successful (unFQ) ones–to be cliquish?What social media faux-pas have you accidentally committed?Will you be at Fitbloggin13 with me?
row row row yer band...
do dah dippity.