There's been a discussion going on over at Big Brass Blog regarding some criticism A-list blogger Atrios received. (And pretty mild criticism, at that.) Most of the discussion was thoughtful, until this comment by Steve Gilliard:
But this is one of the most pathetic fucking discussions going right now. here's the deal: you do good work and not worry so much about who links to you or who notices you and you might build an audience.
Why are you wasting a second's energy on how atrios runs his blog? Why? Not cutting edge? Uh, do you know him, are you in his head?
I think this is really the bitching of people who don't have the talent or skill to actually stand out and do good work. The comments are more interesting than many of the people whining.
There is only one way to get noticed: write something people want to read.
If you can do that, people will read you. As it stands, this sad mewling about getting noticed doesn't inspire respect, but contempt.
Jesse's comments were worthy of the contempt I gave them. Because you people spend more time whining about getting noticed than doing anything to get noticed.
I thought it was hillarious he could expend so much time on Atrios instead of writing something someone would want to read.
You would be laughed out of a newsroom with this kind of argument. If you want to get noticed, stop worrying about Kos or Atrios and do good work.
And here's some advice: if you're so desperate to get noticed, cross post in a Kos diary. I love the writing there and pick up a lot of pieces from there for my site.
But I don't have any respect for anyone who is wasting time whining about which blog notices you and which doesn't. It's embarassing to watch and inspires my deepest contempt for the people bitching.
The people who are screaming are mediocre writers with unoriginal ideas, which is why they need to politick instead of working on being better writers.
Believe me, if you write strongly and clearly people will read you. If you just run the same old crap, no one will care. No one owes you anything and the respect you get, you earn. Try remembering that.
One other point: what makes you think you deserve notice? What makes you think your work is so good that it merits attention? Are you really saying anything not found in Kos's diaries.
I think if you whiners actually worked together and promoted each other, people might notice you. Don't wait for Atrios to save you, or anyone else. You don't need him to get seen, you need you to get seen, you need to bring something new to the table.
Until you do that, you will contiunue to be unhappy.
(Emphasis mine)
I don't usually post rubbish (okay, I've posted rubbish once or twice), and try to avoid misspelled words, but this floored my bullshit meter. I've seen far, far better writing even among the comments sections of the blogs he dismisses than on his site or on Eschaton. I used to teach creative writing to elementary kids, and any of them could write loops around most A-list bloggers, of which Steve seems poised to join, in a classic case of rewarding bad behavior. (Granted, good writing isn't what most people read blogs for; but the comment admonishes his critics to "write strongly and clearly." And, I guess, to use a lot of bad words.)
So, Steve Gilliard, get over yourself and try looking at a few blogs today with an open mind. You might be surprised when you find we've "worked together" and "promoted each other" and the results are what you'll find on Big Brass Blog and others: thoughtful, energetic, witty, cutting edge, well-designed, and sharply written posts by writers who "do good work."
And please, Steve, grab a dictionary the next time you post.
