I know it’s a tag and I don’t really do tags but Julie provided me with an opportunity to write about something I have wanted to for a long time. To be more precise, it was an unfamiliar blogger who provided the opportunity although it was Julie who gave me the “award.”
A day or so after Julie posted her I love your blog! entry, I received an e-mail from a blogger who asked that I include him (her?) in my own list. I wasn’t going to make a list but now I will. Not to include the person who e-mailed me but to exclude him/her. Not to be mean or rude but to make a point.
Don’t ask me for links. Don’t ask that of any blogger. And don’t link to my blog only because you expect me to reciprocate. It’s rude and inconsiderate. Linking is voluntary. More so, an award. Don’t ask me for an award. An award that had been pried out of the giver means nothing. And it’s so damn pathetic.
That said, which blogs do I really, truly love? When I say I love a blog, that means I visit at least once a week. There are only five of them and they have three things in common. They say what they mean and mean what they say, they don’t mince words and don’t do link love. I respect them.
1) Dooce. What can I say? All original content. I love her stories, her profanity is hilarious, her candidness is admirable. I respect her for not falling into the traps that so many others have fallen into. She still writes about the things she wrote about when she first started blogging because she knows which things are truly important.
2) Simply Recipes. If there ever was an ultimate food blog, this has got to be it. She’s good and she knows it but there is none of the snobbery of purists that I so hate. She cooks real food too, not ornamental shit. She takes good photos but the photos are only supplements to her recipes. She’s not one of those food bloggers who take artsy photos to make up for crappy text. No embellished essays, just straightforward writing.
3) The Accidental Hedonist. She dares. She doesn’t pander to anyone. If “intelligent” is a word that can be applied to a food blog, that’s the substance of The Accidental Hedonist.
4) WP Designer. He’s young, he’s headstrong, he’s idealistic and his designs are damn good when he’s inspired. I’ve been reading him for far too long to be able to tell when he’s feeling crappy. It shows in his designs. He’s not always practical but his persistence at maintaining ethical standards in a cyber world that lives by the motto “The end justifies the means” is endearing.
5) Kwentong Tambay. He’s special… not in the sense that he’s a special child (pwede rin) but because he’s incomparable. Batjay, I owe you something… have not forgotten today but I forgot yesterday. Won’t forget tomorrow (don’t ask what that’s about — it’s our secret).
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
julie 11.14.07 at 9:46 pm
Connie, thank you for putting the award in your blog. Yes, I do know that this is a tag, meant to up ranks or links or something. I am happy receiving these wonderful tags and I am happy to pass these on to bloggers I have chosen.
Fact is, I have these “awards” lined up and time-stamped already. I have written and rewritten and made a “rigodon” of the names I wish to give these to. I have even listed down reasons why I am giving these to them.
I was very happy when several of the bloggers I have given other “awards” emailed me to say their thanks and that they felt I gave them the “award” from the heart, not for the sake of linking. Maybe they said so because I have specifically written what it is in them or in their blogs that I like.
Like you, I may not agree with you on some points but since I am a visitor to your house, I won’t disrespect you by contradicting you. I would rather comment on points I agree with you.
And I salute you for being frank and straightforward. Again, thanks for the inspiration to blog. Mabuhay ka!
Rach (Heart of Rachel) 11.14.07 at 9:59 pm
Hi Connie. Thanks for sharing your favorite blogs. Coming from you, I’m sure they are quality blogs. I’ll check them out. Enjoy the rest of the week.
Connie Veneracion 11.15.07 at 12:34 am
Julie, re “…say their thanks and that they felt I gave them the “award†from the heart, not for the sake of linking. Maybe they said so because I have specifically written what it is in them or in their blogs that I like.”
And that’s what counts, really. The voluntariness and sincerity of the giver and a worthy recipient. But that character who emailed me… Shucks.
Hi Rach, hope you like them. As with any blog, some people like, other’s don’t. Except for WP Designer which is relatively new, I’ve been reading those blogs for years.
BatJay, Ang Dating Hippopotamus 11.15.07 at 8:03 am
parati kong sinasabi sa mga kaopisina ko na yung personality ko ay katulad ng character ni dustin hoffman sa “Rain Man”.
thank you connie malaking bagay ang special mention dahil galing sa iyo.
musta kay speedy at sa mga bata.
Kongkong622 11.15.07 at 11:11 am
Well, they don’t call you “sassy” for nothing
Congrats!
feng 11.16.07 at 10:00 am
Dooce is also in my most-love reads sa Google Reader ko. very frank, very honest, walang keme at very truthful—parang ikaw.
rhodora 11.16.07 at 10:14 am
How to link ba? Link love ba ang tawag doon? Hehehe. Forgive my ignorance. But what I know is - when I like a blog, I just include it in my blogroll so I can easily click on it whenever I want to visit. Is that considered link love?
I very seldom mention/link other blogs in my entries. And I do it only when: I was tagged or I want to make special mention of a blog because of a very inspiring post from him/her. Naku, dami ko pa talaga dapat malaman sa blogging.
Connie Veneracion 11.16.07 at 6:27 pm
Batjay… idol!!! hehehehe
Kongkong, thanks.
feng, alam mo… in real life, I cuss a lot. I used to when I was writing a lot of politics. But then my kids’ friends and classmates read my blog — this one especially — and I make an effort to relay the same message without the cuss words. sometimes, i get carried away though hehehehe
rhodora, katuwa ka talagang nanay ka. hindi link love yun. yun link love, yung maka-enumerate na lang sa entry ng mga links sa “friends” kahit hindi relevant. Yun bang para matuwa yung ni-link para i-link din sila. Ikaw, isa ka sa mga respetado kong bloggers. Sabi sayo, it was you who inspired me to start PMN. I told you that, didn’t I? I wrote about it, I think.
rhodora 11.16.07 at 9:54 pm
Hahaha! Ganun? ay sensiya na kasi - basta blog lang ako ng blog kung ano maisip di ko na iniisip kung may magbabasa o wala o mag-link kaya. Bahala na si Batman.
Thanks for that mention, Connie. Never have forgotten it. Yours was the very first blog I ever lingered on (not just visited) when I was just a beginner.
Connie Veneracion 11.16.07 at 10:24 pm
rhodora, re “basta blog lang ako ng blog kung ano maisip di ko na iniisip kung may magbabasa o wala o mag-link kaya.”
YAN ANG MINDSET OF A TRUE, HONEST AND CREDIBLE BLOGGER.