Mundie Moms

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

A Blogger's Stance On The Blogger Black Out

(Image found via Google)

Normally I'm not one to post about stuff that is going, nor do I try to engage in all that happens within the blogger world. I know that sounds bad, but life is crazy busy, and there are times I feel like it's all I can do to sit down and right a review. Not to mention that stack of books I've already read that are still waiting for reviews, and giveaways that are still waiting for winners to be announced, and all the emails that I currently need to answer. Earlier this morning there was something that was brought to my attention about the Blogger BlackOut.

I'll be honest, I didn't even know what this was until a friend told me what it was recently on Twitter. I've had so much going on in my real life, not that blogging isn't real, but you know what I mean, that I missed all the info about the Blogger Black Out. I didn't realize it was this week until this morning. When my friend first told me about it, it was something I told my friend I would support my fellow bloggers on, but something I wouldn't take part of. Why? Because I have prior commitments to authors, and publishers this week, and I am going to keep those commitments. Does that mean I'm not a supportive blogger to my fellow bloggers? Not at all.

I fully support my blogger friends who are on both sides of the black out. What saddens me are those who are coming out against those who are taking part in the black out and those who are coming out against those who won't take part in the black out. Why can't we all be more supportive of each other during times like this, and realize that everyone has a reason for either taking part in it or not. Not taking part doesn't mean we don't support those who do.

Blogger and author support is something that is so crucial to what we reviewers do. I love the authors who have spoken out and have been supportive of the bloggers who are choosing to take a stand this week, and not post. Really, I am a bit envious of my friends who are taking a blogging break this week. I wish I could just step back and not worry about deadlines, emails, and reviews this week. Bloggers do not get paid for what they do. Well most of us don't. I don't. I can only imagine how nice that would be to get paid to write a review, or support the host of books I've featured on my blog. I do what I do, because I love it. I love reading, and connecting readers with books. I love my blogger friends who have connected me to books I wouldn't have other wise picked up. I love the authors who have connected me with their books, and fueled my love of reading even more.

 It would be nice to take a step back and not deal with all the emails I get from authors who are seeking my review of their book, and the ones who are rude and nasty when I tell them I can't as my review schedule is full. Yeah, there are some pretty horrid authors out there who seriously don't get it, and make it hard to want to continue doing what I do. It's sad it's always the mean ones who almost ruin it for all the great ones. Then there are the awesome authors who totally get it. They get what we reviews/bloggers do. They, along with the host of MM supporters, are ones who make what I do worth it. These authors get the long hours bloggers/reviewers put into their bloggers that help support their books. They get that many of us work, and are parents, and have a million things we have going on. They get that our time is valuable that when we feature their book on our blog, there are ton of others ones that we could be featuring instead. They get why some bloggers are doing the blogger black out.

There are so many different sides to the blogger/author relationship. I as a blogger understand the blogger black out. I get it. The reason why I'm choosing not to take part in it has nothing to do with my lack of not supporting my fellow bloggers. I support them! For me personally, I have reviews and promotional posts that I promised would get posted this week, and I don't want to break my word on that. I am taking a stand and won't be featuring certain authors, who will not be named, because of certain things they've done/said, that I won't mention on here, because I don't care to support their crazy antics by mentioning it on my blog. This week my blog won't be without posts. There are some awesome authors, publishers, and bloggers whom I gave my word to, and I will be posting, and promoting the things I said I would. I hope that as the week continues, bloggers and authors will continue to support each other, whether someone is choosing not to post this week or not. Everyone deserves a break, no matter what the reasoning behind it is.

To the authors who are coming out against bloggers for not posting this week, you're welcome for the free service you get on these blogs. Your book is only one in a sea of thousands of books that bloggers can be promoting, free of charge, and yet because we love what we do, we promote it. We don't have to. We do what we do because we want to. We love it. For the same reasons we don't except you to write 365 days a year without taking a break, you shouldn't except bloggers to not take a break. More importantly, in light of recent events, you shouldn't except anything less than bloggers rallying around each other in support of something that unnerved many of us, and made us further question what we do. Yes I know there is two sides to every story, but that's not what this post is about. It's about supporting each other. Thank you to those who do support us, whether we're enjoying a week away from our blogs or sitting here chugging along with our posts.

4 comments:

  1. I must admit this is the first I have heard of the black out. I am posting as usual but I am not reviewing so much at the moment anyway. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I didn't hear about it until last week when a friend mentioned it. I still don't know a lot about it. I couldn't not post something when there are people attacking those who are taking part in it. There are so many books coming out, and posts to make it, that I can't not post either.

      Delete
  2. I haven't heard of this blogger blackout. It's business as usual for me. I'm already behind, a week off would leave me a mess. I do this for fun and give up so much of my time. I'll have to look into what this is all about.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Funny I posted almost the same thing on a status JLA put up. I am not doing it. I just can't. I want to honor my commitments. I'm too OCD to not. But I support those who are doing it. And I don't understand why there have to be sides. But there will always be sides and I guess that's just the way it is. I wish we could all just be neutral and support, but it doesn't happen and it makes me so sad.I hadn't heard about the blackout until this past Monday. I read a lot about it and tried to stay out of it. Let people do what they feel they must do on either side. I hope it brings light to the awful events that actually spurred it. Thanks for posting this!

    ReplyDelete

Labels