Schmoozed….I’d Like to Thank My Agent….

Posted by danleone on July 16th, 2007 filed in blogging, blogs way better than mine

OK, so I have been labeled many things in my life; most not what I want to repeat in mixed company. But I have never been called a Schmoozer! Should I be offended that People in the Sun did just that? Of course not. I am honored! Of course, I was concerned that Schmoozer could be considered a bullsh*tter but I was quickly put at ease.

According to Danielle at Pink Reviews, one of the creators of the Schmooze Award, says, rather eloquently:

“my new friend Mike and I have decided to create an award to recognize those people that were exceptionally adept at creating relationships with other bloggers by making an effort to be part of a conversation, as opposed to a monologue. Mike made a great badge for the recipients of this award to post on their blogs, and I am very excited to be presenting the first round of awards along with Mike. These bloggers have all worked hard to build a reputation for themselves by commenting on other blogs, participating in blogging communities, replying to comments left on their blog and overall just doing their part to interact with other bloggers. Read Mike’s post about the Power of Schmooze Award and see who he has presented the award to.”

Now, if I did half of what Danielle states are the qualifications of being a Schmoozer, then I have succeeded at this blogging thing. From day 1, it has been extremely important to me to reach out to others in the blogging community, not for any self-serving purpose, but because I sincerely love what you all have to say. In the course of my day, I read blogs that are in line with my Atheist and Liberal outlook as well as Christian, Right-wing, Liberal-suck blogs. I don’t own dogs, but I have devoured doggy blogs; I don’t even know what crocheting is but I read the occasional crocheting blogs and all the while, the only prerequisite is that there is no .wav file playing when the page loads. I have cried with shredded heart and peed laughing at the variety of writing styles that I encounter. I envy and cherish all the quality blogs out there. I also see that blogging has the potential for some powerful effects. I realize that we are not using blogs merely as a way to express ourselves, but as I way to show that corner of ourselves that does not get shown while solving life-issues at home, or putting out fires at work. Personally, I am not aware of any person I know socially or professionally that reads my blog on a regular basis. The Dan at work is not the Dan at home and is not the Dan in the Blog-o-verse. No one I know would give me the time to state my case against god or why I am a liberal. If you think the News is filled with pithy soundbites, you should try a coffee break at my job and NEVERMIND dinner time at my house where I spend most of my time ducking the flying dishes! Yikes!

So, I am very grateful to know all of you out there. Keep writing and keep being you.

For my list of sites that I would recommend for the award, this is what I will do. I am going to dive deep into MyBlogLog or BlogCatalog and find blogs I have never read before AND that are written from a point-of-view directly opposite from mine. I have found Christian and Right Wing Conservative blogs. I do this because they are doing their jobs at reaching out to their readers and they deserve a chance to be heard. Here they are:

As My World Turns

No More Spin

Simply Conservative

Christian Working Mom

Romans 12

Now I admit that I am going to post this without having told these people in advance. If they are not amenable to my nominating them, then their names will be removed and somehow the Earth keeps spinning.

The obligatory cut-and-paste stuff here:

1. If, and only if, you get the Thinking Blogger Award or The Power of Schmooze Award, write a post with links that make you think, or have schmoozed you into submission.
2. Link to this post and Mike so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the “Thinking Blogger Award” or the “Power of Schmooze Award” with a link to the post that you wrote (here is alternative silver version if gold doesn’t fit your blog.

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