Thinking Blogger Awards
Too many blogs, not enough thoughts! Nevermind, that didn't rhyme (blobs?). What I've been pondering on since I tagged Divya Uttam (and she tagged me back!) is the purpose of these so called blog memes. What is it? Could it be word of mouth marketing? Could it be search engine optimization? Or more simply, is it a form of 'innocent' link baiting?The reason why I participated in 2000 Bloggers was because.. well, I don't know. It was the first thing that introduced me to the concept of memes. When I saw it coming up on MyBlogLog, already some 800 people were part of it. I thought I had to rush in to participate, hoping I could make it before the rest of the 1200 spots were filled in less than 5 minutes! It wasn't the case, as I found out, because it was a one man organisation. I then checked Wikipedia for more information on memes and it seemed like these were around for quite a while. I am just glad no one tagged me on '5 Things You Didn't Know About Me' because I wouldn't have taken it. The idea behind that is quite simple. When I started this blog, I decided not to include any personal stuff, because I already keep in touch with my friends through emails and more recently MyBlogLog. Besides, I'm not a celebrity, who cares about my private life?
Now Divya tagged me on the Z list. I wouldn't mind putting it here as well but I don't know if I, or my readers, would relate to any of the blogs listed. That is, provided they click any links there. In fact, I can share my experience with you. I clicked some of them and to be honest I wasn't wrong about what I thought earlier. It is a list but just too random! This is also the sole reason why I don't have a blogroll. There are far too many blogs I read on a regular basis and not all of them are even closely related to what I blog about. How would I know which ones, from the wide range of blogs, would be of interest you too?
Moreover, blog search engine Technorati is not quite happy about these kind of things due to their SEO effects. Some bloggers also feel uneasy targeting the search engine algorithms, namely: Amy Gahran, Jeremiah Owyang, Zoli Erdos, Jason Kaneshiro, Tony Hung, Blog Bloke, and Dawud Miracle (in chronological order of posts). The only good thing about the Z list is we know who started it. I was curious who started the '5 Reasons Why I Blog', and if I went through all the people who got tagged I would eventually arrive at the blog that started it all, but I couldn't be bothered to find out! What's more, it is not certain that I would end up finding something that would make me think.. or at least something I could relate to. I agree with Zoli when he said "links are good, but they are supposed to refer to content." For example, if he didn't guide me to the blogs that discussed this issue (names above), it would probably take me more time, if not impossible, to hunt them down in search engines with all the link pollution caused by the 2000 Bloggers project.
So, I have decided not to join any memes in the future. My aim with this blog is to offer content that is interesting, informative and things that could really help my friends who are reading it. But how can I leave the world of blogging memes without starting one? =) This is the beginning of a new blog meme and, no, it is something more imaginative than the X list.
It is called '5 Blogs That Make Me Think' and I am tagging the following bloggers for the first list:
1. Don To Earth by Donald Crowdis,
2. Own Your Brand by Mike Wagner,
3. Creative Design by David Airey,
4. Evolution.. not just a theory anymore by Greg Laden,
5. Aa..ha! [Thinking Inside The Blog!] by Nirmala Pal.
Congratulations, you won a
!Should you choose to participate, please make sure you pass this list of rules to the blogs you are tagging. I thought it would be appropriate to include them with the meme.
The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).
That was that! Please, remember to tag blogs with real merits, i.e. relative content, and above all - blogs that really get you thinking! It is the first time I am starting something with my blog so I hope it doesn't come back to haunt me.
Happy link-love-sharing, whatever it is!
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521 thoughts:
Thank you very much, I've posted!
Sorry, I should specify: I've posted it HERE:
http://gregladen.com/wordpress/?p=290
I too have posted, here:
http://matt-at-berkeley.blogspot.com/2007/02/thinkin-mans-blog.html
Thanks for mentioning my blog Ilker. It's an honour to know that my articles are making you think.
I'll see what I can come up with when I have a little time.
Thanks for the mention. Great decision to focus on writing.
Hmmm, elitist? Maybe. Creative? I'm going with yes. Useful? I suppose we'll see. Cool? Dang, I hope somebody adds me to their list! Good job!
Came over from Sellsius - I've been looking for a few thinking blogs. Are you familiar with Joyce Wycoff at http://thinksmart.typepad.com
I use to think a lot. I linked your blog into mine and maybe someday I'll get an award?
I'm impressed with the speed of your response guys.. Keep them coming!
I hope this meme will encourage, even if a tiny little bit, for better content among other blogs.
@Dave and Tais: Maybe someone will tag you too one day.. never say never!
Hey! There's a typo in the first position! This is not how my name is spelled!! The URI is also wrong!
Very funny Edgar! :) Your blog was on my mind, but sometimes you use language that interrupts my thinking process and divert my attention on other blogs (if you know what I mean).
It's all part of the greater plan! But I guess that, in the end, what really count is that I'll always know you'll be thinking about me at night before going to sleep!
A rhyming title could ahve been "Too many blots, too few thoughts!"
Great idea, which sort of runs parallel with a couple of my thoughts this week regarding blogging to be heard vs. blogging to be seen.
:)Sunny
That's the best topic for a meme I've seen so far. And I like the requirement to keep the originating source.
I wonder if I'll ever be tagged with this meme? :-)
I was quite thrilled to be nominated for this clever award you created. It's a very good idea because I like to be challenged by what I've read in blogs more than anything else. In fact, to me, it's the whole reason for blogging. So, thank you for establishing such an award and letting me partake in the excitement.
The Blog Herald writes the definition of a "thinking blogger". Very good thinking!
Very good intiative.
ilker, I think your concept of a meme-like blog award is rather interesting.
A small note about the Z List. If you're going to reference it, I think it might be better to point your link to original post by Mack Collier, the guy who started the Z List in Dec 2006.
His original post is as follows:
http://tinyurl.com/ysbhmp
The link you've posted points to Seth Godin's version of the Z List, which actually subverts the original goal/motive of the Z List. Collier has wrote a post to share his thoughts on why he disagrees with the Squidoo list.
See here:
http://tinyurl.com/2hxd8x
Thanks!
Original Z-list started by Mack Collier.
Not to be too anal about it, but why not change the link for the Z List in the original post?
It's just a little disconcerting to me because visitors might be reading your post for the first time and the link actually points to a Squidoo site, which has got nothing to do with the Z List at all.
Any reason why you prefer using the Squidoo link?
@Maki: Yes, I was meant to.. thanks for reminding me!
As I am in this loop here are my five. Let me know when you reach 5 to the power of 10.
http://threescoreyearsandten.blogspot.com/2007/02/five-blogs-plus-ten-others-that-make-me.html
Hello Ilker,
This is my first time to your site and you made me stay, specifically because of your blog title... I'm just sorry you were misjudged as a spammer. There's a Philippine saying which I'll translate in English: a tree filled with sweet fruits is the tree that gets stoned (apparently so those stoning can get a part of the sweet fruit).
I'm also a thinker that's why I like your site. :)
http://ciphers-crypts-and-codes.blogspot.com
I found my way here through devious meandering: I read the newest post of a blogger who won a "Thinking Blogger" award, back-tracked, googled and surfed until I found your site so I could add you to my del.icio.us list. I write a blog for Moms who aren't brain-dead and still have lives, and this epiphany of yours has real merit. I don't have the Thinking Blogger Award (may I add yet), but I'll keep coming back to this site!
Viv of www.coolmomsrule.blogspot.com
Well, it made it's way to me, somehow. Hello!
Wow -- a great list of bloggers to check out for inspired thoughts that reboot the day. Thanks for the discussion too, as well as this motivating site.
This one made it's way to me too :-)
My post is here: http://scrapbookingwithwords.wordpress.com/2007/03/12/thinking-blogger-award-sharing-the-love/
Hrm.. Cut off my link. :-( Nevermind - post can be found at:
www.scrapbookingwithwords.com
Interesting idea.
Interesting explanation for technically challenged persons such as myself. Can we expect further illuminations on other developing trends?
Cheers
I like the passing along of enjoyment - thank you for starting this little ditty and encouraging it!
Your meme has developed a branch that is now 22 nodes long.
A complete trace of the branch may be found in this posting:
2am Accepts Thinking Blogger Award and Passes on Others
--
2amsomewhere
What can I say? I'm lost in thought.
Great idea.
Woo hoo! What larks!
http://aphrabehn.wordpress.com/2007/03/21/thinking-bloggers/
Kind regards, and thanks.
Aphra.
Wow, I'm humbled.
That is, if by "humbled" what I really mean is that my ego has just gone up a size.
The Edge of Vanilla
That is a pretty cool idea :)
Amusingfarf gets my vote!
Hey great idea you have here, I was honored to receive an award from Kansas Bob:
http://kansasbob.blogspot.com/index.html
and have rewarded five on my blog.
This was a fun meme, and I've tagged my own five for their awards here. Thanks for starting it!
I am new to the blogging experience. I created my Electronic Village blog in mid-January. Anyhow, I am just now discovering the various awards and other unique efforts to identify sane blogs out of the 55 million that currently exist. Anyhow, I look forward to one day being thought of as a Thinking Blogger. peace, Villager
This is really spreading...I enjoyed it-kudos!
Hi there. Cool award. I've recently received it.
Thanks for starting it!
Thanks for starting this really different meme.
The award was bestowed on me some time ago.
I've found some really great blogs by tracing this meme.
Thanks again and regards.
Your meme continues to go strong. I rec'd the Thinking Blogger Award earlier today. I've done my duty as well -->
http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2007/03/5-blogs-that-make-me-think.html
take care,
Villager
I linked to you from The Thinking Blogger Award - A Gift and a Curse.
I guess you are keeping track of the nominees through this comment section. I hope I am correct in that assumption.
My post on this is here with my five nominees.
http://wwwwakeupamericans-spree.blogspot.com/2007/03/thinking-blogger-award.html
Email: wakeupamerica.spree@gmail.com
.
@Spree: I'm actually keeping track of the meme from Technorati links (that is, if you included a link to this post) but feel free to drop your entry URL here by all means.
Moreover, I'm checking all the blogs that participate in the meme because they tend to have really good content. This means that your articles might be the source of inspiration to my next post with two linkbacks to you!
I also noticed that some are tagged more than once. I guess I should have included a rule to leave a comment here so that a blogger doesn't get "nominated" twice. =)
Oh and don't forget to check out your fellow "thinking bloggers" as well by following the meme back and forth wherever you find. Otherwise you are missing on some serious quality blogs!
is this meme still going on? Where can we see a complete listing of all the blogs tagged so far? Here's to hoping I get tagged someday.
@Agentsully: Yes the meme still seems to go around fairly fast. You can track them here and perhaps start leaving some comments on the latest "winners" to see if they will consider your site's content really good! =)
Mine are blogged...
Kind of funny how I ended up here on your blog, because I was tagged with your meme :)...I think it is a really cool idea. Linkage with substance I would say...
Have a great weekend...
I like this - a really meaningful meme:)
Thank you! I too, have passed it on...
Such a wonderful idea and I am so humbled by receiving it... and so grateful to bestow the honour on others!!!
Hey. Stumbled across your blog via (what else?) this very meme. My own contribution is lurking here.
A different twist:
http://jlbussey.typepad.com/ce/2007/04/the_thinking_bl.html
Here's the link to my post.
http://hiraeth.squarespace.com/journal/2007/4/3/thinking-blogger-awards.html
I had the very high honor of being nominated for this very high honor by a dear friend. I have carried on this great work and mine can be found here:
(Please note that some parts of The Sanctuary are NSFW)
http://sirrion.wordpress.com/2007/04/04/thinking-blogger-award/
I can do this. I will link to this blog as well as Paul's and here is a link to mine:
http://come-to-the-table.blogspot.com
Here is the link to the five I nominated.
http://coffeeteabooksandme.blogspot.com/2007/03/thinking-blog-award.html
There are so many great Blogs to be found at MBL*
i agree with yer selection of Greg Laden's Blog*
i will look at my Links & try & whittle it down to 5 but that will be next to impossible*
Yer comment on 2000 Blogs was interesting - i joined up too but i fail to see how unless U have Natalia in yer Blog Icon anyone would by chance click on that - i suppose the world is Big tho & who knows*
;))
Peace*
Got tagged, got up and posted.
Well, I was tagged for this, and I've tagged five others.
This is a thoughtful post.
pablo
www.roundrockjournal.com
I got tagged and tagged others
Thank you.
Sharing the love:
http://www.byseanferrell.com/2007/04/thinking_blogger_award.html
I was tagged, but they didn't reference you (nor did the six or seven posts prior). I had to Google you to find out where this all began!
I linked to you in my post. Good idea.
I was tagged, and I chose five, but posted four, since a blogger (and good friend) wishes to remain under the radar.
http://ctahmase.diaryland.com/070410_79.html
I've been tagged, and posted something.
I surprised to find I've been tagged. How cool. I might even spend some time thinking out loud today, but I'm not sure I should without giving it some thought first, I think.
I've been tagged and here are mine.
This is a great idea. Kudos. You can find my list here:
Toyman.tv
I was tagged and now have added my five nominees here: http://gatheringaroundthetable.blogspot.com/2007/04/thinking-blogger-award.html
Thanks for the good idea of an award. I hope it keeps going.
I keep getting tagged with this thing. I have never posted a meme to my blog. I have to admit, I am tempted. I have been tagged with all kinds of memes, I always cop out and post my answers in the comments and never, ever tag another blogger.
This is making me reconsider memes.
Still, it is impossible for me to consider that I make people think. I was certain that there had been a typo. Rather, I was thinking that it was the Drinking Blogger award. Do you have a badge for that?
Great meme. I got tagged and posted here:
http://www.johnsmulo.com/thinking-blogger-award.html