February 20th, 2006
A suggestion for The Blog Awards shortlist
I’m a bit confused. I’ve been shortlisted in three categories in the Irish Blog Awards. I know from the feedback I got (via comments and especially emails) that the Anatomy as Destiny post struck a chord with a lot of people. As for Arts and Culture, I think I’m only in there because up until a few months ago, hardly anyone was blogging about the subject with any regularilty. But Best Blog? Where are Richard Delevan, Free Stater, Winds and Breezes, Fiona De Londras, In Fact, Ah, Planet Potato and Richard Waghorne?
I have a suggestion - given that Best Blogger is probably the biggest category, perhaps the shortlist could be expanded to 10 instead of 5?
Anyway, I look forward to the night in the hope that when Twenty Major triumphs in all categories Brokeback Mountain style (and he should win Best Blogger) that he’ll actually show up. Otherwise it would be really dull to have a video link up with him wearing a mask, or worse, that he sends Bastardface to accept it on his behalf.
Update:
Big kudos to Damien for all his hard work, effort and time. Simon at Tuppenceworth has a great suggestion as to how Damien could recoup some of his costs for organising the Awards..
February 20th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
Agree that the omissions were strange, Sinéad…but Twenty M has just made a good point over at the awards page to the effect that the quality of those who “didn’t make the cut” has to reflect well on the overall blogging standard in Ireland…I think.
Anyway, as I said myself, the night should be seen as a celebration of the activity (and blogging community) rather than a winners/runners-up type scenario.
Admirable modesty aside Sinéad, many congrats on making the list. You certainly deserve it, and there’s no need to feel otherwise!
February 20th, 2006 at 1:44 pm
I think there’s a general tendency for some of the longest-running blogs to have the least desire for self-promotion. Some of those on the list of those you cite have a loyal following and that doesn’t always translate into clicking to vote.
No matter–your blog deserves to be in the short list.
February 20th, 2006 at 5:38 pm
I’m a little surprised at some of the short-listed one myself, but the great thing about the award idea was discovering a lot of great new sites. In the area I’m interested in, I hadn’t heard of half of the Photoblogs in the long list before they appeared on the award site.
February 20th, 2006 at 8:14 pm
First up, that’s very high quality company you have me in. I feel all chuffed now.
Secondly, I have to confess that I didn’t push for recognition when the nominations opened, and I don’t believe I even made the longlist, so it’s not altogether surprising that I’m not on the shortlist. It doesn’t worry me as I know from the comments people leave, and also from the fact that I can identify some of the regulars from my statistics, that people do like what I’m doing. It’s nice when people say it out loud though.
The fact that the profile of the shortlist don’t necessarily match a lot of expectations can, amongst other things, be put down to the fact that the blogging community in Ireland has changed and broadened quite a lot. Many of those on the original longlist were unknown to me, which surprised me a lot. In short, there’s a lot more out there than the usual suspects.
I’m going to go and party on the night anyway. I reckon it should be good fun.
February 20th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
I’ve been so busy and preoccupied I didn’t vote, so I’m relieved as well as delighted that you’re on a shortlist and not surprised that you’re on three. Anatomy as Destiny obviously put you in the best blogger category.
Good luck and enjoy the night.
February 21st, 2006 at 12:20 am
hey, just discovered your blog while looking for a ditty about a now famous breakfast roll….i’ve been in NYC for a few years now and didn’t realise there such good stuff to read back home…hope you don’t mind me adding you to my “worth a look” list!!
February 22nd, 2006 at 2:26 am
Congratulations on the shortlistings and I agree with the others that the night is about celebrating the wealth of Irish blogging with the long lists reflecting great depth in the Blog O’Sphere and even then there were some ommissions. I reckon we should all be disgustingly proud of ourselves
February 22nd, 2006 at 12:45 pm
“I reckon we should all be disgustingly proud of ourselves”
Here, here. Lots of self-congratulatory smirking over pints of Guinness. Sounds like a plan!
February 22nd, 2006 at 1:10 pm
“But Best Blog? Where are Richard Delevan….”
Political blogs that don’t allow comments are a bit pointless.
February 28th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
Sinead - very kind sentiments, but I’m not pushed. I get plenty of other outlets, and I’ve never been one for popularity contests. (see previous commentor - one of my many fans and the sort of fuckwit that persuaded me to drop comments in the first place)
I’ll be voting for you. Hope others do as well.