thank you for remembering
When commencing blogging, most of us hope that someone other than spam bots will connect. Comments are welcome confirmations and blossoming friendships are the confectionary of such virtual communication.
Whilst annonymity has also spawned ill-manners and foul-mouthed rants, as an ingenue exploring the blogosphere I was surprised to see prominently placed ‘award free blog’ buttons. At the time I considered these to be rude presumptions of a confetti of accolades but hindsight has shown that this is a politely circumspect way of side-stepping the issue.
The Blog award is more or less a circulating system of back, reciprocal and forward links. In hushed tones it can be called a chain letter but for most of us is recognition from an appreciative reader – who themselves have been nominated, and by the rules of acceptance, are passing the courtesy on.
Who Me?
“I wish to thank all those who recently awarded my patiopatch. I especially appreciate being advised that if I’d really rather not enjoin, then be pleased just to accept some good wishes. In the name of friendship I decline the honours but willingly commend my kind nominators:
- Janet @ Planticru Notes: an encyclopoedic and photogenic gardener from Scotland
- Donna @ Garden’s Eye View: seeds, flowers galore and a muse in every post from USA
- Helene @ Graphicality: a creative, urban foxy gardener in East London
Menhirs or Upstanding Chaps
Aside from linkbacks, etiquette requires that acceptance is conditional on forward linking to other bloggers – from 5 to 15 depending on the award. Each in turn are encouraged to promulgate the format. Although I’m declining the awards, I would like to take this opportunity to cheer on a trio of chaps who I think are all male (!) and have an interestingly different, garden blogging style:
- Trevor Hunt vegetable gardener & recent returnee to Blighty – Digging for Victory
- Thomas Rainer landscape gardener in the USA – Grounded Design
- Chris Crowder in the Lake District gardens at Levens Hall – Garden Thinnings
chain linked
No man is an island nor woman an enclave and we bloggers can easily make chain linked connections, with just a few simple courtesies:-
1. I sincerely appreciate the time others take to visit my blog and reciprocate regularly though not in a tit for tat modality
2. It’s a pleasure to highlight blogs I enjoy, especially where I can find relevance in a post
3. Most images are my own but where apposite linkback (not hotlink) is given to the copyrightful owner
4. I consider that blogging is about passing on information too and posts are often accompanied by Notes, Reference and Useful links
Today I’ll be joining in with, and cheerfully checking on at least five of, the collected ‘C posts’ over at ABC Wednesday
And last but certainly not least, with Celsius dropping to zero, here is a blogger who warms the cockles of my heart – my eldest daughter Catherine
stepping carefully here. The only blog Award I’ve received that I value as an award, is Blotanical’s Best in Africa. And that was way back in 2009, when the choice was anyway minute ;~)
Apparently the chain letter style awards feed link juice back pyramid style. If I link to 2 or 3 blogs in my post, they earn a few visits. Put in 15, and almost nobody gets visited.
Going off to explore your daughter’s blog now …
Elephant’s Eye read my post..January in South Africa for Wildflower Wednesday
At least in my circle of bloggers, the award has largely diminished, although I may have gotten one or two in the past couple years. I usually accept them with a shrug. But my new tactic re passing them on is to award them “to anyone who feels worthy” or somesuch, thus not ticking off a potential recipient.
I’d give you an award for this great description, if I could.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Roger Green read my post..Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes
thanks for the award here Roger
Its a delicate matter when balancing gratitude with declining
Enjoyed this post. I’m still fairly new to blogging and the etiquette involved requires some getting used to. Most of us, if we’re honest probably would stop writing our blog if nobody read them, so it is nice to bring to the attention of others interesting posts and blogs but nominating 15 blogs is quite a large number but then you don’t want to appear ungrateful.
wellywoman read my post..Gardening Attire
Excellent point about awards – they seem to come in waves sometimes and many are a bit like chain letters – I traced one back through about two years once I think.
I totally agree about blogs being about information with notes and links – at least those are the ones I enjoy visiting and returning to.
gerald read my post..Horses at Broomstairs
I am retired and discovered blogging in 2006 when most of the people here in Brussels didn’t even know what a Blog is ! It became my hobby as I am retired ! I learned a lot through the years, even met blogfriends, last year when I was in Oxford I met Janice from Jabblog, and we had a nice day together. An Australian blogfriend who was in London for William and Kate’s wedding, took the Eurostar to Brussels and met me there for an afternoon, lol ! I also had a Candian couple stopping in Brussels and met with them. Last year I spent a week with a blogfriend at the French Riviera, then she came for a week to Waterloo and now end February she invited me again for a week.
Blogging is so nice to meet people from all over the world. The only once which are not allowed to comment on my blog are the “Anonymous” !
I don’t put awards on my blog anymore. In the beginning I was very flattered, but there are still the same awards around and I am sure that I am not the “best Blogger in the World”, lol !
Gattina read my post..WORDLESS WEDNESDAY
Blogging is one addictive but fun-learning hobby!
Chubskulit, ABC Wednesday Team
Rose read my post..Chess Winner
Nice pictures, sure that your recipients have deserved it.
We’ve received some of those awards. I’m always a little torn about participating, but when I do, it’s primarily to help point out some other blogs (especially newer ones) I enjoy, to others who might be interested. Not everyone is on Blotanical, and garnering readership can be a challenge for a new blogger. That said, the one thing I don’t like is sharing the ’7 things’ about myself in the process. Maybe I should do like Jean, and just highlight a new blog or two a month that I enjoy, then I don’t have to divulge anything about myself
Curbstone Valley Farm read my post..The Goat Shed – Part I
I agree it can seem like a chain letter. But I remember finally receiving my first “award”. It was exciting, and I still see that excitement being passed on to others. And I know if they’re not excited about it, they can just ignore it, and no feelings are hurt. I have found some great blogs this way, and hopefully some new bloggers have benefited. I do think the “No Awards” button is a polite way to say “No, thanks”.
HolleyGarden read my post..Best and Worst – Jan 2012
Hi Laura – I think CJ may be a chip off the old blog …
b-a-g read my post..Nicotiana (26 JAN 2012)
thank you for visiting her blog b-a-g – a bit of me but much of her own style
For quite a while, I cheerfully accepted blog awards and posted them on my side bar after passing them on to others. Now it seems that the practise has all but disappeared. You’ve put it very well, succintly and politely, and I honour you for doing so. Do feel free to pop over and visit.
Leslie
abcw team
Nicely done! Still thinking about what to do with mine…
Thank you all for this feedback. The consensus seems be that we appreciated having our own blogs showcased and in turn like to do so with others. The rules that go with awards are less welcome -finding and notifying another x bloggers is time consuming if not readily to hand. Others do not want to do the xx personal revelations.
In short, we readily chain link with others without the carrot or the stick – goes to show what a great community is the blogosphere
I really enjoyed your take on blogging awards and share your thoughts on the matter. It is wonderful to see bloggers appreciating their friends and daily reads, but you can’t be listing everyone you know and sometimes an omission gets more notice than the being a recipient or ‘winner’. I really try to stay removed from the awards but really do feel happy when my blog is noticed. It has been getting rampant lately and very difficult to keep up with all the blog hopping. I did visit all fourteen other blogs, because I did not know one of them, so that is a good thing anyway.
Donna read my post..Sticks, Stones, Leaves and Logs, a Pictorial in Tens
Laura, I’m so glad you brought this subject matter up in such a sensitive manner. I would rather read and comment on blogs and if people reciprocate that is the reward. I would be relieved if the practice died out. Having said that your blog is worth it’s confetti of accolades…
Janet at Planticru Notes read my post..Winter tree
Diplomacy at it’s very best
catherine read my post..Sugar Monsters and Grizzly Bears
sweet words from you!!
It is hard to decide how to react to awards. I usually don’t get the nomination but recently did so I wanted to showcase blogs for folks who may not know them or read them. You are correct it is time consuming and I feel I may hurt ones feeling if they are not listed…I put the awards on my blog so others will know I have already been nominated…I think giving a nod to a blog you like especially because of something you saw they did in their garden that you also wanted to do is best. You always handle these things with such grace…
Donna@Gardens Eye View read my post..End of the Month Review-January
You have put into words what probably many of us feel Laura in a most considerate manner. Although it is touching to get such awards I always think that the biggest compliment is a comment from a fellow blogger and that works both ways. Decided who to pass on an award to causes me much furrowing of the brow so I must confess that I don’t do awards now – have yet to find a little button to place somewhere strategic
Your new, once a month posting “Calendar Girls & Boys is a great way to showcase bloggers. Anna, might steal your idea or how about a meme?
I found that post fascinating and thanks for taking the time to unpick this activity. I recently received an award from three other bloggers, who are lovely and I have acknowledged them today. However I couldn’t really put my finger on an uneasy feeling I had about diverting my energy into a post that would take so much time and is outside of my own aims in what I do. I am now going to think again about it and I agree there is a chain letter quality to this…..I hate chain letters and never participate. Thanks again, and for all your support by the way:~)
Foxglove Lane read my post..Another frosty dawn
Hi Laura,
I have to confess I personally do not like awards and tend not to get involved.
I guess I am just an old grump when it comes to anything that complicates my blog. I like it simple because that is the nature of the woman
I do love your blog lots but you will not be getting any awards from me my friend
Will be in touch re seeds……tku.
do we deserve GOB (grumpy old bloggers) awards instead, Cheryl? Seeds awaiting their fate!
Hi, creative urban foxy gardener here! Loved your description of me!! I have been blogging for one year and been a member of Blotanical for almost 2 months. I still feel honoured every time someone writes a message on one of my posts! I understand and respect your reasons for declining the award; this award thing was a completely new issue to me when the email turned up in my inbox with my award last week so I had to sit myself down and do some reading via Google…
I think as time goes by these awards might mean less as an award and possible be more regarded as similar to chain letters by me too, but I can see they draw new visitor to what for now is a relatively new blog of mine, and that’s worth a lot for me. Not completely sure what I feel about the awards yet, time will tell. Whatever way you regard your award, I like your blog
apt title and so admire your creative efforts with the neighbouring foxhole.
Am glad I raised this issue as perhaps others will feel its ok to decline awards when there is not the time nor inclination. None of us want to seem ungrateful or be the spoilsport but virtual peer pressure, real or imagined is no way to run a blog.
- thanks to Janet, Donna and Helene for accepting my declining with such good grace and kind words
Dear Laura who is so good with words, I have never seen an ‘award free’ badge until this post, I never got these awards from the quilt community or when on BBC island blogging to me it seems to be a garden thing, I’ve only recieved them since joining blotanical and have to admit I have mixed feelings, you’re the second blog I’ve read tonight that has politely declined,
to not post 2 comments at once on your blog, I love your camellias and photoshop, I wonder if my elements 3 will do it probably not, if you fancy a trip to Sussex then Wakehurst has beautiful Camellias followed by Magnolias and Rhododendrons, Frances
http://islandthreads.wordpress.com/2010/04/08/wakehurst-place/
Island Threads read my post..end of month view
ah I just re read and realised it reads wrong so
‘I never got these awards’ I mean they never did this awarding thing in the quilt community or BBC island blogging, no one was sending out awards, just a gardening thing, F
Island Threads read my post..end of month view
Laura, you’re so well spoken. I wish I could just link to your post in response to the awards offered in the past two weeks. It’s a very sweet acknowledgement from our friends, but they do take a lot of time and I just honestly don’t have the energy! Thank you for your thoughtful, considerate words in regard to these awards. You’ve given me a good idea of how to respond
Cat read my post..Tick Tock…
- your’re an experienced blogger Frances & interesting to know that awards tend to rotate in certain genres of blogs. And thanks for your kind words and the camellia post link…off for a read and a catch up with you
- glad its been of help Cat. Words can be so easily misunderstood
Well handled Laura (and better done than I managed it. I just thanked those who recommended me but then didn’t nominate anyone – perhaps that was churlish but I always thought these awards a tad chain-letterish). I do like your WP theme by the way – do you recommend it? I was especially impressed that you have managed to have a google friend widget. I thought that I would have to leave mine behind having transferred from blogger. Perhaps not?
Dave
welcome your comments David and a great chance to include you in this nod and a wink cheers for the chaps amongst us.
(I think WP is superior to blogger but whilst you can add the Friends connect widget, followers have to resign up as site address will change)
Laura, you have handled the delicate question of these awards with great grace and tact, I wish I had your style, I get flummoxed by them, I have to admit.
Janet/Plantaliscious read my post..A little bit of magic
PS Thank you, I was a regular follower of Trevor’s blog, and thought I was still signed up, but apparently not… Your mention of him made me go and check, and sure enough, there he is. So I am all signed up again.
Janet/Plantaliscious read my post..A little bit of magic
not easy to say ‘No thank you’ Janet.
p.s. Had not realised Trevor was back in Blighty til recently checked