Mea culpa about misplaced blog links

[Blogivers_Travels]

Hello, Metro Jacksonville (MJ) forum members.  Over the past six months, under the screen name Rippley408, I have irritated a number of readers by posting links to my blog, Blogiver’s Travels, in the Downtown, Politics, and Urban Neighborhoods forums.  I am here to make a “mea culpa.”  Many people like the blog, but some don’t, and the objections of this latter group are reasonable.  The discursive mode of satire jars with that of the straight exposition in the regular forums.  So, from now on, I only will post Blogiver’s Travels links in “Break Room,” a more appropriate venue for off-beat stuff.

Blogiver’s Travels consists of satire about Jacksonville and Florida.  Satire is not the same as humor.  Satire by definition is sober in purpose and has a consistent butt, whereas with humor the objects shift, and the humor doesn’t try to make any point except to be funny.  Almost every Blogiver’s Travel’s post strives to make a serious point about Jacksonville or Florida.  Because they are intended to be thought provoking, they should find a place somewhere on MJ.  I am certainly not saying everyone must look at them, but if readers want to take the time, they will find that, in their own peculiar way, they provide sincere commentary about the city and state.

Here’s how Blogiver’s Travels started.  My first 11 years in Jacksonville, I didn't know MJ existed.  I only knew of the Florida Times-Union.  and Folio Weekly.  I read the T-U's "Letters from readers" section daily and wondered what kind of a city this was.  Finally I started Blogiver’s Travels to vent frustration.  The voice of Lemule Blogiver was intended to mimic the hidebound, backward-looking mentality I frequently found in the T-U's Letters.  Lemule delivers his narrow, Tea-Party-ish point of view about developments in the city and state. Then, last year I stumbled upon MJ and was delighted.  MJ immediately felt like home.  It cheered me up.  I liked what it was doing.  So I started posting blog links in its forumsâ€"willy-nilly, I admitâ€"because their subjects in one way or another fit in, at least to my thinking.  But, as I said, I see my mistake now. So, from now on, those interested in Blogiver’s Travels will find it in “Break Room.”

Thanks for your time.

[ben says]

I guess I'm the only person on this whole forum who sees no problem with the way you were posting your blog. I will say this, though:

Instead of posting your blog links in "Break Room"--why not post them in one continuous, single thread? Kind of like the Political Cartoon thread? That way, those who click on the thread know exactly what they're getting into.

Secondly, Stephen does have a point. Take time to engage your readers on MJ. Guarantee visitors to your blog will boost 10-fold.

Good blog, and thanks for posting. Great addition to MJ, in my opinion.

[Tacachale]

I suggested posting these to one thread as well - and making it clear in the title that the thread is a Blogiver blog update, and not, for instance, an actual news post. I think that would reduce a lot of the annoyance factor. And of course it would be awesome if you became a more active contributor across the board.

[ben says]

And of course it would be awesome if you became a more active contributor across the board.

+1

[Blogivers_Travels]

Tacachale, ben says, stephendare, thanks for your replies.  All good.

[ChriswUfGator]

I like your blog just fine, it's funny and witty, the only issue was some people were getting tired of the thread-spamming with links to it on this site. You weren't really participating in MJ other than to drive traffic to your blog, until now anyway. That was the rub, it's not that anybody doesn't like your blog, just an etiquette thing.