Every week a couple dozen new bloggers sign up to be listed on Humor-Blogs.com. I used to review every site to determine whether it qualified as a humor blog, but it didn’t take me long to realize that this was an impossible task. Sadly, a lot of people are so bad at being funny that it’s almost impossible to determine whether they are even trying. So lately all I do is visit the site to determine (1) whether it is a blog, and (2) whether it has a link to Humor-Blogs.com. Oh, and I also check for nudity (which is only appropriate on a humor blog if the subject is fat) and what I consider “grossly inappropriate content.” I rarely reject someone for content reasons, but it does happen. The other day I rejected a site that had jokes about, among other things, infant sodomy [Shudder]. I have an automated system where I can send a “welcome aboard” email to bloggers whose sites meet those criteria, or a rejection email in case they don’t.
The rejection email explains why the blogger’s site was rejected and what to do about it. Generally that’s the end of it, but occasionally the rejected blogger will email me back. Often this results in an edifying discussion about how Humor-Blogs.com works exactly, after which the blogger either adds a link and joins the site or we part amicably.
Sometimes neither of these happens. Sometimes the exchange goes like this one. (I've changed the blogger's name to avoid further angering her.)
I can’t help but feel that I have been a little part of crushing Suzy’s dream of being the most popular humorless dingbat on the interwebs. Man, you really can’t make this shit up.
The rejection email explains why the blogger’s site was rejected and what to do about it. Generally that’s the end of it, but occasionally the rejected blogger will email me back. Often this results in an edifying discussion about how Humor-Blogs.com works exactly, after which the blogger either adds a link and joins the site or we part amicably.
Sometimes neither of these happens. Sometimes the exchange goes like this one. (I've changed the blogger's name to avoid further angering her.)
Hi,
Your web site, [Strikingly Original Blog Title], was rejected for inclusion on Humor-Blogs.com because we were unable to find a link to Humor-Blogs.com on your website. If you have added a link to Humor-Blogs.com and we missed it, we apologize. Please make sure that the link is on the main page of your blog (not a separate 'links' page), and that our site's name and url are spelled and formatted correctly, and then RESUBMIT your site to http://humor-blogs.com/JoinLanding.aspx. You can respond to this email if you want, but there's a pretty good chance that will irritate us.
Cheers!
Diesel
Your web site, [Strikingly Original Blog Title], was rejected for inclusion on Humor-Blogs.com because we were unable to find a link to Humor-Blogs.com on your website. If you have added a link to Humor-Blogs.com and we missed it, we apologize. Please make sure that the link is on the main page of your blog (not a separate 'links' page), and that our site's name and url are spelled and formatted correctly, and then RESUBMIT your site to http://humor-blogs.com/JoinLanding.aspx. You can respond to this email if you want, but there's a pretty good chance that will irritate us.
Cheers!
Diesel
Yes well, sorry if this irritates you but when I went over there and saw that the first thing a viewer would see when linking to Humor Blogs' homepage was stuff like "Cock Blocking Since 2004" and "Found Shit" and "Wiping Butts Since 1998" I reconsidered my desire for inclusion in your "community" because I want my blog to be family-friendly.
Plus which, none of that is funny, in my opinion.
Thanks anyway!
Suzy Blogger
Plus which, none of that is funny, in my opinion.
Thanks anyway!
Suzy Blogger
Hi Suzy,
I can't control who signs up for the site. I only reject sites that don't link to H-B, or that have grossly inappropriate content. Sorry the site doesn't meet your needs.
Cheers,
Diesel
I can't control who signs up for the site. I only reject sites that don't link to H-B, or that have grossly inappropriate content. Sorry the site doesn't meet your needs.
Cheers,
Diesel
Clearly we have differing views on what constitutes grossly inappropriate.
Suzy Blogger
Suzy Blogger
All I know is that if wiping butts is inappropriate at your house, I don't want to come over. :)
Diesel
Diesel
Well, at least YOU attempt to be a comedian.
Suzy Blogger
Suzy Blogger
Always attempting, yes. That's me.
Seriously, this whole Humor-Blogs site has blown way out of my control. I never had any policies in place to say "No, you can't have 'shit' in your blog title," so I just had to kind of let things slide. I'm sure some people are offended, but whatever. Nobody's going to die from seeing the word 'shit' in print.
Are they? (He asked ominously)
Diesel
Seriously, this whole Humor-Blogs site has blown way out of my control. I never had any policies in place to say "No, you can't have 'shit' in your blog title," so I just had to kind of let things slide. I'm sure some people are offended, but whatever. Nobody's going to die from seeing the word 'shit' in print.
Are they? (He asked ominously)
Diesel
Well, you know, you said a few minutes ago that you can't control who signs up on the site ... but obviously you can because you denied me that dubious privilege.
And that is perfectly fine. I have no problem with that but don't tell me you can't control it because you are controlling it.
And no, maybe people won't die from reading that word, but it is my firm belief that something does die when people cease to care about the kind of language they use in public [Yes, but maybe it’s something bad that dies, like a ridiculously uptight harpy, or that trend where women wear their pants tucked into brown leather boots? - Diesel]. When I started blogging I decided I wouldn't be part of that.
Suzy Blogger
And that is perfectly fine. I have no problem with that but don't tell me you can't control it because you are controlling it.
And no, maybe people won't die from reading that word, but it is my firm belief that something does die when people cease to care about the kind of language they use in public [Yes, but maybe it’s something bad that dies, like a ridiculously uptight harpy, or that trend where women wear their pants tucked into brown leather boots? - Diesel]. When I started blogging I decided I wouldn't be part of that.
Suzy Blogger
What I said was:
"I can't control who signs up for the site. I only reject sites that don't link to H-B, or that have grossly inappropriate content."
In other words, I have some very minimal rules that I enforce. I used to go through the sites very carefully and try to determine whether they qualified as "humor blogs." But after a while I realized that I couldn't even tell half the time when somebody is trying to be funny. It's all so subjective. The same thing goes for offensiveness. A site not having a link, however, is very clear cut.
Diesel
"I can't control who signs up for the site. I only reject sites that don't link to H-B, or that have grossly inappropriate content."
In other words, I have some very minimal rules that I enforce. I used to go through the sites very carefully and try to determine whether they qualified as "humor blogs." But after a while I realized that I couldn't even tell half the time when somebody is trying to be funny. It's all so subjective. The same thing goes for offensiveness. A site not having a link, however, is very clear cut.
Diesel
You know what? I'd appreciate it if you would leave me alone.
Suzy Blogger
Suzy Blogger
I can’t help but feel that I have been a little part of crushing Suzy’s dream of being the most popular humorless dingbat on the interwebs. Man, you really can’t make this shit up.
| If you enjoyed this post, may I also recommend: Humor-blogs.com: Bitch Blocking Since 2008 |
Labels: Blogging, Humor-blogs.com, Jerks
| posted by Diesel at Monday, June 16, 2008 |
|
Leave a comment! |
