The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Reminder to Self: Never Publish a List of Cool Bloggers You Want to Flatter by Putting Them on a List of Cool Bloggers

Posted on | June 21, 2010 | 25 Comments

Yeah, I might temporarily boost my traffic because every blogger on the list could be expected to link a post describing how cool they are. The downside:

  1. People on the list would wonder if I’m just sucking up to them, and would thenceforth suspect my sincerity; and
  2. I’d earn a permanent place on the s–t list of every blogger I left off the list.

I’m just sayin’ . . .

Category: Blogging

Comments

25 Responses to “Reminder to Self: Never Publish a List of Cool Bloggers You Want to Flatter by Putting Them on a List of Cool Bloggers”

  1. Largebill
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 2:45 am

    So, I suppose that means I wouldn’t be on the list. Damn-it! You’re now on some list or another.

  2. Largebill
    June 21st, 2010 @ 10:45 pm

    So, I suppose that means I wouldn’t be on the list. Damn-it! You’re now on some list or another.

  3. Robert Stacy McCain
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 3:13 am

    See, the way to praise someone is to SINGLE THEM OUT for praise. Just pick a blogger you like and say something like, “Keane Observer is the best damned conservative blog in West Chester Ohio!”

    Don’t ever do a list of “Top 5 Conservative Ohio Blogs,” because No. 6 is going to hate you forever, to say nothing of No. 7 and No. 8, both of which would never admit that No. 6 is actually better than they are.

    There is simply no number large enough to be the “safe” number of bloggers to list like that.

  4. Robert Stacy McCain
    June 21st, 2010 @ 11:13 pm

    See, the way to praise someone is to SINGLE THEM OUT for praise. Just pick a blogger you like and say something like, “Keane Observer is the best damned conservative blog in West Chester Ohio!”

    Don’t ever do a list of “Top 5 Conservative Ohio Blogs,” because No. 6 is going to hate you forever, to say nothing of No. 7 and No. 8, both of which would never admit that No. 6 is actually better than they are.

    There is simply no number large enough to be the “safe” number of bloggers to list like that.

  5. Dell
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 3:20 am

    What if you’re on nobody’s list?

  6. Dell
    June 21st, 2010 @ 11:20 pm

    What if you’re on nobody’s list?

  7. USCitizen
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 3:31 am

    Well you could just mention my site as “possibly cool?”.

  8. USCitizen
    June 21st, 2010 @ 11:31 pm

    Well you could just mention my site as “possibly cool?”.

  9. T.L. Davis
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 4:05 am

    The deal is you should pick the 5 WORST bloggers that way the numbers are with you not against you. Or, you could just honestly tell us which bloggers you most admire. Guys like me don’t expect dick from anyone. That anyone reads my blog at all is worth trying to keep it relevant.

  10. T.L. Davis
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 12:05 am

    The deal is you should pick the 5 WORST bloggers that way the numbers are with you not against you. Or, you could just honestly tell us which bloggers you most admire. Guys like me don’t expect dick from anyone. That anyone reads my blog at all is worth trying to keep it relevant.

  11. Stogie
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 4:33 am

    I see what you mean. They left me off!!

  12. Stogie
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 12:33 am

    I see what you mean. They left me off!!

  13. Robert Birch
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 5:55 am

    Modesty is a good policy. Matt Lewis probably would be better off if he hadn’t done that piece.

  14. Robert Birch
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 1:55 am

    Modesty is a good policy. Matt Lewis probably would be better off if he hadn’t done that piece.

  15. The War Planner
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 6:58 am

    ..a list? Hmmmmmmmmmm? No, Ive never done such a thing but here’s your chance to avoid this from happening if the seed you planted ever germinates:

    http://warplanner.blogspot.com/

    (Note to other comment posters: this threat applies to you as well. And — from my past USAF career experience — I know how to deliver on threats.)

  16. The War Planner
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 2:58 am

    ..a list? Hmmmmmmmmmm? No, Ive never done such a thing but here’s your chance to avoid this from happening if the seed you planted ever germinates:

    http://warplanner.blogspot.com/

    (Note to other comment posters: this threat applies to you as well. And — from my past USAF career experience — I know how to deliver on threats.)

  17. American Glob » Blog Archive » My Top 10 Favorite Political Bloggers (Men)
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 4:30 am

    […] UPDATE: Oops. […]

  18. Bob Belvedere
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 11:25 am

    More magnificent wisdom from the pen [keyboard?] of Robert Stacy McCain.

    You can never win with Top nn Lists, even with something as mundane as Top 10 Shoehorns.

    It is, indeed, best to single-out one person or site now and again for praise, or to make up for them having fallen off your radar screen for a short while by dedicating a post just to that one person or site. While doing this is fraught with it’s own dangers, they pale in comparison to the ones brought on by the Top nn List. I shudder just thinking about them.

  19. Bob Belvedere
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 7:25 am

    More magnificent wisdom from the pen [keyboard?] of Robert Stacy McCain.

    You can never win with Top nn Lists, even with something as mundane as Top 10 Shoehorns.

    It is, indeed, best to single-out one person or site now and again for praise, or to make up for them having fallen off your radar screen for a short while by dedicating a post just to that one person or site. While doing this is fraught with it’s own dangers, they pale in comparison to the ones brought on by the Top nn List. I shudder just thinking about them.

  20. My Top Five Favorite Bloggers… « The Camp Of The Saints
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 8:30 am

    […] you can see above, I have avoided the usual pitfalls of such a list….and committed one of the greatest suck-ups of all time, at the same […]

  21. Dave C
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 12:53 pm

    aka Tea Party Editor(cough cough)

    You know.. a nice cup of tea might help that cough of yours.

  22. Dave C
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 8:53 am

    aka Tea Party Editor(cough cough)

    You know.. a nice cup of tea might help that cough of yours.

  23. Bob Schools His Fellow Bloggers… | Mind-Numbed Robot
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 12:45 pm

    […] the fine art of flattery, sucking up and sycophancy. Much to his credit, he picks the perfect recipient in R.S. McCain. Even finding room within the slobbering sanction to include Stacy’s mighty sidekick, Smitty. […]

  24. Obi's Sister
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 10:56 pm

    I am highly miffed that I was left off the list again.

  25. Obi's Sister
    June 22nd, 2010 @ 6:56 pm

    I am highly miffed that I was left off the list again.