‘Humble and Polite’ Bloggers?

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Diana Adams lists “22 Traits of Successful and Happy Bloggers,” including this:

Humble and Polite – Humility and politeness go a long way in blogging and in life. Smart and savvy bloggers know this.

I dunno. Arrogant and obnoxious have worked pretty well for me. We await commentary from mild-mannered Dan Riehl and the unfailingly courteous Ace of Spades. However, Ms. Adams offers much advice that is genuinely helpful:

Authentic and Honest – It’s important for your readers to see you as an authentic and honest human being. You lose credibility when you fake it.

Exactly. I’m authentically arrogant and honestly obnoxious, so that probably explains why it works.

And dibs on the “Diana Adams bikini” Google bomb.

29 comments

  5. It annoys me when people make the assumption that if you are a “humble polite” person it means you are being fake.

    I’ve seen bloggers be rude on purpose, not because they wanted to be, but because they felt it was the only way to appear genuine.

    Let’s stop trying to BE a certain way, and instead, be ourselves. That is the true key.

    If being humble and polite is your style, then by all means, write that way. If you are an ass in real life, then by all means, be an ass in your writing.

    Just be real.

  6. It annoys me when people make the assumption that if you are a “humble polite” person it means you are being fake.

    I’ve seen bloggers be rude on purpose, not because they wanted to be, but because they felt it was the only way to appear genuine.

    Let’s stop trying to BE a certain way, and instead, be ourselves. That is the true key.

    If being humble and polite is your style, then by all means, write that way. If you are an ass in real life, then by all means, be an ass in your writing.

    Just be real.

  11. I hate to break it to you, Stacy, but you don’t come across as being as arrogant and obnoxious as you ‘d like to think you are. That’s probably why in addition to looking good in a Speedo (Of course, as I said, I don’t think any man actually looks good in a Speedo; They just look overstuffed and silly.) Mrs. McCain puts up with you.

    Keep working at it, though. You might eventually be as obnoxious as some of the bloggers of the LW. ;^)

  12. I hate to break it to you, Stacy, but you don’t come across as being as arrogant and obnoxious as you ‘d like to think you are. That’s probably why in addition to looking good in a Speedo (Of course, as I said, I don’t think any man actually looks good in a Speedo; They just look overstuffed and silly.) Mrs. McCain puts up with you.

    Keep working at it, though. You might eventually be as obnoxious as some of the bloggers of the LW. ;^)

  13. and btw good people of connecticut please do not vote for mike fedele he is a tax and spend scumbag

  19. Think of the most successful bloggers in terms of sheer numbers of hits and readers. Think of the most successful for influence. Think of those who give a unique writing style.

    How many of them are humble and polite? Now, I would say Glenn Reynolds, Stephen Green, Capt. Ed, and Professor Bainbridge are gentlemen and exceedingly polite. Ann Althouse and the Anchoress are very civil and exceedingly polite too. But I would not describe any them as humble. Humble people don’t do blogs.

    As for the rest of the mob, they are street fighters. Not that they are rude, they just do not back down from slugging it out with their critics, trolls and detractors. Little Miss Attila is great, but her site is called Little Miss Attila for a reason. Jeff Goldstein is not one to walk away from a fight. Dan Riehl is from New Jersey, which prides itself on getting in your face (hence the success of Chris Christie). We could go on and on.

  20. Think of the most successful bloggers in terms of sheer numbers of hits and readers. Think of the most successful for influence. Think of those who give a unique writing style.

    How many of them are humble and polite? Now, I would say Glenn Reynolds, Stephen Green, Capt. Ed, and Professor Bainbridge are gentlemen and exceedingly polite. Ann Althouse and the Anchoress are very civil and exceedingly polite too. But I would not describe any them as humble. Humble people don’t do blogs.

    As for the rest of the mob, they are street fighters. Not that they are rude, they just do not back down from slugging it out with their critics, trolls and detractors. Little Miss Attila is great, but her site is called Little Miss Attila for a reason. Jeff Goldstein is not one to walk away from a fight. Dan Riehl is from New Jersey, which prides itself on getting in your face (hence the success of Chris Christie). We could go on and on.

  21. Smitty is humble and polite – always has been. I should know, We’ve known each other since we were wee lads of 14 or 15 or so.

    Stacy, from what I’ve seen in person, is a raconteur. Definitely polite, mostly humble, but always a force of nature. If you can’t lead or follow, get out of his way.

  22. Smitty is humble and polite – always has been. I should know, We’ve known each other since we were wee lads of 14 or 15 or so.

    Stacy, from what I’ve seen in person, is a raconteur. Definitely polite, mostly humble, but always a force of nature. If you can’t lead or follow, get out of his way.

  23. I want to see Mr.Arrogant & Obnoxious wearing a speedo in a picture. Than I’ll believe that he is really Arrogant & Obnoxious.

  24. I want to see Mr.Arrogant & Obnoxious wearing a speedo in a picture. Than I’ll believe that he is really Arrogant & Obnoxious.

  27. […] of course, be remiss if I didn’t mention some of the other advice out there, especially when Stacy McCain picks up on it and finds those passages most pertinent to his operation. And since McCain gets way more traffic than I do these days, I’m betting that (1) I can find […]

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