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Sunday, October 28, 2007

Sunday Blog Chatter: An Apology and A Plea for Sponges


I'm in trouble.
Again.

I don't think this is what mom and dad planned for me. A life of crime. And on the Internet.  
How scandalous.

OK. I confess. I didn't fall off the global groove yesterday. I know what a spammer is. At least I thought I knew what a spammer was....until yesterday when I got cyber-arrested (so to speak).
Do you think they'll let me have French Vanilla for my coffee in jail?
Seriously. I worry about those things.

It's not enough to say I am disappointed in myself. I didn't intend to break the law. OK OK. I confess (again). I know what spamming is. And I think I did it.

ImageChef.com - Custom comment codes for MySpace, Hi5, Friendster and more Let me tell you why. Because when they call you to be a witness at my trial I want to make sure you understand where I stand - in shackles and unshampooed hair and no makeup (oh the thought) - that there's a more important issue here. I'm talking to my lawyers right now. And my dog.

If I sent you more than one message about peace globes, I apologize. I didn't intend to do that. If I left a reminder in your comment box and insulted your intelligence, I apologize. Most people responded with "thanks for reminding me" or "I didn't know about the last one and wanted to participate. Thanks."

I did not intend to send ANYone more than one invitation and if that took more of your time, I apologize. I wouldn't do anything to offend my blogging friends or infringe on your blog space.

Wikipedia defines blog spamming also known as spamdexing as "... automatically posting random comments or promoting commercial services to blogs, wikis, guestbooks, or other publicly accessible online discussion boards. Any web application that accepts and displays hyperlinks submitted by visitors may be a target."

If that is spamming then I guess we all need to stop linking our blogs to anything we say. And we all have to stop inviting people to our blog events. I "automatically" posted with my busy little fingers and there was nothing random about it. It's simple. I'm one person trying to reach as many people as I can. I am not a robot. I try to comment on what the blog post is about before I state the invitation. Someone recently said that appeared illogical in itself so I went back to simply posting the invitation. That doesn't make sense either to people who are looking for a response to what they wrote. It appears I need to change my strategy. And I will. What are your thoughts on this?

Although I am not asking for money and am certainly not a commercial site, from here on out I will not leave a link in the comment box although interestingly enough, I am now seeing a new thing in comment boxes "so&so's last blogpost" hyperlinked after the blogger leaves a real comment. I wonder if that offends people as well. Is that "artificially increasing the site's search engine ranking?" Does that offend people? I think not. It doesn't offend me. I don't think those who do that mean to offend anybody. Neither did I.

When I get a 500 word diatribe on the sexual habits of jelly beans in my comment box, that offends me. But I digress. Gosh, that just reminded me I'm so hungry in here......somebody send jelly beans.

I don't have any paying customers, I don't ask for money. This is not a commercial site. Do you see any ads? Are people sending money ? If so, where did you send it?! Sigh. Just kidding.

My thoughts - which are worth about a plug nickel now that I'm incarcerated.
It's not a good day to need a manicure.

During the last BlogBlast I sent mucho emails. I got very very little response to those emails. I almost felt like it was a waste of time. I did it that way because I thought it was more respectful and less spammish. I am promoting an event ONLINE. How else can I tell people about it?

So, this BlogBlast has been more promotion by yours truly going personally to each and every site and leaving an invitation. That HAS gotten more response, mostly positive, until I left one on Engadget yesterday - the number one ranked website by Technorati - now I know that wasn't exactly smart and I did try to find an entry about war and peace that I could relate to but honestly folks, they just wanna talk about gadgets. I've emailed them. I've asked them nicely. They pay me no mind. And let's face it. I've been known to push the envelope just a wee bit for the cause. So I expected to be booted off for spamming. Read tomorrow's post to find out what happened. You won't believe it. But I'm not through apologizing....

ImageChef.com - Custom comment codes for MySpace, Hi5, Friendster and more ImageChef.com - Custom comment codes for MySpace, Hi5, Friendster and more

When I get a promo from a BlogTalk Radio blogger in my email box, an artist promoting an art show on their blog, a blogger needing participants for an upcoming Carnival, or an invitation to join yet another social networking list, I personally do not think of it as spamming. I usually know these bloggers and appreciate the hard work it takes to maintain what they're doing online. And yet I am now being accused of spamming for peace globes doing the same thing. I consider it an invitation. Where is the line? People have to know about what you're doing or it won't be successful. That's just the way it is. I don't have time to lick a stamp for 70 million blogs. Well.......I do now since I'm in the slammer.

Anybody got a sponge?

OK. I get it. I will learn to change my one-woman media machine speed to something else. Not sure what yet. But now I have a lot of time to think about it.

Seriously, forgive me for crossing that quasi-grey line in the cyber world and trying to kill two birds with one stone. I didn't mean to offend or insult anyone. Perhaps I got carried away. What are your thoughts?

Hmmmm....Carried away? Maybe. Inspired? Absolutely.


Just tell my parents where I am. They don't have a computer. And somebody please feed my busy-body dog.

That's the last apology I will make. I just got a globe from Seoul, Korea -because I left a comment and sent an email. I guess some things are worth going to jail for.

I hope I'm out by November 7th.

Update! Cybercelt of Endangered Spaces just posted an announcement on the PayPerPost message board. Excellent idea! Thank you!
Prudence and Madness also wrote a post this week. These are new blogging friends to me. And this is how the news is spreading. .......as I've said many times.......one blog at a time.....

12 comments:

Birdsword said...

Mimi,

Why don't you post to everyone on blog roll in their comments section. That is how I learned about the last great environmental blogosphere extravaganza. "Baby Whispering Loudly" posted a email to everyone in her community on the message board. It worked! Also, did you post on blogher? that always helps...I of course will join your peace protest, it isn't spam if it is about peace!

Linda said...

One cake with one file enclosed enroute to you via FedEx Next Day Air. That will hopefully get you out by November 7th!

Mimi Lenox said...

Birdsword - Great ideas but isn't that the same thing? I will answer my own question with who cares? and email you for instructions. Thanks! Wanna share a cell?

Linda - Chocolate please. I'm really stressed and I just broke a nail.

Anonymous said...

I think I would try to build an email list of the people who say they want to hear from me regularly and send them spam, which would give me more time to be extra delicate with those who don't quite say what they want. C:)

And if you're nice to the nice guards, they'll sometimes try to protect you from the mean ones... or so I hear.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I can't wait to hear the engadget story. I've spammed for a good cause too so I tip my hat to you miss Mimi and I'll visit you in your cell and bring goodies. uh oh ... if you are in bloggy jail, who's gonna feed the bloggers still locked up in the Blogginham Palace Dungeon? EEK!

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAH! GO MIMI!

Mimi Lenox said...

Craig - How nice do I have to be? Hyperventilating here......

Polli - I totally forgot about the dungeon bliminals (that's blog + criminal) uh oh......I think I am one now. But I'm in excellent company. I'll just leave some beanie weanies for the prisoners here and appoint someone to man the blog while I'm away. Are you free?

Anonymous said...

I say don't worry too much about it. They can delete your spam just like we delete spam daily from ours. At least you're "spamming for peace". :)

I'll visit you in jail. I'll volunteer to feed the bloggers at bloggingham palace.

Travis Cody said...

I'm not offended by messages about Peace Globes and Dona Nobis Pacem.

I don't like spam, but that's why I have a spam filter and delete buttons. There are some messages I'm not interested in, and others I am.

Blog Blast interests me.

SJ Reidhead said...

I started out so bright eyed and chipper, just like you - without all the "cheek". Good for you. Keep it up, and fight for what you believe in, even if it isn't the same thing I believe in. That's why I started The Pink Flamingo, so I could rant and rave and say exactly what I think. You're doing a heck of a lot better than I did when I first started.

SJ Reidhead
The Pink Flamingo

Do you have an address where I can send you something to dissolve the bars of your jail cell?

Mimi Lenox said...

Crazy and Travis - Thanks and please send chocolate cake. It's getting really weird in here......

SJ - Blogging is about saying what you want - if you want to. Blog on. I'll visit you!

katherine. said...

so Linda's got the file....I'll cover your bail...maybe you can get Turn to be your attorney.

Speaking as a weighted left brain republican...I'm with you all the way...

Anndi said...

**Starts to sing**

SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM

Your reminders about Blogblast for Peace are always welcome dear heart...

SMOOCH

If they arrest you and throw you in jail I'll stop shampooing and throw out my makeup in a show of solidarity.

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