My shameless effort at trying to avoid abject embarrassment in the Best Law Blog contest is now at an end. Needless to say, Simple Justice did not win. However, we didn’t come in last either, and for that we’re actually very proud.
As Brian Leitner makes clear, this is just a silly contest. There are great blawgs that aren’t in the running. There are blawgs that have important things to say that were left out. There are blawgs that are far, far more popular than Simple Justice that didn’t make the cut. The problem is that a contest like this mixes apples and oranges, pitting blawgs against each other that are worlds apart in content and audience.
As for me, I was surprised and flattered to make the list. Given that Simple Justice has been around for a mere 8 months, it was quite an honor. As Carolyn Elefant said when voicing her support for Nicole Black’s blawg, Sui Generis, there’s a certain appreciation for those who have stuck it out over the long haul to keep up the effort of writing a blawg that is interesting and fresh.
Niki has done that. Like me, she is a solo practicing lawyer, as opposed to the big guys who are either group blogs or paid bloggers. Niki came in 7th in the voting, and I think my 5 votes for her yesterday helped push her ahead of number 8, Ms. JD.
So what’s the point. Well, my goal was to not be embarrassed by coming in last. Not that it really would have been embarrassing, but hey, who wants to come in last? Beyond that, it was a great way to introduce Simple Justice to people who might otherwise have no reason to come here. While my content isn’t for everybody, and particularly not for certain audiences (the neo-cons, the libertarians, the lawyer-haters, the Biglaw climbers, and even the lawprofs), diversity of ideas from readers makes for a much more interesting place.
And so, I thank the 7 readers who voted for me, over and over, for keeping me afloat. I welcome the new readers who discovered Simple Justice and decided to stick around. And I thank the folks at the Weblog Awards for even thinking that Simple Justice had any business being in the company of the other finalists.
One last plug: If you enjoy reading blawgs, particularly this genre of blawg (like these guys), let ’em know. Trust me when I tell you, gentle readers, that there’s no huge organization or sugar daddy making our writing pay off with year-end bonuses. We don’t blawg for awards or credit, but it’s nice to know that somebody out there appreciates the effort.
As Brian Leitner makes clear, this is just a silly contest. There are great blawgs that aren’t in the running. There are blawgs that have important things to say that were left out. There are blawgs that are far, far more popular than Simple Justice that didn’t make the cut. The problem is that a contest like this mixes apples and oranges, pitting blawgs against each other that are worlds apart in content and audience.
As for me, I was surprised and flattered to make the list. Given that Simple Justice has been around for a mere 8 months, it was quite an honor. As Carolyn Elefant said when voicing her support for Nicole Black’s blawg, Sui Generis, there’s a certain appreciation for those who have stuck it out over the long haul to keep up the effort of writing a blawg that is interesting and fresh.
Niki has done that. Like me, she is a solo practicing lawyer, as opposed to the big guys who are either group blogs or paid bloggers. Niki came in 7th in the voting, and I think my 5 votes for her yesterday helped push her ahead of number 8, Ms. JD.
So what’s the point. Well, my goal was to not be embarrassed by coming in last. Not that it really would have been embarrassing, but hey, who wants to come in last? Beyond that, it was a great way to introduce Simple Justice to people who might otherwise have no reason to come here. While my content isn’t for everybody, and particularly not for certain audiences (the neo-cons, the libertarians, the lawyer-haters, the Biglaw climbers, and even the lawprofs), diversity of ideas from readers makes for a much more interesting place.
And so, I thank the 7 readers who voted for me, over and over, for keeping me afloat. I welcome the new readers who discovered Simple Justice and decided to stick around. And I thank the folks at the Weblog Awards for even thinking that Simple Justice had any business being in the company of the other finalists.
One last plug: If you enjoy reading blawgs, particularly this genre of blawg (like these guys), let ’em know. Trust me when I tell you, gentle readers, that there’s no huge organization or sugar daddy making our writing pay off with year-end bonuses. We don’t blawg for awards or credit, but it’s nice to know that somebody out there appreciates the effort.
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Scott, you did us proud — and I never thanked you for including me in your list of sordid, misbegotten heroes.
Anne, you are one of the people whose blawgs should have been on that list. In fact, I have to tell you that there’s not one person/blawg on my list of “sordid, misbegotten heroes” whose work doesn’t contribute significantly more to the wealth of thought and knowledge than the blog that ultimately won. That certainly tells us a lot about what people really want. Even lawyers, even online, salaciousness prevails.
Ironic, isn’t it?
On Monday, I am unveiling “The Giddys” – the awards competition for the practical blawgosphere. You’re not nominated since you’re too high-brow for the rest of us.
But I really like the name. I really do.
Does it make you giddy?
I want a “sordid misbegotten hero” graphic to proudly display on my blog.
Gideon, if your awards are based on a popularity contest, I’m boycotting. If the “Best Law Blog” methodology were used in other contexts, then Toyota would be the best carmaker, ground beef would be the best cut, Gallo would be the best wine, and Thomas Kinkade would be the best painter. China would be the best country, Christianity would be the best religion, Windows would be the best operating system, ignorance would be the best mental state, and George W. Bush would be president.
The awards are based on 29 dimensions of compatibility between readers and authors in a highly specialized proprietary system that I have developed using computers and algorithmic code.
Hey, whatcha got against group bloggers?
Nothing whatsoever, but there is a difference between what one individual can produce in terms of quantity and quality, particularly when the individual is a practicing lawyer, versus a group of people or paid blawgers or academics.
While the reader doesn’t care who or how it gets posted, the solo practicing lawyer blawger (as you well know there, brother) should be given some credit for keeping pace with the group blawgs, the full-time paid blawgers and the academics.