As the great philosopher Joni Mitchell wrote, “he was playing real good for free.” I’ve posted a few things recently about the  problems and  risks one takes when blawging.  For some unknown reason, the existence of a blawg in cyberspace gives some people the impression that there’s a big brick building somewhere with lots of elves in the backroom collecting all the money that blawgs are making.

Now me I play for fortune
And those velvet curtain calls
Ive got a black limousine
And two gentlemen
Escorting me to the halls
And I play if you have the money
Or if you’re a friend to me
But the one man band
By the quick lunch stand
He was playing real good, for free.

But this is a one man band, sitting on a chair before a computer, tapping on keys to make words appear on the screen to reflect whatever thoughts are going on inside my head.  There’s no cash draw, no credit card machine, no sound of cha-ching ringing in the background.

Nobody stopped to hear him
Though he played so sweet and high
They knew he had never
Been on their t.v.
So they passed his music by
I meant to go over and ask for a song
Maybe put on a harmony…
I heard his refrain
As the signal changed
He was playing real good, for free.

So if you find purpose in reading blawgs, enjoy their content whether because you agree or disagree, or just learn a little something, show a little appreciation.  Nobody pays blawgers to sit in front of the keyboard, and nobody charges you to read whatever they write.  You’re getting a good deal.

And if you disagree, even vehemently disagree, with what a blawger has to say or how she handles a topic that is dear to your heart, show some grace.  You don’t have to hold your tongue, as most of us appreciate all legitimate comments, whether pro or con, but don’t act like we owe you something.  We don’t.  We’re playing real good for free.