Some criminal defense blawgers have been disturbed about what’s been happening in our little niche of the practical blawgosphere.  Mark Bennett gives it a name, the Happysphere.

If you are a blogging lawyer, and you want to be read by other bloggers, know that being read by other bloggers includes being taken to task publicly when you write something dumb or silly or ill-considered or even just vapid.

If you don’t want to be read by other bloggers, if you are blogging for profit or to build up your practice, please let me know now.

Simply put, but clear.  For a while now, new bloggers cry for the attention of those already here.  They want attention and recognition, but they only want it when it’s flattering and wonderful.  Sometimes it isn’t.  Then they cry, or worse.  Write something that’s anything short of adoration and they go bonkers.

You’ve come to the wrong place.  I’m not your Daddy.  I’m not here to support your marketing effort or overlook some insipid position, offered for self-aggrandizement at the expense of accuracy.  There’s some truly awful stuff written.  There’s some stuff that’s just wrong.  You come begging for attention, and then explode when it doesn’t coordinate with your self-promotional efforts?  Who the hell promised you that the blawgosphere was here to help you get business?

Here’s the bad news.  Not every post is a work of genius.  Not mine.  Not yours.  The blawgosphere, that place that you so desperately want to be a part of, was here before you came along, and it’s a challenging place.  You want the respect of your peers?  Earn it, just like everyone else.  You’re not entitled to a free ride just because you’re a criminal defense lawyer. 

There have been some rumblings by the disaffected that I’m the neighborhood bully because I think I’m so very important in the blawgosphere.  What a load of crap.  I’m a blawger, just like any other. I possess no magic powers to make anyone, anyone, read my posts.  I possess no magic powers to stop anyone from reading yours.  I make no claim to being any more important than anyone else, and indeed, I’m not.  Don’t project your insecurity, your obsession, onto me. 

I’m not responsible for your lack of readers or credibility.  You want more readers?  So write stuff that people want to read.  I’m no more a bully toward you than you are toward me.  If you think I’m wrong, then say so.  I won’t stop you, even if I could.  And if you do and I don’t make your post the center of my world, don’t whine that I’m ignoring you.  Sorry if I just don’t care, or want to spend my time sparring with every nutjob in the blawgosphere who decides to come after me with a 5000 word diatribe.  No one can diminish you except you. Don’t blame me for your insecurities.

You want only respect, appreciation and support?  Then go to the Happysphere.  You will be allowed to say mean things to the typical suspects, the police, prosecutors and Supreme Court justices, as they are the politically correct targets of criminal defense wrath.  But no one will tell you that you’re ugly, dress funny or (dare I say it?) wrong.  In the Happysphere, there is only the warm embrace of others who, like you, want to be loved. 

Simple Justice is not part of the Happysphere.  If you aren’t interested in being part of the blawgsphere, the one that Bennett describes, the one that was here before you showed up demanding attention and recognition, then let me know too so I don’t waste my time with you.  And then stay away, as I can’t promise you that what I write will fill that huge need you have for self-esteem.  I’ve already removed some who I’ve come to realize are not legitimate bloggers, but self-promoting shills.  You want off my blogroll?  I’m happy to oblige.  Just leave me a comment and consider it done.

If this makes you hate me, think I’m a monster, so what?  I am not your Daddy.  You don’t need my approval.  I am not here to coddle anyone.  And I’ve got no greater claim on prominence in the blawgosphere than you do.