Policing the Language

You mean people read this stuff?

That's a bit of an evasion.  I have Analytics - I know exactly how many unique readers and hits I get per post.  That's an important part of blogging, and Strictly Average is a moderately successful hobby blog, but it isn't close to being the giant From The Warp is.

How's that for a clumsy introduction?  This story began and ended in the last twelve hours but will ultimately change how I self-edit.  The following is a series of email exchanges between me and Ron, the aforementioned giant.  A la Dethtron/the King/Kirbs, any additional comments I have will be in green.

Cliffnotes version:  I'm going to keep the language clean in the main posts on Strictly Average.  My use of adult language will remain on sites that allow it.

BEGIN TRANSMISSION

Brent said:
Hey Ron,



I like what you've done with the blog; I think it simplifies it, putting the attention back on your articles.

In your recent post you commented on the changes you made to the blog-roll, and being the narcissistic blogger I am I naturally went to see how it affected mine!  You'd do the same, folks; I just admit it.

And Strictly Average wasn't there!  Just a few days ago it was happily nested in Blog Roll 1.  There's only two possibilities:

1) It was deleted on accident when you made your changes.  Not likely and I knew it!
2) I broke a rule of some sort and you took it down.

Regarding the second, I can't imagine what that could be (actually, I had a very good idea, but being a natural born troublemaker, I realized early in life its best not to give up the details without prompting), but I realize it's your blog.  If you don't want to carry my link in your rolls, for whatever reason, I can respect that.  I'm just really curious what happened.  Both of these are true.  I believe people can spot insincerity so I avoid prevaricating.  How is that different from what I just said about not giving up the details?  The magic words, "I can't imagine."  It always, always means you know.

Thanks for your time.

Ron said:
Brent,

Your blog was pulled on July 3 for this post:
http://strictlyaverage.blogspot.com/2010/07/unicorns-dont-exist-and-EDIT.html I changed it from the original title: this is me, following through and editing myself.

Use of language and not exactly 40k "hobby related" material.  I see his point but respectfully disagreed in the next email.

And did you reference me in the second post (language in that one too) or is that another Ron? If it was me (it was.  Frankly, it always amazes me when people admit to reading my stuff), I'll have you know I love to play competitively... just with a narrative/not exactly WAAC type list. JWolf also disagrees with my characterization of his style; sadly for all of you, that forces me to expand with a proper vector graph!

Don't get me wrong, I read both and liked them, but that's a personal thing. FTW reaches a much wider audience (to include younger kids) than just me so I have guidelines for the blog.  This is the meat of it and a very valid point, which I'll address below.

Anyway, it looks like those posts have cleared the que and you should be good to go back into the rolls.
You guys (??) are allowed to publish whatever you want and use whatever language you like... I would never tell you guys what you can and can't post on your own blogs. I just keep an eye on what is promoted through FTW.  This is the distinction.  I could have thrown my hands up and cried out for freedom, but that would have been monumentally stupid.  If I want to be promoted through his blog, and I do, there are rules to follow.  They weigh light.

Thanks,
Ron


Note, that should have been the end of it!  He as much as said he was going to add me back in, and he didn't even ask for any sort of promises from me.  There was some trust there... but he didn't count on me and my OCD.  That should be a song or something, but I digress.  I then composed the longest email of the bunch and sent it right over.  I've put it in italics: feel free to skip it.

Brent said:

I thought that might be the case.  If A then B.

(As an aside, its just me.  The guys I've given access to have never really come through, which is understandable.  I can't expect someone to care about my blog the way I do.  That makes this my responsibility.)  As an aside, this did make me realize the position I was putting  them in.  I've removed their direct access, allowing them to wash their hands of the whole thing.  While I'd be happy to post material they felt inspired to write, I don't want them feeling obligated in any way.  This is my baby, for better or worse.

I did reference you in the second post; I don't think it's mutually exclusive, but I may not have fleshed my thoughts out.  Or I may be wrong; I have to bear that in mind.

Regarding the posts, I disagree that it's not hobby related.  It's like I said, I like people who like people - the me, that's the focus of the hobby that interests me the most.  That's my background at play though.  The trends and the language are fun to analyze - and I didn't come up with Unicorn but simply responded to it.

The language... there you have me dead to rights.  I'm of two minds there.  On the one hand I love words, even the bad ones, and sometimes they seem to fit better in a post.  On the other hand, that can be a crutch.

I recently blasted Tau Online for some of the awful, perverted material its members were dropping, just because they could.  I hated the idea that kids would stumble on that.  It never occured to me someone else would have the same thought about one of my posts.  If I'm understanding you, you're concerned about the language throughout the post, not just in the title, right?

I'd like to get my spot back in your Blogroll 1 - you've got to know what a big deal that is to promoting all the little guys.  I'll be more mindful of the adult language, keeping it out of my posts on Strictly Average - I've got my articles on Blood of Kittens now: that's certainly a better home for it anyway.  I'm not sure what to say about the topics though; the vast majority of my posts are painting or army or tactics, but the ones that interest me the most are actually community based commentary...

Is that a deal breaker?  Let me know.

I really appreciate the time you're taking in responding.  Even if you decide you can't promote me, at least you've done me the courtesy of letting me know why, and I really, really appreciate that.

Ron said:

Brent,  ...and notice how short his reply was!  I literally laughed when I got this.  I know how I am; I can laugh at myself.  I wrote a novel when no reply was even needed... he was very gracious with my quirk.

I'm not dropping your blog.
Be mindful of the language, that's all I can ask.
I like the topics, it's just the language that kills me.

I'll put you back in this afternoon when I make my rounds.


He couldn't have said, "Leave me alone, PLEASE!" more nicely... which makes it a face-to-palm DOH! when I wrote him once more...


Brent said:
Thanks Ron - I appreciate that.  I'll keep it all PG-13.

...  Stop, Brent, stop!  Leave it, leave it..!

You know I've got to talk about this, right?  I am a blogger...

Ron said: 
I know.  Translation: I know you can no sooner leave this alone than you can stop breathing, so I give you permission.  Please don't email me again... ever.
Just keep it professional.


END TRANSMISSION

So there you have it!

I believe my blog has appeal, but I realize kids won't wade through my long-winded commentaries.  I never worried about the language because kids will link out like the Flash the moment they hit the wall of text.  I try to be better about my more widely appealing articles... but that's just justification, isn't it?  Ron can't know that so has to apply rules.  He was very professional about the application of them and I have zero negative things to say about the whole affair.  I appreciated the resolution very much.

I do believe adult language has its place in the conversations of adults, but I've got an outlet for that in the articles I'll be writing for TastyTaste and Blood of Kittens.  I won't be changing my material or the things I like to write about, but I will be avoiding the cursing.  I can make my point without it, and I do have to be mindful of the audience who sees this, be it from Bell of Lost Souls or From the Warp, not to mention the myriad other blogs who are kind enough to include me in their rolls.

I am the proud owner of a link from Yes the Truth Hurts, but that can't really be included in the tally, seeing as how that's a home for adult language and an aggressive exchange of ideas.

Brent, the voice of Strictly Average, out.