Though I'm sure there's no shortage of BlogHer '09 talk out there, I'm still getting my thoughts together about it.
For now, I will say that I'm so glad I went and spent time with great people.
As for all the "drama" that so many of you seem to lay in wait for after each conference, please know this particular drama about "swag" is not what the conference was about, so if you've never been, no, actually, you don't "know all you need to know" about BlogHer.
However, for now, I will say that:
1. Marketing and public relations is not a crime. If a bottle of soap renders you or someone else inauthentic! then, it's not the soap that's the problem.
2. It's a business conference, not a shopping trip.
No, that doesn't mean your blog is a "business". Oh, teh horror. I just mean you're supposed to wear pants, participate with some interest since you paid for it and be adult-ish.
3. As for the outliers in behavior, your parents taught you better than that, and you'd probably punish your kids for the same behavior.
Recent Entries on Busymom.net:
- I guess it could be "Fruckle".
- Busy Mom Blog: Now with more follow-up!
- The Great Healthcare -a-thon of aught-ten
- SaveHer @ BlogHer 10: The NYC Ambulance Edition
- Going to BlogHer '10 in New York
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://WWW.busymom.net/mt/mt-tb.cgi/4187
This post is AWESOME! It makes me consider NY, right when I was thinking I made the right choice not to go to Chicago.
I agree. I actually tweeted yesterday that if our kids acted some of the people fighting over swag or taking more than their share, we'd put them in time out for a year. :(
I thought that was you running around pantsless?!
Hmm! You've piqued my curiosity.
"If a bottle of soap renders you or someone else inauthentic! then, it's not the soap that's the problem. "
Thank you for finally saying this!
oh that. conference drama is like zits. just when you think it's gone...CYCLOPS.
i thought of a solution a while ago:
http://www.bynkii.com/archives/2008/03/an_open_letter_to_sxsw_and_all.html
i still think it could work.
Best post ever.
I thought it was a great conference and I learned a lot.
Well said, as always, my friend.
Love your third point in particular!
I didn't go because my health made it impossible. I have nothing against the idea and it sounds like a fun way to get to know other writers.
I will say though that I did unfollow some people who were bragging overmuch about their swag. That just seemed to me to be kind of inconsiderate in general.
I have a totally irrelevant comment: SO GLAD TO FINALLY MEET MY ALTERNATE UNIVERSE WIFE!!
wow....makes me wonder what happened!
I had a blast at BlogHer, but I didn't go for swag or to have Tim Gunn caress my neck - which happened; don't hate me - it was behind the scenes, and that's all anybody will ever know about it - and I didn't go to get drunk even though I may have had a screwdriver and a few glasses of wine, not in a row. . . I went for the community. Of which YOU were one of the main ones and once again, we were two ships that passed in the night. I didn't even get to honk the horn at you. "Damn," she might say if she had a potty mouth, which she does. Heh.
New York for sure, BusyMom. I'll hug you in person yet. (she vowed.)
BlogHer09, my first and hopefully not my last. Although woefully I will not be attending 10. OMG. I wish we were able to spend more time together. The main thing I learned? Schedule meet ups with friends otherwise they will never happen.
I've always wondered about these conferences. Now I'm wondering what happened.
OH I found you again! Well, okay, so I remembered your link! LOL Your rules are funny. It has been so long since I have been active in the blog community. I can't wait to get back in - sans the drama. LOL
I am really intrigued by this whole blogher conference and can't wait to hear more about it. I would love to have heard some of the panels everyone has been blogging about.
I posted my comment just minutes ago and already received a response. Thank you. I appreciate it and am very impressed!
I would also be really mad if my kid got drunk and threw up in the elevator of a hotel. Who the heck did that!?!
That pile of nasty will haunt my BlogHer memories forever!
for those who have never been to a conference, blogher or not, or for whom this was their first such experience:
The truth is, you will always have a couple of nitwits, or even a herd of them, that cause drama waaaay out of proportion to their size. When you're talking about a conference centered on bloggers, well, there's a bunch who, unfortunately, follow the bad examples of Scoble et al, and walk around with a big ol' entitlement chip on their shoulder.
Don't let it bother you too much, in the end, they're just that annoying fly at the picnic...not really that big a deal.
Glad I met you...good, brief recap.
Glad to have met you!
Did "I" have a good time? You know, when you were being me? I bet I did.
Well put. I think there are some bloggers out there who need to be put in a lengthy TIME OUT. -Christine
Well said!... i was totally Adult-ish...
The swag stuff was a little crazy, but your right it was about a lot more than swag.
Will I see u in my stomping grounds of NYC in 2010??
good points here I'm sure I'm not the only one to think so.