Well, I've done it. Created a little discord in the craft blog world. I was surprised at the quantity of both positive and negative comments. The engineer in me is trying to analyze the trend of early morning commenters who loved it and evening commenters who hated it. My best guess is that the morning folks are already followers who have come to expect this type of man's-point-of-view nonsense, while the less than thrilled folks must have just found my blog today as a result of the links.
Vote #1
That said, I'm curious what the rest of you have to say. So vote. In the spirit of democracy, I won't mock your vote or your comment.
Vote #2
Speaking of pushing people over the edge...Mandy is finally breaking down and getting a smart phone. I've been telling her all along that she'd love it, but it wasn't until she saw other bloggers in action with them in Dallas that she got sold on it. Now she has to pick which one. My vote is Android. I have a Samsung Charge and I love it. I think she'll love it as well, which is why I'm willing to give it to her (and then use her upgrade to get the Galaxy S III).
None quite any of the above in the questionnaire. I just thought it was a low blow. Especially using Mandy's blog when people come to trust her and others involved. It takes guts to share things whether it's good or bad, and it's stuff like your previous post that puts people off. At least get your own links party set up and then you can judge from there.
ReplyDeleteYou've gotta have a sense of humor in the blog world as well as the real world! My engineer husband would be thinking the same way. He doesn't always "get it", but like you with Mandy, he's very supportive. As for phones...I love my Verizon Commando...you cannot destroy that thing...even if you drop it in water. It's the best! It's military tough. Perfect for a crafter!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, you're not exactly making fun of people's crafts - you're saying (from a man's point of view) that you don't understand the purpose. I know my fiance thinks I've gone off the deep end when I totally geek out every time I'm in the basket aisle at ANY store, but that doesn't stop me from doing it. If you were saying that these items were shoddily made or looked hideous, it'd be a different story.
ReplyDeleteON the other note - definitely give Mandy your Charge and get yourself the S III - she won't appreciate it like you will. It's a beastly little gadget. We have 6 lines on our Verizon account - all Galaxy III's and not one unsatisfied customer :)
I think your picture in your logo/header with the question mark above the head says it all and nothing wrong with a bit of tongue in cheek!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was as bad as some are feeling about it....but I wasn't "mocked". BUT, I know with my own husbands faces how men feel about stuff. haha Ultimately, its YOUR blog, and you are allowed to do and share what you want...just like everyone else that blogs! I love Mandy's blog, and will still follow and link no matter what you think or not! HA!
ReplyDeleteI read this post before seeing the features one and was surprised that your 'mocking' stirred up any controversy. It was harmless and you didn't make fun of anyone's crafting abilities or their finished product specifically. It was more about the item in general. There are plenty of things I make for our home that my husband doesn't 'get'. Like those t-shirt turned poms? He asked what the giant cat toys were for. ;) And I laughed.
ReplyDeleteSeriously!? You didn't say anything negative! I thought it was very respectful and tongue-in-cheek. I guess you have to understand that you're talking about women. We have so many insecurities that even the most innocuous comment can be taken offensively if we're in the wrong mood.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I think you're hilarious, and you can come on over to my blog and "mock" anything you want! I'd proudly feature an "I've Been Mocked" button. We have to learn to laugh at ourselves ladies! In fact, I may start linking up to your wife's blog in the hopes of being mocked ;-)
I think it's easy when your *own* husband doesn't understand or makes a flip comment, because it's someone you know. There's a relationship there, and you know when (not) to take offense. When *someone else's husband* is singling specific things out - in public, no less - I think that crosses a line.
ReplyDeleteYou're usually funny. I think I'll find future posts funny, too. Picking on real people's babies and dogs... um, not funny.
When I read your post yesterday (yes I'm a follower) I didn't think that it was horrible. My husband mocks half of my projects as it is. Reading through my feed and seeing posts about your post I see that you hit a nerve.
ReplyDeletewww.craftybiggers.com
I don't believe you crossed any lines... I would just ask permission first next time. I for one would love the traffic it would send my way!
ReplyDeleteAnd I have the Samsung Stratosphere. It is fantastic. It has a great camera on it, especially for close up, detailed shots.
~Melissa
www.patchesofsun.com
Go for the galaxy. I just got it as my first smart phone and I love it.
ReplyDeleteI think some people can take the ribbing and others can't - whether its from their own husband or someone else's. Take a look at the Pintester's blog and you can see the kinds of comments she gets from bloggers when the things she tries that they have posted don't turn out and you'll get the feeling. Personally I don't think it would bother me but that's easy to say when it wasn't my project. Perhaps a "Mocked" button and an email to the "target" to give them a heads up that you'd like to "feature" them would help. If it was just your blog then it wouldn't matter so much who was offended but since it is your wife's readers, your house might remain happier that way. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Melissa. For your guy brain to avoid problems with your wifes brain-you might want to get approval from the ones being reviewed, just because I know people who are serious about their crafting and wouldn't get you like I do. I completely agree with you btw.
ReplyDeleteOh and about the phone - I have a Verizon LG Enlighten that runs on an Android platform and I love it. I have the Bloggeroid app that I use to do posts from home and on the road. It comes pre-programmed with all the Google features so it works well with most of the other programs like my Picasa photo album. I can also Tweet and get all my emails from multiple accounts. The one thing is that it isn't the best camera of the phones available but it does take nice outdoor pictures and indoor with some lighting adjustments are pictures that can be edited nicely.
ReplyDeleteI personally feel that some craft bloggers take themselves too seriously. I think you shared your opinion as a guy and put into words what most men would have said about those projects. But sure, to try to avoid further hurt feelings, have Mandy at a disclaimer. That being said, I've been lucky enough to have my husband look at me weird only a handful of times... one when I created a large burlap monogram for our entryway.
ReplyDeleteOh and on the phone... you sound like my husband on this one. He has an iPad 2, I have the original. He says I can have his and he'll get the new one... ummm? HECK No! I'll get the new one, thankyaverymuch! I'm an Apple girl and recommend the iPhone. It has the best apps!
If you build it, they will come. And it if post it, others will say things about it. I don't agree with the "get permission thing" as that is like saying a critic has to ask an author before they review his book if the review is bad. If you don't want people to talk about the things you make, good talk and bad talk, don't post it to the internet.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, you drove traffic to their sites, and since many craft bloggers are supporting their crafting with their blog (in whole or in part) all traffic is good traffic. You also only commented on the project, not the person. You did nothing wrong, or even "sorta wrong".
Just had another thought... you can balance things. Keep this feature, but also add one where you call out the crafts you DO like. Things you would love to see Mandy try or that you might even be willing to try yourself!
ReplyDeleteAmen!!! I was just about to suggest that till I read your comment;)!
DeleteI was not featured, and I'm glad. It is rude to publicly make fun of anyone or anyone's projects. Btw, did you know that because you do not have permission to these projects, that you could be in HUGE legal trouble. Your wife had permission to use then, NOT you.
ReplyDeleteI liked your blog before this, and yes my husband doesn't quite understand my crafting all the time. But he would never make fun of it. EVER. Because he actually has respect and courtesy for others. I will never again be linking up to your wife's link party because it was unfair of her to allow you to do this.
You were rude and mean spirited. "featuring" someone's craft like that that they work so hard on and mocking it was cruel and mean spirited. Also, you had no right to post those projects, your wife had permission to use them, you did not. If I weren't enjoying the traffic to my site so much I'd require you to remove it.
ReplyDeleteI will not be linking up to your wife's party, nor following her blog, ever again. Hope you enjoyed your fun!
WOW! Lighten up! I visited your blog as a result of this post.
DeleteThe people who think the feature was "rude, mean spirited, horrible, illegal, etc"...(1) get over yourself and (2) loosen up! On one hand you can't enjoy the traffic it has brought to your blog and on the other hand bash him for doing it. I can understand people being upset because you claim he didn't have permission since you technically didn't link to his blog. But, YOU'RE POSTING STUFF ON THE INTERNET!!!! Realistically, ANYONE can talk about your blog, project, etc. It's freedom of speech. It's not like he posted a how to about your project acting like it was his own, he properly sourced your blog and honestly I didn't see where he said anything mean or horrible.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the phone, hopefully your wife (or you) get the Galaxy III. I've had it for a week now and I love it! Android all the way haha!
DeleteThis has been a wild week so I am behind on your posts. So I went back to read the post in question. I did not see anything wrong or hurtful or rude. Keep up the wonderful, humorous posts.
ReplyDeleteYou were not mean spirited, rude, or anything otherwise. Your comments were light hearted and funny and were in the nature of a man's opinion. I also don't agree that you should ask their permission first. If you post something on the internet, you open yourself up to comments--there are plenty of blogs featuring their favorite pins of the week or otherwise and I don't see these gals tracking them down saying they didn't have permission to post there. That's just what happens. If you wrote "gosh, this project sucks and this person should stop crafting altogether" I could understand. But you were very funny and tongue in cheek about it. Totally something my husband would say. People need to lighten up a little bit. Good Lord. I LOVE that the person above is getting a lot of traffic to her site, yet complaining at the same time. LOL That just shows that other women like her craft when maybe a guy just doesn't get it. Calm down folks.
ReplyDeleteI think You ARE CRUEL, even if You were right about some of these crafts:) Maybe You should blame it (Your own cruelty - and that crafting/blogging phenomena also) to global crisis or something like that and/or talk to Your psyhoanalyst about it?;)
ReplyDeleteBut - if Your wife is happy with Your blog-jokes about her blog/crafting/holes in the walls/etc why should other - anonymous! - crafters do complain.
I actually follow your blog and commented on the post you made yesterday. I do think the comment "Speaking of wreaths...I really hope this ends up on our front door. Nothing tells would-be thieves "we have no cool things in this house" like a wreath." was mean. I will still follow your blog (not that you care or are jumping up and down with glee) because I enjoy your posts. I just don't enjoy people singled out for ridicule... and come on, can't we please just call it was it was?
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha i LOVE your blog....and I'm a crafter. It's like reading my husbands thoughts sometimes. I'm like ; ok...so that's what he is really thinking;) and i totally understand it. We are kind of mad. And you didn't attack anyones craft in paeticular....as i said....mad!!
ReplyDeleteI'm rolling reading all these comments! I thought your post was so funny and not mean or cruel at all, I would love to be featured! It's not like you're making fun of these people personally. And I'm a little confused at the dog lady's comment, obviously she didn't think it was funny but is loving all the traffic you sent her way. You wouldn't have that traffic unless he featured you!!
ReplyDeleteI've always said that any publicity is good publicity. But one blogger has already taken down her site after yesterday's post because of the comments she got on her blog afterwards. Not good. It obviously wasn't funny to her. But I wish my Etsy friends would get featured on my favorite laugh-out-loud site www.regretsy.com - because if you are singled out for ridicule at least get HUGE publicity from it and $$$$.
DeleteFor what it's worth, I think most of us do have a good sense of humor and can laugh at ourselves when we talk about the generalities of the things we craft bloggers have in common. I find some of your other posts highly entertaining, and would have found this one to be so had you kept it general. For example, questioning what a diaper cake is and/or sharing a man's opinion on the idea of it or of wreaths or of pretty much any craft you want is fine...and quite funny. But I think the line was crossed when you singled out particular crafts, and therefore the ladies who created them, as the poster children for what you find ridiculous. I agree wholeheartedly with those who said it would have been fine had you given these crafters a heads-up so they could decline the "feature" or even posted a disclaimer on Mandy's link party just so people knew about the possibility. My projects were not mentioned, as I do not link up at Sugar Bee, but I can imagine not appreciating being singled out and laughed at if they had. Generalities, quite funny; specific targets, not so much. Thanks for your time.
ReplyDeleteI know what you're trying to do with this blog, boys don't get it, we say it's cute you think it's creepy. But I think what was so appalling to many of us with the features was that you made light of bloggers who were proudly sharing their work on Mandy's site. She's a big blogger that many look up to it would be like a freshman trying to show off something they worked hard on only to have their senior idol let her boyfriend publicly make fun of it.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of you having your own link party where you can pick from people who know 100% what they are getting it to sounds good but I think pulling from her party is just getting the wrong audience and setting you up to have people hurt. I'm telling you now unless the disclaimer is a giant image and above every link party people will miss it and some one will end up getting hurt.
Yes blogging is public and we as bloggers need to know some people are going to make light of us and we should grow tough skin. On the other hand we as bloggers with link parties need to realize why people are submitting them, because they are proud and worked hard, they are showing off. When people submit things to link parties they don't expect to be made fun of by the people putting on the link party.
There are many who were very hurt and very offended. I think they are trying to put on a brave face or "not give you traffic" or attention. I believe you are not trying to be mean spirited about it. I know you were going for you just don't get the coolness cause you're a guy but in the end it came across just as you thought these were lame. If say you had links from Martha Stewart maybe the point would have been received better.
this drove one blogger to remove her whole blog, that's not cool.
with respect to the phone I've got a android tablet and love it I've been considering a smart phone too so I'm glad to hear you are a fan
So, I'm just going to have an opinion on the phone: It's a Ford vs Chevy question (which I'm sure you, being a tech guy, already know). Does she like it to do everything for her? iPhone. Does she want some freedom to think for herself and also personalize her home screen in a totally awesome and crafty way?? Android. As for the personalization, search for ZCute GO Launcher Theme. See? She needs an Andriod just for that purpose!!! And look how you can rotate the apps across the screen!!! So cool!!!
ReplyDelete