BLOGGERS WANNABE VIPs

I have been blogging for about 8 years now. What started out as a hobby, 8 years ago is now very much a lifestyle. I have met so many types of bloggers from the full-time bloggers to your run-of-the-mill ones. The only thing about bloggers and blogging now is that, this particular activity has become so saturated that it's as good as people who buy expensive camera equipment calling themselves 'professional photographers'.

When we all started blogging back then, it was a hobby. Just something fun to throw on the net. Hell, we didn't even have Facebook then. We were relying on Friendster. If you read most blogs back then, it was more personal. Just daily ramblings. If you like it, stay and read. If you dont, well... "OFF, IS THE GENERAL DIRECTION IN WHICH I WISH YOU WOULD F*CK." =)

The current trends of the bloggers from the newer generation? Lines like the ones listed below are no strangers to my ears:-

"I wanna blog because I will get invites to all the events."

"I wanna blog because it will make me famous."
"I wanna blog because I wanna be treated like VIP."

Whenever, I hear the lines above coming out of especially young girls...? I feel like telling it to their face, "It does not work like that, honey." Bloggers are not VIPs. Please do explain to me how if print medias are not VIPs, how will bloggers ever be taken as VIPs? Print medias has more credibility than bloggers. If it's on paper, it's LEGIT. 

Then, there are bloggers who seriously act like they are VIPs...

1. Bloggers who demand to be on the list! 
2. Bloggers who are on the list but fail to show up!
3. Bloggers who demand for free passes! 
4. Bloggers who demand for free gifts! 
5. Bloggers who demand for free flow of alcohol and food! 
6. Bloggers who announce to the world that they are invited to events!
   (no bragging rights should be given to bloggers who gets invites. only winners of contests should have bragging rights, those are the real consumers who actually work really hard for the invites. not piggy back on the title, blogger)

For clients, who are we actually targeting to please? Bloggers or consumers? I don't think these bloggers sound very VIP, they sound very much like freeloaders. Heck, what's wrong with paying for your own drinks and food?! That is why I respect bloggers who would pay for their own food and still write about it!  Must every party you attend only be free flow of alcohol? If you can't afford the lifestyle, don't fake it? If you have to demand for free flow means you're not worth it either.  

It's bloggers like these who taint the name 'blogger'. Why do you think I rarely would ever want to introduce myself as a blogger? I rather just say I'm a guest. What is the point of announcing to the world that you're a blogger? If you need to announce it, it probably means you're trying to compensate for what you're lacking. Do journalists run around announcing that they are a journalists? Do celebrities run around telling everyone else they are celebrities? NO, right? 

The problem that clients/PR companies face lately is determining which blogger is credible and reliable. I mean they are so many of them and for them to sieve through each blogger? Do you think they have the time for all that? Which is why I suppose companies like Nuffnang.com works. They have the resources to determine and make sure the clients are getting the best online exposure. Though, yes. They do cost quite a bit and they do focus too much on a minor few bloggers. 

Bloggers... If you've been practicing the above... seriously...WAKE UP! Do us a favour and try being a normal person without a blog? Bet you can't, right? If that's the case... then could you please be a nice ethical blogger?? Me and everyone else WILL NOT TREAT you like a VIP so long as you are only a blogger. When you're finally a celebrity on your own, yea sure. We'll give you all that VIP treatment that you want. 

Appreciate every opportunity given.
For if your head grows too big, there won't be enough space for it anymore.







PS: Credits to 9Gag for the funny illustrations!