Quite a while ago, I had the idea of creating a blog directory site that was entirely visual in nature. There would be no text at all... just pictures of bloggers that you could click on when the mood struck you. I thought it an interesting way to discover new blogs, and also put faces to the blogs you already know about.
Unfortunately, life got in the way, and I never quite got it going.
Until Tuesday.
On Tuesday I got another nice invitation to join one of the many "Blogger Networks" that keep popping up. They liked my blog and thought it would be a fabulous addition to their group. And just like the last time, it was a network I had never even heard of, so I wrote back and politely declined. I explained that this wasn't something I was interested in just now, but best of luck and I hope your endeavor is a successful one. UNLIKE last time, I received a reply:
"Are you stupid?? We're building a powerful network that could explode your traffic and give you exposure you could never get on your own!!! Blah blah blah blah blah."
And that's when I got to thinking... what do I care? I don't have ads or anything. It's not like I get a prize for having more readers. And the more I thought about it, the more offended I became. Some of these networks actually look worthwhile for finding great reads (9rules must be good, because both Pauly and Firda are members)... but most of the others I've found are nothing more than elitist wank-fests. My joining would just provide links for their crappy blogs, and I don't even care about my own traffic. So I wrote back another email and told them "sorry I am too stupid to join... f#@% you, and have a nice day."
And then yesterday I woke up and decided to create my own elitist blogging network...
Well, actually, BloggerPeeps is not so much a network as it is a list of blogs that I like. Every couple of days I'll send out a batch of email invitations to people in my web feed reader and, if people want to become a member, I'll add them to the site and they officially become a VIB... Very Important Blogger.
Then, if you should wish to show off your new status amongst the blogging elite... I'm making little BloggerPeeps member badges, and am working on these little sidebar widgets that will fit nicely under a Flickr Zeitgeist. Right now they just randomly grab members and rotate through them, but I am working on a way to make it so that when you click on a face, you'll go to their blog...
I'm also going to finish making the MacOS X Dashboard Widget, so Mac users can access the BloggerPeeps Web Feed right from their desktop...
Sweet! Now I have a project for the weekend.
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Cool idea.
I never even realised that there were invite only blog-clubs. Guess they must have missed me off their mailing list…
mmmm… widgets!
It’s a really cool idea!
This is why I almost have convinced myself to get a Mac. You cannot do these cool artsy type things on a PC. Well, you CAN, but it sucks how impossible it is.
Sooo….what does one need to do to be a part of your elitist group, anyhow??
You are bloody brilliant!!!
*kissy kissy kissy*
LOL 🙂
Kick.Ass. Finally a real group of people that don’t suck, don’t blog for ad cents, and are worthy of Lord Dave. The only question I have is, could Blogger have something to say about calling it “BloggerPeeps”?
Everybody in my web feed reader will get an invite… that pretty much includes everybody who comments here, and all the blogs I read.
Ooooh… we’ll all be so exclusive and elite!
“Blogger” is a generic term for “one who blogs” and is written up as a noun in Websters. I’m not worried. 🙂
Sweet. I look forward to checking it out.
So that means, because I comment here, but am not on your blogroll (and yes, I AM insulted) that you’ll eventually get to me, but I’m a second tier find? I can deal with that.
Great idea, btw.
My blogroll only has room for 50 spots, so I couldn’t add many of the newer blogs that are in my web feed reader (232 at last count).
BloggerPeeps will let me have a much bigger “blogroll” than before. 🙂
I’m stupidly jealous that you can come up with something like this and actually execute it!
I can’t even figure out how to modify the coding on my blog so that it looks like I want it to!
Good luck and have fun with your project!
Hey! Can I be on your blogroll thingy? Wait wait, that didnt sound right. Blogroll? That’s nasty. You made that sheeit up. Ok I fell for it. I asked to be on Dave’s “blogroll”. Wait a minute I……don’t……have……a blog. There’s that f*%king 26% gay thing again.
Very cool. Will there be Veronica Mars or Elizabeth Hurley subpeepgroups?
Principles, man. It’s good to see principles. You need to watch 24 Hour Party People if you’ve never seen it. I think you’d get it.
hey neat idea! it’s sorta like a web ring, and i’ve never liked web rings. but this is cool since there won’t be ads and what not. very cool. haha. excellent weekend project. 🙂
I’ve seen “24 Hour party People” about a half-dozen times (Joy Division / New Order created some of my favorite music). It IS good to see principles.
This isn’t really a web-ring, because members will be under no obligation whatsoever to promote BloggerPeeps… the web badges and junk are all optional, they’re just there for fun. I think web-rings require you to put badges and links to other sites in their “network” and we won’t be having any of that. 🙂
This is a GREAT idea…and now that I’m no longer in the 9Rules Network, I can jump aboard this baby!
Yaaaaayy! This will cement me firmly, like never before, as an official DaveOphile. Wheeeeee!
Love this idea! It’s better than the completely uncreative ‘Join my bloglist of doom’ that seem like a really good idea for about 10 minutes but then you realise that all the links will make the blog look like a billboard with loads of old posters peeling off. Having said that I would wear the BloogerPeeps badge with pride… should I be invited… 🙂
And the randomness of which blog to read is great – it was randomness which brought me here and, well, the gods were smiling that day!
Sweet. Who is that dirty guy with the beer? Don’t invite him. He sucks. Plus, I’m pretty sure he has ads on his site.
Wait, there’s a guy behind that beautiful mug of beer??
Actually, ads don’t bother me at all, and I’m happy when somebody can pay for their blogging hobby or even make a few bucks by hosting them. It’s just those people whose sole purpose in having a blog is so they can sell ads that bug me. Usually these are the same morons who steal from other blogs in order to populate their site. That sucks ass.
Damn, now I’ve got to find a better picture of myself. Mine just doesn’t feel hot enough. The bloggerpeeps look way sexier than I do, I can’t bring them down with my ugly mug.
Oh my. I feel so honored. Not only because my goofy mug is right there on your blogger peeps pictures (I’m faaamous!) but I’m on your blogroll, too.
You like me Dave! You like me! I’m a Peep! I love Peeps! They are so yummy at Easter.
Will there be a widget for my Mac? I have yet to learn about widgets…..
Haha, I really like the name BloggerPeeps. It’s just fun to say “peeps”, and I don’t really get to say it very much in normal everyday conversation. For some reason or another, it just doesn’t come across right for a caucasian looking male to be saying “peeps” in reference to his “homies”. Great idea!
You should add a feature like the MyHeritage site that lets someone upload a picture and then matches his or her picture to pictures of bloggers on BloggerPeeps. I say to make it like MyHeritage since you probably wouldn’t even have to write an advanced algorithm but just pick faces regardless of whether or not they look anything like the picture the person uploaded! It would just be a cool gimmick, and everybody loves a gimmick!
“Elitist wank-fests”, lol. Legendary.
I was hoping you would go about finishing this idea. I remember that discussing this project with you and you convincing me of the power of XML and RSS feeds was the primary reason I broke from my old static HTML site.
Is this just a little like AmIHot for bloggers?
Are BloggerPeeps anything like Marshmallow Peeps? ‘Cause, man, do I love them Peeps. Especially when you put them in the microwave for a little bit. But I would never do that with a BloggerPeep…
That is really cool. I am in awe of your skills…
Cooooool – a Dave Certified Blogging Ring. Now we just need a Yahoo Widget version for us poor Windows users. 😀
Thanks Dave, I’d be PROUD to be a VIB on your network!
But why can’t I have a dashboard widget? (he said in his whiniest voice)
Oh yeah, I remember. It’s because I have Windows, and Windows sucks.
Great idea Dave. I’d like to be able to add it to my site too. That’s a sweet deal.
all of a sudden i’m thinking, “if you build it, they will come…”
Love the gravatar pic, Bec.
As for blogs, I really don’t have one just yet. My front page on my web site has some stories that I find newsworthy, but nothing in a blog-like format.
That will change in the very near future. Hope I can be included in the BloggerPeep list when that happens.
Count me in!!! Biotch!!! 🙂
this is a great idea. i am addicted to reading blogs, and flickr, so this is a perfect pairing.
I’m kind of pumped at the prospect of maybe, possibly being a VIB. It warms my heart on this chilly (not really, but fits with the sentence) Friday.
In terms of joining, I would have held out and offered for the right price since the interst is so high. Maybe anyone who bought one of your shirts or something???
Hahaha. Brilliant, I was laughing out loud reading that, how dare you not join an Elitist Wank fest… Only to set up your own private club as a response. Well, I suspect yours will be a lot more interesting and I’ll look forward to eating up even more of my day checking out those feeds.
By the way, if you’re still keen on going to gigs in Temple Bar, they’re having a Sectarian riot there right now. Should be a laugh.
Well, I’m a newcomer to your blog Dave, so I don’t know if I’ll get an invite. I do read it often though. I may not always comment, but I check your blog several times a week.
“It’s just those people whose sole purpose in having a blog is so they can sell ads that bug me. Usually these are the same morons who steal from other blogs in order to populate their site.”
Wow, when I read your comment, it made me realize: Have I got a story for you.