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Posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008

Dave!Before there were blogs, there were online journals, of which I had two. They were hand-coded in html and difficult to update, but they did keep my readers (all four of them) updated as to my travels and happenings. Then tools came along to make online journals easier to update and they were re-branded "blogs," but it was all the same to me. I'd start a blog, get bored, kill the blog, start a new blog. Eventually i decided to make a real effort at "the blogging thing" and Blogography was born. It was killed 6 months later.

But then better blogging tools came along and Blogography was reborn. Five years later, it's still here.

I honestly don't know why. It should have died off years ago.

I'm guessing it has to do with the "blogging community" that's given me so much. New friends. An extended family. Many good times. Some bad times. And a lot of laughs. I'm guessing it's the same for a lot of bloggers. You keep going because you can't imagine not going on and leaving the community behind.

But then money had to come along and fuck up everything.

Advertising. Merchandising. Revenue sharing. Commissions. Free merchandise. Travel. Book deals. Speaking engagements. Sponsorships. Conferences. Professional bloggers. And a myriad of other things that have made blogging as big a business as anything else out there.

Most of the time, this money is pretty insignificant. Maybe a blogger puts Google Ads on their blog and makes a bit of cash so they can pay their hosting costs and perhaps buy a pizza each month... and that's fine. I've said many times that ads don't bother me. So long as a blog is worth reading, I honestly don't care if they try to make a few bucks. Plaster you blog with ads, it doesn't make any difference to me because I don't visit for the ads and can easily ignore them.

And yet, there's a tipping point.

That point at which the dollars are no longer insignificant and a blogger realizes that there's money to be made.

And wherever money gets involved, drama is sure to follow.

This is not to say that money has to be involved for there to be drama. It doesn't. Drama can be motivated by a number of factors, and I'd guess most of them have nothing to do with dollars. But it's the money-drama that's the most interesting... because nobody involved will admit that it's about the money!

Once you've breached that tipping point, you can claim all you want that you're blogging for the love of it all, but it's a load of crap and everybody knows it. At that point it's all about building readership and leveraging that readership for a monetary pay-off. It's the holy grail that oh so many bloggers aspire to and, once they have it, will do most anything to protect. After all, once you've made serious bank from blogging, how could you lower yourself to go back and do it for free?

And that's where the trouble begins, because things inevitably turn nasty. Sometimes, because a money-blogger thinks that the best defense is a good offense, they'll mount an attack on other bloggers to "defend their blogosphere territory." Other times, a money-blogger realizes that nothing elevates readership better than controversy, and so they'll invent drama where there is none (or escalate drama that's already there) to snag readers. However the money-drama occurs, the money-blogger can't ignore it because battle-lines are being drawn and losing territory means losing revenue.

Not that they'll admit to it.

You'll never see a money-blogger say "There is a blogger that has come to my attention who is clever and fresh and writes about the same subject matter I do. If their readership keeps growing, I fear that they may start cutting into my revenue, and this simply cannot be allowed. I've got a book coming out and am a paid speaker at MoneyBlogger 2008, so my only option here is to attack them now while I still have the power to protect my brand. So when I say that this blogger is a talentless hack who steals ideas from other people and is a stupid doo-doo head, I hope that you will act like the mindless minions you are and join me in destroying them. Oh... and did I mention that they are a godless communist who likes to kick puppies and perform abortions in their spare time?"

Then the entertainment really begins, because the money-blogger being attacked will mobilize their readers for an offensive. Other bloggers will weigh in on the drama with their own opinions to build alliances. Still other bloggers will wait for the drama to die down... then stir it up again so they can create all new drama with themselves at the center of it... all in the desperate hope of snagging a few more readers so they can cash in and be a money-blogger too.

On the surface, it's a pretty battle filled with righteous indignation and the best of intentions. Underneath it all, there's the money.

No matter how strongly they pretend otherwise.

Most of the time I'm able to comfortably skip past the money-drama and ignore it. In rare events, this is not possible, though I try not to drag my own blog into the fray except in broad strokes (like now!), preferring to comment elsewhere.

And this is where I finally bring this entry full-circle by saying how the money-drama relates to me.

It doesn't.

Except that's not what some people think, and therein lies the problem.

People see that I sell crap at the Artificial Duck Co. Store and think I'm raking in the big money.

Which is laughable on so many levels. Last year the store lost me over $1200. Obviously I don't run it to make money, I run it because my readers like having the stuff. I like having the stuff. I sell the hats for $12. The hats cost me $12. I sell the T-shirts for $8.50. The T-shirts cost me $7.50. I sell the Playing Cards for as little as $2.50 (for an eight-pack). The Playing Cards cost me $3.00. No big money is being made. The $1 from the shirt goes to a fund to help my sister pay for medical expenses she has from kicking the shit out of cancer a second time (sorry for the massive profit margin on the shirts there, but I love my sister quite a lot).

I don't make money off of Blogography and, for the foreseeable future, that's not going to change. That's not why I blog. There's some very, very cool new merchandise in the pipe for Blogiversary 6, but it will be sold at my cost as it always has been. Even though I parted ways with my publishers (yes, both of them!) I still plan on releasing the first of my books next year (even if I have to self-publish). I think we all know that's not going to be a money-maker... but I worked hard on it, think people might like to read it, and so I'm going to make it available to them as cheaply as I possibly can. I'm far more interested in Blogography readers being able to afford my stuff than trying to wring money out of them.

But no matter how transparent I try to be as a blogger, I know that there will be those who don't believe me. There's always going to be a small group of people who are convinced that every time I say I like a product, some company has their hand up my ass and is paying me to say it. There's always going to be people who simply cannot accept that I'm not making huge bank from T-shirts and hats. It's human nature, and I certainly don't begrudge them for believing whatever they want to believe.

Except when they go telling it to other people as if it were fact.

In which case they can go fuck themselves. Twice now I've seen my name and my blog dragged into some outrageous shit because some money-blogger is trying to create drama and make a name for themselves. Which is monumentally stupid when you consider that I'm not in this for the money. More importantly, I'm not competition! You think I'm worried about losing advertisers from advertisements I don't have? There's no benefit in my engaging in your drama other than to spell out how monumentally stupid you are for assuming I would care.

So be a douchebag money-blogger wannabe and stir up all the shit you want, if you're so inclined.

I'll still be here not giving a flying fuck.


Categories: Blogging 2008Click To It: Permalink
   

Comments

  1. NYCWD says:

    This is such a powerful post on so many levels. There is a lot I could say here… but instead I will simply leave you with the bottom line:

    I believe.

  2. i love that you are readily available
    and cheap
    hehe

  3. Chag says:

    EXCELLENT POST! Seriously, when people sign up for Blogger accounts (or TypePad, or WordPress, or whatever), this should be mandatory reading. Or at the very least, part of the FAQ.

    I would like to think that most people realize you don’t make any money from your merchandise because the prices are so cheap. Apparently, I was wrong.

    Just keep doing what your doing, Dave.

  4. Bec says:

    Is there any way for you to be more desirable as a human being?

  5. Poppy says:

    Hi Dave, you look awfully cute in that dress today!

  6. Jen says:

    I love this post so much that I want to wrap it up in a blanket and cuddle it and softly sing to it then drizzle it with chocolate and eat it with a spoon. Because that’s what I do with things I really, really like.

  7. Penelope says:

    Flying fuck is one of my favourite expressions! I would pay to have you say that over and over ;o)

  8. Nicely said. Wait, so not only are you not an assassin, you’re not a multi billionaire either? The hell?

  9. Suzy says:

    Dave, you have a real job that pays you real cash. Someone like me does not. I just got a paid website gig and expect to be fired from it because I have a big mouth and will say what I want about my own field of standup. If I get fired, I get fired.

    I started blogging because I had quit another website gig and had finished a novel. I write. I’m amazed anyone reads me.

    But I’m more amazed that people get so upset over what other bloggers do. Who cares? Turn the channel.

  10. Avitable says:

    Very nice, but I prefer names and details, please.

  11. Mike says:

    Dave,

    Last year you gave me so much free stuff (oups, a delay = one free shirt, you won a contest = 2 free shirts, etc.) that I sorta figured you were not making a lot of money off the sales of the Artificial Duck store.

    But you have to make it so you AT LEAST break even. I understand you saying it’s about us readers being able to afford you stuff, but if you lose a thousand dollars a year, where’s the fun in that? Plus I’d like to think that if you make a little money, you’ll probably just make crazier/bigger stuff the next year.

    ๐Ÿ˜‰

  12. bluepaintred says:

    Speaking of shirts and cards and stuff. Do they go out in July or August? I forget :o(

    Also. If you wanted to make MORE profit on the stuff – like ZOMBIE tee shirts, I would still pay!

  13. Dave2 says:

    NYWD… It took me a while, but I’m there now!

    Hello… That is SO the story of my life!

    Chag… No, where I make the REAL money is guest-blogging for lazy bloggers who think they deserve time off! (my invoice is in the mail).

    Bec… I could be covered in chocolate pudding?

    Poppy… I wore it to be pretty just for you!

    Jen… Your children must be scared shitless to do anything remotely likable then! Being eaten with a spoon hurts!! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Penelope… I’ll put that in my next vlog.

    Kevin… I am a complete disappointment, I know. Expect nothing more, as there is little likelihood I will change!

    Suzy… I have no problem with people getting paid to blog… none at all. It’s when they attack because somebody else comes along who they perceive to be a threat to their income… that’s when I get pissed. Mostly because they don’t come out and admit it’s about the money. There’s always some lame-ass pretense which is just plain stupid (but no more so than the idiots who follow them into battle). Now that I’ve been on the receiving end of this treatment TWICE, I think I have a right to be pissed. And I can’t speak for anybody else, but I check your blog every day because you are entertaining.

    Avitable… ADMIT IT! YOU ARE A DRAMA STIRRING BASTARD!! When will I start seeing ads on your blog?

    Mike… I lost money because I grossly underestimated foreign shipping costs. That’s been fixed, and I should come much closer to breaking even this year.

    BluePaintRed… JULY!! I hope. A lot. As for the pricing… as I said, I’d rather sell as cheaply as I can so the most people can afford it as opposed to making a profit. I’m not into blogging to make money. I’m in it because I totally love you. ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Avitable says:

    I’m sure I’ll put up a few ads at some point. And I’m totally a drama-stirring bastard!

  15. Tracy says:

    Yeah. What he said.

  16. Doug says:

    Dude – at least charge enough for your mechandise to break even. And truly, I don’t think your audience would mind it at all if you’d make some profit. Frankly, I’d be a little apprehensive to buy anything that was going to COST you money.

  17. nicole says:

    Yeesh. It’s pretty sad that I’ve been blogging for around 9-10 years now and I have no idea who you’re even referring to because I don’t read those people (and they don’t read me, LOL). But I think I like it that way. I don’t like the drama.

  18. Mattie says:

    Applause.

    Bravo.

    [standing ovation 11 minutes in length]

  19. Tug says:

    DANG. More drama I missed.

    (I’m OK with that)

  20. RW says:

    I actually think you deserve to make money from the stuff you create. Your artwork and the universe you create around it are what brought me here. I just don’t think it’s a crime for you to get a benefit in return for all the entertainment and lulz you give people, and I’m a little more inclined to also say I don’t think making a profit on something you craft is some kind of high crime.

    I don’t know about the other stuff you mention here because I don’t think I’ve clicked an ad on a blog as long as I’ve been alive and also am not familiar with the drama you are mentioning. But I don’t think a lot of your regulars would mind AT ALL if Dave Simmer made a few bucks for all the work he put in. I’d be happy for you to have it, and I can’t imagine anybody saying you were being a grubbing little snit about it.

    After all exchange works both ways. When you’ve given stuff away then I sit there feeling like a twerp because I’ve got nothing to exchange.

    1. cartoons
    2. people
    3. ####
    4. PROFIT!

    No problem here.

  21. lizriz says:

    I don’t get blog drama, seriously. I suppose someday I may find myself pulled in somehow, but for the most part I just do my semi-profitable thing the way I want and give it no thought at all.

    I think the things you create totally rock. Personally, I think you should sell your shirts, at least, for $10. It’s still a bargain!

    But I suppose that’s the capitalist in me talking. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  22. brandon says:

    replace ‘money’ with ‘ATTRACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX WHO ENJOY TEQUILA’ and i totally admit to blogging for the money.

  23. Naomi says:

    Wow…that was certainly more words than “Tomato!”

    Naomi’s comment brought to you today by: *insert product here*(tm). For more information go to: *insert product’s ™ website here* or call *insert product’s ™ phone # here*. Click here for free sample. The views expressed in this comment are not necessary common sense and besides, I’m just an attention whore and not in it for the money and by the way I’ve been on *insert major television show here* and written for *insert a bunch of major magazines here, but make sure you seperate all the titles by commas, ’cause I’m all about the punctuation*. (c)2008

  24. Nat says:

    100 per cent agree. I guess it’s like music eh? They get a certain measure of success, it’s hard to let go.

    So here is my take on it. I think it’s awesome that you’re not making money off your stuff and I appreciate it. And what if you were to break even or make a few bucks off the shirts and caps… so what? (You are stupid talented… wish I could do that… )

  25. ajooja says:

    The people who question your motives are idiots. I know there is probably no way of convincing everyone but I want you to know there will always be a large group of us who genuinely believe you, trust you, and consider you a friend.

    I always try to purchase a couple of extra items, even when I win something (like this year). I just don’t want it to cost you more when I think I’m helping. “Breaking even for the people” is certainly appreciated but you need to make sure you don’t lose money.

  26. Dave2 says:

    Avitable… Yes, but your ads will be for interesting products like lubricant and quality porn. I’m all in favor of that.

    Tracy… THAT’S WHAT KARL SAID!

    Doug… I’m trying! I should be much closer this year.

    Nicole… Yeah, some things are better left a mystery… if you can avoid them!

    Mattie… 11 minutes? Wow! In that case, when I DO decide to buy into the drama, I can count on your to attack people for me?

    Tug… Nobody is happier for you than I am! ๐Ÿ™‚

    RW… Maybe one day, I’ll have to monetize my blog. I’d just like to avoid it for as long as possible.

    LizRiz… By being a BlogHer writer, it’s kind of unavoidable for you, because there are anti-BlogHer people out there who like nothing more than bashing BlogHer and everybody associated with the organization. That’s how they get THEIR readership.

    Brandon… Replace MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX with CHOCOLATE PUDDING and TEQUILA with ELIZABETH HURLEY, and I’m in it for the money too!

    Naomi… (insert reply to comment here!)

    Nat… Stupid talented? Well, you’re half-right! I’m stupid-something!

    Ajooja… Yeah, but you won the grand prize in this year’s Blogiversary 5, so you might be a little biased. ๐Ÿ™‚

  27. Kyra says:

    (long, sorry) OK, Well, I don’t 100% agree with what you said. Oh, not about people creating drama – they can stuff it. I think you should charge a profit margin on the merchandise.

    Look, you said yourself that you are a graphic ARTIST (at least I think you did, I could have been hallucinating, but judging from the graphics here I’m going with it.) I’m an artist. Not a graphic one, but an artist. I sell my stuff. I make more than it cost in raw materials (not a great deal more, and if I broke it down into an hourly rate I’d probably cry, but I’m not going to go there tonight,) because what people are paying for is the vision that is represented at the end. The total creation.

    People are buying your creations – Not just a damn hat, already! Good grief! Do you really think that people buying your stuff would begrudge you a profit margin? The only people who would do so are the jerks who won’t buy them in the first place! I don’t care if you donate all of it to your sister or whatever, but you need to charge something “extra” just for you, because otherwise you are sort of… putting yourself down. And I don’t think a single person who has purchased something from you enjoys the idea that they have put you down in that way, without having the choice not to do so.

    Oh, and the money? I could give a flying fig what people make off their blog – but I have had people attack me for it. I DO make money off my blog. A lot more than probably 90% of the bloggers out there…maybe more. But I’m not taking it away from anyone, so I don’t feel bad. It paid for all my books and my gas money going back to school for all four semesters. It’s helping me with my car payment now. What is so wrong about that? And I’m not worried about anyone else either. Easy come, easy go.

    But the same does NOT apply to your creations!

  28. Dave2 says:

    As I’ve said, I have no problem when people make money off their blog. Not at all. It’s when they feel the need to viscously protect or expand the source of that money by attacking people that I have a problem. Especially when I have to be attacked for the sake of drama when I’m not even making money on my blog. It’s even worse when they make a big song and dance to camouflage their motives for being a prick.

    And when it comes to the crap I sell at Artificial Duck Co., knowing that other people are enjoying it is all the payment I need. ๐Ÿ™‚

  29. Winter says:

    Everyone said what I wanted to say! Especially the standing ovation comment.

    I have a seriously hard time being polite to people who will do anything, say anything, stir all kinds of poo, just to drive traffic to their blog and up their readership, etc etc. I have debated the ad/no ad issue in my head. When I went to WordPress I got a 3 column layout so that I could put ads if I wanted to… but the more time goes on, the more I don’t want to. This is one of the major reasons why. I. Fucking. HATE. Drama. And I remember things. So I’m better off avoiding blogs where people are like what you describe. I’m sorry people’s shit is splattering in your direction. You, of all people, don’t deserve it.

  30. Jake Titus says:

    Dave,
    Well said! BTW can you help out a poor struggling blogger you filthy rich bastard. Keep up the good work.
    Jake

  31. Mad William says:

    So how do you really feel about this?

  32. Dave2 says:

    Winter… To advertise or not advertise is a question each blogger has to decide for themselves. Maybe one day I’ll decide to do it, but I’m quite happy without it just now.

    Jake… Sure. How much money should I send?

    William… Eh, I try not to.

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  33. heather says:

    i get what you mean about not needing payment, just knowing someone enjoys your stuff can be enough. i do the same thing on a much smaller scale. hopefully the shipping costs will balance out a bit more for you this year. however, since so many of your readers seem to be upset that you aren’t making any extra money off of your merchandise perhaps you can add a tip jar to the store, or use a minimum/maximum priceing system that will allow customers to choose how much to pay for something. minimum being what it cost you to manufacture and ship the item, max being say, twice the cost. or is that something that only sounds good in my head? (~lots~ of things only sound good in my head. must be the acoustics in there)
    as for the attackers, fear causes some pretty outlandish behavior. money even more of the same, add the two together and it just becomes a clusterfuck. your response was (of course) well written but sadly will most likely fall on deaf ears and empty heads. kudos to you for rising above the fray and not posting names to add to the drama.

  34. Chag says:

    An invoice? Gulp. Please don’t make me make up the money you lost last year.

    I still don’t understand why you get attacked all the time. Do you have a secret site I’m not aware of?

  35. ADW says:

    I want to purchase the destructive Webkinz artwork. It feeds something inside of me that runs…. well, not very deeply at all. Plus, I initially found you through links, but I stayed because I am enamored with your cartoons and your take on random things.

    I am a fan for life because of two things:
    1. Your blog makes me laugh (most important)
    2. I have now seen you naked… kind of.

    I’m easy that way.

    Also, flying fuck is good, but I also like to tell a##holes to suck on a manatee dick!

  36. jake titus says:

    No money, just some Little Dave cards so that I can run a Three Card Monty scam.

  37. Catherine says:

    This kinda makes me happy i’m just a podunk blogger out in the interwebs boondocks somewhere, writing stuff for like eight and a half people. Eeep.

  38. margalit says:

    This is the most brilliant post you, and probably the entire blogosphere has ever written. BRAVO! Standing ovation! Total kudos. This was even better than seeing you naked.

    You are incredibly talented, not only in the graphic arts, but with your words. If those books don’t sell, it’s because publishers are morons. There is nobody, not one freaking blogger with a book contract, that can hold a candle to your creativity. I don’t care who it is, you’ve got them beat.

    And I STILL want those freaking T-shirts like yesterday, dude!

    Ms Merry Sunshine

  39. shari says:

    Yeah, the drama-dorks probably think you live in a glamorous city, too. HAHAHAHA!!! You’re good peeps, Dave2. Anybody wants to think otherwise? Fine. They lose. Too bad for them.

  40. ssp says:

    If you put some links to those evil money bloggers there we could go and destroy them.

    And I guess that would end all of us up in a strangely wound up circle of irony. You’ll direct the unwarranted attention to them, they won’t know what people’s problem is. Ah, the fun.

  41. Gรถran says:

    Gosh, you should move to Sweden. We only have drama IRL here so if you stay indoors blogging youยดre safe ๐Ÿ™‚
    I agree with a lot of the commenters. I would totally approve if you made some money on your stuff at the artificial duck store. Itยดs totally worth it. Every time I wear one of your t-shirts people ask me where they can get one.

  42. ~jtm says:

    This seems to be related to your tweets yesterday, which had me cracking up at work ,retail grocery the day before July 4th… so thanks for that.
    Like everyone else said, you should make at least a little money on what you sell, but I totally understand your pleasure in knowing others enjoy your stuff being enough… rock on, Dave, rock on!

  43. Lisa says:

    I think it’s an absolute shame that you are just breaking or not breaking even on some of your products in the Artificial Duck Store. It makes me feel guilty buying a t-shirt because I don’t want you to lose money!!! You should charge more money because you DESERVE to profit. Geez people need to get a grip.

  44. Musing says:

    You should be made the official Blogosphere Ambassador or something…bringing decency and common sense to the Internet.

  45. Anything I’ve ever purchased here is of the highest quality, higher quality than most things I’ve purchased at double (or more) at other sites (sites clearly trying to make a profit). And most of it’s nothing you’d want unless you’re a DaveFan! His cool hats make me wish I wore hats ๐Ÿ™‚

    Anyone who thinks he’s making money here is crazy! (Not that all the readers here aren’t cRaZy, it’s just not because of that)

    Most of the shirts don’t even have the Blog URL on it (no self promotion there).

    If he wanted to make some money – some Google ads on the side and some Amazon links whenever he talks about a product would be some easy cash and he clearly doesn’t want that.

    And lets not even talk about the prizes from his contests. Or any extras that he brings to a meetup…

    Suzy: I totally agree – “turn the channel” if you don’t like it.

  46. Kailey says:

    I have 4 of your shirts and my man has one and we love them! More will arrive with playing cards and I am exited. Thank you for making things affordable Dave. While I agree with the others and I would gladly pay more, I am actually kinda poor so the pricing much appreciated. I love your blog. Mean people suck.

  47. ChillyWilly says:

    Man, so much that has already been said that I agree with.

    As a blogger with a site that has ads on it, I completely agree with this post. I hate drama and anything associated with it that is used to increase monetary ambitions. It would be nice to have my blog make some income someday, as my ultimate goal is to be a full-time writer, mostly geared towards having one (or more) of my novels be published. I’ve always been up front that my blog was started to get me back into writing and beefing up my wordsmith skills that I so miss from being published over 12 years ago.

    The points you make here should be read by every person that wants to blog, because just like males that says they never masturbated as a teen, every blogger, regardless of the reasons why they blog, has some sort of future monetary vision in their head. Period. It’s that vision of having your 15 mins of fame (or in my case, enjoying a second 15 mins of fame in life) that lurks in the background.

    You are above all of the drama and omitted naming any culprits who wish to trash your ideal (even though Avi and I wouldn’t mind knowing who’s who so we can go “rough them up a bit, see”) and that’s always something I’ve respected about you. You’ve been honest and up front when shitty ass weirdness needs to be front and center, but have done it to make a point, not get dragged out into a sea of drama.

    So now that I’ve rambled a lot, I will just say: bravo and charge more for your stuff. Us fans will pay more for it and know that you are going to at least break even or have some funds for your sister. It’s all good.

  48. the patient says:

    I am still as pure as white snow!

  49. Greeneyezz says:

    I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to have ads on my site.
    I have always written and added things on my site….for me, as it really has become my own litle journal, so to speak.

    Aside from the content of my site, I’m obviously a stickler for artisitic layout and design. (I like the creative look to it as well.) Which ads totally screw it up.

    Good Post.

    Happy Fourth of July too! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    ~ZZ

  50. RW says:

    Admittedly I don’t know any details about the controversy so maybe my approach or question deserved the walk away it got, but can someone here please explain to me why making money is a bad thing?

    I repeat – Dave – your stuff is GOOD. From my side you’d DESERVE a profit and I would be happy if you got one. I don’t get all this other altruistic mumbo jumbo.

  51. Dave2 says:

    Heather… Yeah, I realized the minute I pressed “publish” that this rant wasn’t going to change anything. But it did feel good to finally get it out there. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Chag… I don’t know either. But my blog has been linked to from some very public places (like The New York Times, Wallstreet Journal, Fark, etc.) and so I end up getting exposed to a wide variety of people… not all of which are going to like what I have to say, and others who decide they just don’t like me. But that’s okay… when we put ourselves out on the internet like this, it should be expected that things can happen.

    ADW… DaveCock has brought me an entirely new following. I’m not yet sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Jake… Do I get a cut?

    Catherine… But you never know. Anything could happen on the internet. My blog was less than podunk for a very long time. I have no idea what happened!

    Margalit… If my book doesn’t sell, it’s because I’ll be fully clothed in any photos you’ll find inside!

    Shari… Ah, but as you well know, I DO live in a totally glamorous city! We are so lucky. When are we road-tripping to Portland? The only way we can afford it anymore is if we split the gas bill. ๐Ÿ™‚

    SSP… Exactly. Giving dumbasses link love is not the best approach, I think.

    Gรถran… Oooh! Don’t tell them! That way you can have the exclusive Swedish wearing rights!

    JTM… Wait a second… are you using Twitter when you should be working? FOR SHAME, JIVE TALKIN’ MOMMA, FOR SHAME!! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Lisa… Oooh, but I do. $1 of that shirt money goes to a very good cause indeed. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Musing… Somehow the idea of me bringing decency to the internet gave me quite a laugh… so thanks for that! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Gary… Yes, they would be crazy… but there are a lot of crazy people out there on the internets! ๐Ÿ˜€

    Kailey… And thank you… this is exactly the kind of thing I’m talking about!

    ChillyWilly… I’ll have you know that I never masturbated as a teen!

    ChillyWilly… And by “never” I mean “not often at all.”

    ChillyWilly… Okay… by “not often at all” I actually mean “every chance I got.” There, are you happy now?

    ChillyWilly… Of course, my teenage years were a long time ago. I never masturbate now.

    The Patient… Certainly! I would never say otherwise! (though you do know the pollution levels in “white snow” now-a-days, don’t you?)

    Greeneyezz… I’m sure I could find a way to work ads into the aesthetic of my blog… and maybe one day I will. Just not today. ๐Ÿ™‚

    R.W…. Not at all a bad thing. I love money. But for this particular endeavor it’s more important to me that things be as affordable as possible so as many people as possible can buy them. All the merchandise exists only because of the lovely support I’ve received from my readers, and this is my way of giving back. If I charged $15 for a shirt like other shops do, sure I’d make $7.50 for every one I sold, but I’m certain I’d sell a fraction of what I sell now. That amount of profit isn’t worth it to me when the alternative is that fewer people would be enjoying the stuff. If I created merchandise outside of my blog and sold it, then yeah… I’d undoubtedly want to make some money off of it. Maybe one day I’ll feel different. But right now I am far, far happier striving to break even than making money from stuff related to me blog.

  52. Tracy Lynn says:

    Dude,knowing now where that $1 profit goes, makes me wish it was more.

  53. I actually saw a flying fuck once. Two dragonflies. It was fascinating and I felt blessed that I got to witness a close-up of not just insect porn, but also porn that validates an American-English slang expression.

    Oh, wait… what were we talking about? Shit. I’m just here for the t-shirts.

  54. (Not terribly complex – but there it is)

  55. I really can’t stand blogging drama. I try to steer clear of controversial crap so I don’t get traffic that I don’t want. I have ads on my site and lots of people think I make big bucks from it. The truth is I don’t. Would I like to? Absolutely! But I’m not investing in drama to make that happen.

  56. Wow. I am blown away to read something totally honest and not at all disingenuous about this topic. So much else is all “methinks you all doth protest too, too much.”

    Amazingly, so many of the accusations I see seem to come from the same cluster of people or cite the same cluster of people. How curious.

    And how make your point for you.

    Your last few paragraphs spell it out, IMO. It really is about competition—whether for fame, money, credit for something or whatever. The thing is, we’re never as original as we think we are and rarely as important as we hope we are. And to set out as Watcher for “heel clippers” is remarkably arrogant.

    For many of us, writing *is* a business and we’ll follow every possible tip and trick to make a living out of this tough as nails, soul-sucking, drivingly competitive field that we do because ohmygosh we’d shrivel up and die if we couldn’t. ๐Ÿ™‚

  57. Robin says:

    Times are hard on the boulevard, Dave. You gotta do what you have to do to fund them damn DaveCon trips. I say more power to you….who gives two shits about drama?

  58. Troy says:

    Dave. Even if you increased prices at Artificial Duck Co. and were making loads of money I don’t think the majority of us would care. If you sell something you should be compensated for the time and money you’ve put into that venture. It’s called capitalism (and common sense).

    And I enjoy your brand plugs – and actually think you should get paid for them. You make them interesting – though they are never the #1 focus of your post. Unless the product is substandard or the company has pissed you off ๐Ÿ™‚

  59. lizriz says:

    Really? I honestly had no idea! I note that some of the blogs I read *ignore* BlogHer, but the animosity has flown over my head. I guess I just don’t read those people.

  60. SunSpotBaby says:

    You know, this post explains a lot of things…..I read a lot of blogs and sometimes I can’t figure out what the hell is going on – why is this blogger bashing this other blogger, so I go read the “other” blogger and they seem perfectly nice to me, then I run across it happening again. And so many times, the bashing-blogger is a pretty widely-read one, and it doesn’t seem to be necessary to be that way, unless there is this money thing going on, apparently.

  61. How cool… Dave books! Count me in.

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