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Battling the tall, white, all-male blogosphere
I just read an interesting post on Alan Jenkins's communications blog, Desirable Roasted Coffee.
Jenkins—a very witty, funny writer—talks about a blogger calling herself 'Halley Suitt.' Suitt wants to bring diversity to the blogosphere. She seems to feel that blogs—like everything else in the world, I'm sure Suitt would say, if given the chance—is run by white males.
To solve the problem, Suitt wants bloggers to accept her 'Ten New Voices' challenge, and link to 10 new blogs. But not just any blogs. Oh, no. They have to be a certain kind of blog. Written by a certain kind of person.
Here are Suitt's rules, word for word, for which bloggers you're allowed to link to:
'1. They can't be male if they are white;
2. You must have five women and five men;
3. You must have at least three non-Americans.
If I missed anything, please let me know.'
Let you know if you missed anything? Where the hell to begin, Halley?
First, what if a blogger is white and male . . . but he's gay? Sorry . . . he doesn't make the cut in Suitt's version of a diverse blogosphere. You only get two strikes in her world, and white, male homosexuals don't get in.
And what about midgets? Why is it that in all the conversations about 'diversity,' you never hear anything about midgets?
You think midgets don't have a diverse point of view in life? You bet your tall ass they do. I've talked to plenty of midgets in my life. They have a lot to say. To exclude them from the New Diverse Order of the Blogosphere, as decreed by Diversity Queen Halley Suitt, would be an outrage of gigantic proportions, no slight intended.
In the 'Corporate Diversity' world, you always hear people talking about how our 'employee base needs to match our customer base.' The idea being that you can relate better to your customers if you have a diverse workforce, right?
Well . . . let's say you have a midget customer. Do you really think that if you send out a midget salesperson to deal with that customer, he's not going to close the deal? Midget to midget? Stamp that sale closed, baby.
But we never hear about midgets in the corporate diversity training programs, either.
In fact, I would say that if you have ten new voices in your new blog reading list, at least two of them should be midgets. Now, if you want to double up on your diversity in order to save room on your list, that's up to you. If you want to have a gay midget, or a midget of color, that's cool.
But I would say two midgets, minimum.
And shame on Ms. Halley for slighting them.
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Feels like Total Recall. Er, Philip K Dick?
Actually, with Steve's example it's a bit scary --- standing at the urinal...
Comments (17)
Hey, thanks Candi!
The one thing I've learned over the years teaching seminars is that you can be a little bit funny AND informative, you stand a much better chance of people paying attention.
Yes, of course I did some midget focus groups before writing this piece. I am very sensitive to the diverse needs of that particular audience, so I focus grouped it out thoroughly, and nobody had a problem with it.
Steve
Posted by steve C. | April 4, 2005 12:08 PM
Posted on April 4, 2005 12:08
Well today it worked with the dub-dub-dub...but the other day I got errors. I find blogspot kind of funky sometimes.
I guess you can say it goes both ways. (buh-dum-bump)
Posted by Rebecca, Julie's friend | April 6, 2005 10:24 AM
Posted on April 6, 2005 10:24
DATE: 04/01/2005 22:35:2P PM
Good god. There are millions upon millions of blogs out there - can she really think most of them are written by white men? I write one, I am not a white man, and I would be happy to link to a midget blog. Does Bridget have one?
Posted by Meredith | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/01/2005 30:73:9P PM
Bridget!! Ha ha. I guess she really does believe that. What Alan Jenkins points out is the absurdity that most blogs are "American." And that we should link to a blog because of the demographics of the blogger, not because they have anything interesting or relevant or humorous to say.
And you should go check out her blog, to read some of the responses from people!! One black woman bravely volunteered her blog to be on peoples' list!!
What a hoot.
Steve C.
Posted by Steve C. | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/01/2005 30:74:1P PM
Well, what about white men whose first language is not English? There are plenty of European men, who are white, who are blogging, maybe in English, maybe not. Maybe you need a translator. But that's diverse, too! Why is she commenting on diversity when she doesn't recognize that diversity is so much more than male vs. female, white vs. non-white.
She's ridiculous.
It's not like there's some blogging scandal where non-male non-white people are being barred from blogging.
Doesn't she understand: the white male is just so narcissistic he feels he has the most to say, and that everyone in the blogosphere wants to read it. I choose to just chime in.
HA. sometimes I'm funny.
And yes, Steve, I was LOL about you and the officers club comment. Wasn't there even one GI with a still in their barracks like on M*A*S*H?
Posted by Rebecca, Julie's friend | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/01/2005 31:12:4P PM
Rebecca: You ARE funny . . . and I needed you on that Army base. Not just to help me sniff out illegal stills . . . but because I had to meet with the IT folks.
They were actually really cool, and very agreeable to work with (translation: they were willing to incorporate my feedback!!) . . . but MAN, there were a few times when the conversation drifted off into IT Land, and I was lost.
One minute we're talking about putting an interactive management column on the home page, and the next thing I know, they're talkinga about reversed proctors or something like that.
I just kept nodding . . . and nodding . . . and then asked them the same exact question again. Eventually, we got to the bottom of it.
Meredith . . . WHERE is your blog????
Steve C.
Posted by Steve C. | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/01/2005 32:15:5P PM
Oh my, military IT peeps? Yeah, that sounds like fun. *snore* I myself have actually drifted into IT land in casual conversation, but I usually catch myself pretty quick. I have had people do the nodding, and nodding and blank stare, and more nodding with the occasional "uh-huh". Then I just start throwing out every IT acronym I can think of and laugh. If you ever need an IT translator (and you are somewhere where you can actually contact the outside world) ... you know where to find me. I'm bilingual in geek speak, with the ability to still remember English.
Yes, Meredith, where IS your blog? We would so read it and chime in there, too. Not that you have anything important to say, since you're a woman....but we'd read it just the same. (see, I'm still funny.)
I think Steve qualifies as diverse because he's a white male, but he's also alcohol enthusiast...what about the alcohol enthusiasts? Don't their opinions count for anything? I find that fellow alcohol enthusiasts have a very diverse view on life that you sober folks don't know nuthin' about. Let me tell ya, deals over drinks are ALWAYS closed, baby. Send a drinker a bottle of the favorite poison and see if you don't make an impression.
Posted by Rebecca, Julie's friend | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/01/2005 38:05:6P PM
Rebecca you ARE funny- and please let me know when any of you find an native american indian, alcholic, lesbian, 10 fingered midget with eyes in back of her head blog that i can join.
Posted by Cathy | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/01/2005 38:51:1P PM
Now, I'm a white male and I DON'T write a blog... where do I fit in to the New World Order?
The most I can muster is to weigh in on another white male's blog (hi Steve) - which of course I can do since I know the secret handshake, and discussed the deal on the golf course and in the men's room.
SN
Posted by Steve Neruda | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/01/2005 39:62:5P PM
Cathy, you are funny, too! We women should all be blogging, apparently.
I went to Halley Suitt's site, and while I find her list of criteria ridiculous for such a formative speaker/blogger/communicator, the issue is an interesting one, and quite heated. This is not a blog issue, female journalists have been complaining for decades about the white male dominance. In Haley Suitt's blog, I found a link to http://www.chrisnolan.com/archives/000696.html. You want a girl with some chops, wow. I would hate to be on the receiving end of her blog. I should send her a bottle of something...
Anywho, I think that blogs are no different than written publications. You get a reputation within your industry and people will read what you have to say, when they like it, they link to it, hence passing it on. I don't think you should feel a responsibility to link to a blog just to be diverse, that would be like advertising for something you don't necessarily believe in.
Some yahoo made a comment about female political bloggers not wanting to get into the political blogosphere because they "can't stand the heat". Well no wonder everyone got all whipped up. It was a stupid thing to say.
Posted by Rebecca, Julie's friend | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/01/2005 41:04:6P PM
Okay, the blog. First, the disclaimers: it has nothing whatsoever to do with communications or any other aspect of my job. Next, it includes bad language and is occasionally unsuitable for sensitive audiences. As you might've guessed.
It also contains -- brace yourself, Steve -- references to American Idol. I can't help it, I am not made of wood!
Here it is: http://www.bumptiously.blogspot.com
Posted by Meredith | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/01/2005 42:50:8P PM
Now, call me crazy, but here in cyberspace, is it not true that NO ONE WOULD KNOW who you are unless you tell them? I mean, you can find out with a little google savvy I guess, but really, isn't writing skill the great equalizer in the blog world?
I mean, if you make an issue of your race/gender/proclivities/what-have-you and then complain that others MAKE AN ISSUE of your etc etc - well, isn't that just a tad foolish?
SN
Posted by Steve Neruda | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/03/2005 78:05:0P PM
Umm..hello, is it just me or is everyone missing the best part of Steve's post? Sure Suitt's a wacko. Big deal, there's a million wackos out there. The wacko thing is a bit overdone if you ask me. But the midget bit now THAT was priceless. Really Steve, you crack me up. And most communication/PR/marketing blogs I read just aren't funny. Informative yes, funny, no. That's why I keep coming back here. Thanks for providing a much needed laugh on a rapidly dwindling, one-hour-short Sunday night.
I just have one question, did you pretest this post with the midget market. What was their response? Were they pro-midget diversity? ;)
Posted by Candi | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/04/2005 33:65:9P PM
Meredith! I love your blog...but if others want to find it, they need to go here:
http://bumptiously.blogspot.com
Some old friends of mine and I have a blog on blogspot as well, that's how I knew to remove the www.
Have a fine day...
Posted by Rebecca, Julie's friend | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/05/2005 02:40:0P PM
I have severe blog envy, Meredith. I want to be able to swear like you do!!!!!!!
Steve
Posted by steve C. | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/05/2005 32:45:1P PM
Does it really not work without the wah wah wah? Hmm.
Steve...buy me that margarita and I'll give you a tutorial.
Posted by Meredith | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
No, they're not.
Posted by Jeremiah Bull | October 10, 2007 12:19 PM
Posted on October 10, 2007 12:19