It seems the female blogging world has reached its annual pre-BlogHer peak of frenzy. I have read so many comments about how nervous people are about it.
Let Aunt Suebob assuage your jitters and debunk your worst fantasies.
1. It is going to be just like high school with cliques and mean girls.
Fortunately, most BlogHer folk have gone beyond that. While there are little groups that know each other and may seem exclusive at first, most people at BlogHer are open and welcoming - we are sisters in geekdom, after all. We understand each other in a way that 95% of the world does not, and we have a few short days together.
2. I won't fit in.
Do you have a blog? Are you a woman? Well, you fit in. Sometimes you can fit in even if you aren't a woman.
3. But I am different.
Get over yourself. Everyone is different. Be proud. If you are different and a jerk, no one will like you. If you are different and friendly, you will do just fine.
4. I am too fat/too ugly/not stylish/have a f***ed up haircut/have nothing to wear.
Save that for the other 363 days a year. At BlogHer, you're ok.
5. I don't want to make an ass of myself in front of my blog crushes.
Why not? Your blog crushes make an ass of themselves in front of YOU all the time. Isn't that why you love them?
6. I can't afford it.
I can't help you with this one. Neither can I, but in a Scarlett O'Hara burst of enthusiasm, as God is my witness, I will be in Chicago.
7. I will end up sitting in a corner by myself.
You might, but you will have to try awfully damned hard to do so.
8. I'm not good in social situations.
News flash: most of us aren't. Why do you think we are bloggers, sitting behind our little screens, lobbing our words at an unseen audience? It isn't because we are social butterflies who just LOVE to get out there and mingle.
But with BlogHer, you get 2 days of concentrated socializing, so you can crawl back into your cocoon for the other 11 13/14ths of the year and read blogs and say "Hey, at least I have blogging friends from all over the place. I'm actually kind of a big deal."
So deep breaths, my lovelies. Grab your beverage of choice, pull up a chair, and get ready for fun. This is not a test. No points will be given or subtracted. Your only duty is to relax and enjoy yourself. Go.
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There is also video of my sick crush, Ari Gold, (among other things) over at Linkateria
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Hey, Angel Apologist, call or email me. Your voice mail is full, apparently. WTF??
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22 comments:
Hey, Suebob. Haven't been here for too long. It's good to see you're still blogging.
Great post young lady. I am a bit tired of all the angsty worry too. We are all a bunch of geeks, we'll be fine. I hope to see you there.
Holly Capote!!!!!! I am so glad to "see" you!
And Meno, you betcha. Email me and I will give you my cell - snackishblogATyahoo.
I wish I could go! I'm sorry. :( Have fun for me?
So Sorry, between my new job and apologizing for the Angels (itself a full time job), I neglected to let you know I have a new phone #.
I will call you tomorrow. Hope you are well.
-Angel Apologist.
I'm so excited and not at all nervous, but that's due to the clique I've already formed: my roommates suzanne, Alex Elliot, and Count Mockula. Plus I get to meet so many new people, including you Suebob, the reason I know (of) most of these people! I love you Suebob!
I'm a bit nervous...not so much about the actual conference but of driving on American Interstate highways. The roadtrip will be half the fun, though. See you there!
Or hey, if you WANT to sit in a corner and not talk to anyone, you can do that too!
Suebob, looking forward to seeing you and the stapler.
Hey, we can all be unique together! great post!
And you forgot to add:
If some fantastically nice lady with a red stapler comes up to you and asks to take your picture, you better damn comply.
:)
Can't wait to see you again. I stole a duck just for you :)
I can't wait to meet you!
Am I weird? I've never been to BlogHer but I'm not nervous or in a frenzy at all. I just am so excited. But, like you, I'm working on a post to quell the fears of those who tremble!
I don't think there's anything wrong with publicly expressing angst by those who are going. If you're nervous about large groups, trust me, no amount of comfort will make you feel better, because it's overwhelming and scary! And sometimes reassurance is a good thing, when done gently, but sometimes you just gotta get it out there.
Though I've never been to BlogHer, I've been to other conferences of a similar nature, and they ARE angst-inducing, to some degree. It's okay to be nervous about that stuff! Everyone is! The truth is, these things aren't fun for everyone, no matter how wonderful the people attending are, and that's okay too.
For me, as I posted, it was a perfect storm of reasons, mostly surrounding expense and my toddler-like discomfort in large groups. It's not that I don't want to meet everyone -- I do -- but again, over a plate of cookies in a more intimate setting is so much more my game.
Thank you, Aunt Suebob. That made me feel much better.
Can't wait to meet you in person!
I can't wait to see you again Suebob! And meet the rest of you. And like Des, I am much less nervous this year because I know more people. The conference really can be overwhelming as Jonniker said, but there are niches for everyone.
It's ok Jonna. I'm just incredibly bitter that you won't be there. Sniff. Have fun with Lawyerish.
That is the greatest pre-BlogHer post ever.
I'm missing it already.
I'll be there on second life though. Does that count?
I couldn't agree more - I am not nervous, just so so excited!
how did I miss this post? oh, yeah, I was having a really dreadful day...so my comment will get lost in the ether I fear, but loving run on sentences as I do (almost as much as parenthetical comments), I must say this: excitement comes in many forms, ladies. some of us experience it as great joy and some as full blown jitters. tis the nature of the particular beast, I suppose. See you all there.....!
I wish I were going!
Great post! I'm looking forward to meeting you.
Thanks for easing my jitters about going to BlogHer -- I am a first-time attendee who hasn't flown in over 15 years, anywhere -- now, if only you were sitting next to me and, you know, holding my hand on the plane!
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