EDIT Apr. 30, 2007 7:11 PM: I just read Ed Lau’s post today about SEO expert John Chow’s allegations that the One Day Blog Silence event today was just an effective but unethical link baiting operation. While I do believe in “innocent until proven guilty”, I have to say that a huge part of me had already been conflicted about the goals at the start. In truth, I was sitting on the fence about participating… Simply put, I don’t believe that silence is the best way of honouring all victims of violence. Yes, silence can say more than a thousand words… but silence is not the answer here. Voice… is action… that may lead to awareness or solutions to complicated issues such as gun control and the growing impact of mental illness on society. Gung-ho to back up your conviction with a donation? Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.
I put up the graphic on the 29th and tried not to blog on the 30th only to show my respect for a few bloggers (whom I hold in high regard) who felt strongly about ODBS, otherwise I wouldn’t have posted it. I have removed the backlink to the ODBS site NOT because I think unquestionable proof of guilt exists, but because the event is now over. Now… Think. Act. Speak. NOTE: John Chow is himself a pro linkbaiter (controversy = links). 2 sides.
Adieu for now,
Massa P
First off, I firmly believe that John Chow will do and say anything in order to drive more traffic to his blog and up his links. He is indeed an SEO Expert because he is quite capable of wrangling the system to suit his needs. For example, he used to bash PayPerPost and its members. He even went so far as to say that sponsored posts brought down a blog’s integrity. He got several PPP members hopping mad and they blogged about his post and linked it. He got what he wanted.
To top it off the guy is now signed up with, that I know for sure, PayPerPost and Review Me. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
As for the OBDS I refused to take part in it because 1, as you mentioned, in most instances silence does nothing and may only serve to exacerbate the situation. Secondly, I found it to be highly stupid. 33 people were killed at Virginia Tech that Monday, but just that weekend over 200 people were killed when a single bomb went off. But that bombing didn’t take place in the US so apparently bloggers felt a day of silence for those victims wasn’t merited. What really got me was the selfishness of it. Every day children are killed in school shootings and knifings, but these happen in low-income neighborhoods so it doesn’t make the news. But as soon as the white middle class or the rich people’s kids get shot at… Well, it just seems so prejudiced and judgmental. Were those victims anymore tragic than those killed elsewhere?
Unity bites people back again! Apathy forever!
Off-topic:
Where the heck are you? One Day Blog Silence? Sheesh, it’s more like Two Week Blog Hiatus! Write something.
OT: I dreamt about you just this night. In my dream Ewan McGregor was holding a humongous dummy board (or whatever you call it) telling me to say, “Summer is Fruity and Oaty!” I wonder what the heck that means!
Hmmm no new posts? Anyway, dropping by to say hi!