Dead Robot The space between gay and straight, stupid and smart.

Toronto’s Top Bloggers

I think I'm wearing a nice shirt. I think I look good. I walk into the room and realize I'm about 20 years too old and 20 minutes too late - the meeting had started long before I arrived. Oh hello...?

Foto from smojoe.com

Back in May, I was invited to an informal meeting of "Toronto's Top Bloggers" as defined by Rob Campbell, a kinetic social media guru who, when he walks into a room, sweeps you up into his schemes with his charm and charisma, like a Canadian Steve Jobs without the temper. I looked around the room at the top bloggers and recognized ...no one.  We all took turns to speak about our sites, our styles and our future plans/desires when it came to blogging. As we spoke,  a camera was focused on us as we addressed the group. Whoosh, the halogen light poured over me as the one-eyed monster drunk me in. I said:

"I'm Ted Healey, I run Deadrobot.com and I'm the resident queer."

"Holy shit dude!" exclaims Raymi, from Raymi the Minx, as only Raymi could. If you've ever met her in person, you'd get that last statement.

We discuss creating a powerhouse of networked blogs that will become a marketing force using referrals through links and trackbacks. We also discuss Lenzr, which, as you know, I still write for from time to time. The camera gets shut off and we're free to mingle up on the patio for pictures and individual video interviews. It was here that I got to meet the other bloggers.

And walked away feeling like I just auditioned for a reality TV show.

And didn't get in.

Each person I spoke to asked me politely about my blog and then waited for me to ask about theirs. Which I didn't. Because I didn't know any of their sites and didn't want to come off as an ignorant dolt. Blame me for not researching before I snapped up the free drinks.

Awkward.

In hindsight, the lot of us in a reality TV show would have made a more entertaining show than that crappy Lofters drivel. Picture it: The show would be great if they had stuck us into a house and given us cams and access to our blogs, we could slag each other off in the name of celebrity and let the public choose who wrote the better slaggin' combined with our on-air personalities. Immunity could be achieved if we could hack into the back end of each others site and upload embarrassing video. Or eat worms live on TV. Or wear ladies underwear.

I digress (call me, MTVCanada!)...

Yesterday I learned that the three biggest personalities in the room (read: the ones who did the most talking) have joined together to fully brand themselves as Toronto Blog Stars (TBS), and has gone so far as to get themselves an agent. I learned this through a slightly smarmy yadda yadda yadda article over on Torontoist where they review the TBS event on how to be a big deal online. Newsflash: the only way you will become a celebrity through blogging is by becoming a superstar. Read: You gotta believe! Surprised? Me either.

The article is a good read yet go to the comments. The raging debate over "brand", "celebrity" and "ego" is fascinating. Two of the TBS show up to defend themselves from the douchebaggery that they've slightly been painted as. I say slightly because the author of the article didn't enjoy the fact that the TBS' online egos didn't translate well in Meatspace, yet agreed with their premise (cause?) regardless.

Best comment (if you want to skip it all):

Corina Newby
Other than overstating the obvious a tad, this article/comment thread beautifully demonstrates the blogger ego.

I sit here currently struggling to end this post: my ego ("Why wasn't I asked?! I want to be known!" Yells my inner brat) and my relief ("Holy shit, I'm glad I don't have to face a review where I look slightly douchey" comments my inner Marketing Manager) are conflicting each other right now.

So I'll just...

What Are You Doing This Weekend?

I think I'm going to push a shopping cart through someone's colon.

Please hold all your Dufferin Mall jokes. I'm sure they've heard them all before.

Via Torontoist.