To meme or not to meme
When I first started publically blogging I used to read blogs where the authors would be sent memes and I used to feel envious that they were found popular enough to be sent them. I was never included in the linky love tags and wondered why.
Then one day I was asked to do the What Do I Do To Keep Fit Meme, which was a little unfortunate really as the answer is “nothing”. A rather short response, although as it turned out, I had, that very week, emailed my local gym to ask about casual rates. Still, I’d been tagged. I felt as if I’d been accepted as a “proper” blogger.
This behaviour to my mind was bizarre. Was I not the queen of “I hate chain emails”? Are memes not a form of chain letters without the bad luck that invariably closes the email. I decided that no, memes are different. Memes are about sharing that linky love. Memes are about finding out about another blogger, and maybe finding some common interests or experiences. Just the other day I discovered that many of my favourite bloggers have a munted little toe… but I digress.
Memes aren’t for everyone. Occasionally you’ll see a post from a frustrated blogger who has no doubt been inundated with invitations to “join in the fun”. They describe memes as chores and maybe they get so many that they are. But here’s the thing:
Memes. Are. Optional.
You don’t have to take part. You won’t attract seven years bad luck. Little Johnny won’t miss out on his life saving operation. Does anyone really feel cut up if their meme is not picked up?
So, there is no emotional blackmail… or is there?
I believe there is, but it comes from self-generated guilt. For some reason, I feel bad if I decide not to do a meme, as if I’m letting the person who tagged me down. Which is interesting because in reverse, I don’t care if the meme is responded to or not! So why feel guilty? Does it really matter in the scheme of things if I don’t tell you what 6 impossible things I completed before breakfast? No, of course not.
I can promise you that if I’m tagged for a meme: I will visit your site and read your blog. I will add your link to my reader and see if we connect. I might even add you to my blogroll. I will possibly comment on your blog. And I may or may not do the meme if I can think of some witty responses or if I need a blog post or to spread some linky love.
To meme or not to meme - the jury is still out!
Darn it, I just tagged you for a meme! Only joking. I always used to feel left out for not being selected to meme - a bit like not being a popular kid at school - but now I’m kind of glad. I have done one or maybe two but it honestly doesn’t bother me that I’m not tagged more for memes. They are a bit chain letterish.
I don’t feel pressured to do memes at all, and when I do them I always ensure I put a paragraph with my stance on memes - that is, anyone can do it and then let me know so I can link to them. I also say that if I have tagged you and you don’t want to do it, then there’s no pressure to - I’m not going to cry, no puppies will die and the world will not end.
It depends on the meme if I will do it - I won’t do it simply because someone tagged me because that’s not what my blog is about - although they are handy to do when I run out of blogging material.
The jury is out - and I’m out with it too!
I agree Katie - I like to save up memes and awards for days when the muse has left me to fend for myself.
And hey - I love being tagged for a meme - I just don’t always want to do them.
How funny you should write about this now! I’m just doing a meme I was tagged for early January and hadn’t had time to follow through. And I’m sure there was one from last year sometime I never got around to. Once upon a time I was looking for things to blog about but these days I need to fit the meme tags in amongst my other blog posts. I have a new one going up tomorrow morning - had to find 7 people in my industry with live blogs to tag!
I was just thinking about this the other day… is it bad blogging etiquette to not continue a meme? What if you have already done that one, or what if you have nothing to say on that subject (I couldn’t do the get fit one at all LOL). I love getting linky love like everyone else… But I think I am going to go with your view now.. I’ll visit and leave a comment always, join in when I can and not beat myself up when I can’t!
I tend to feel bad about not taking parts in memes and do try to fit them in somehow - often changing the nature of it to fit more with my blog topics and often leaving them open for anyone to take up rather than tagging others. I want to support blogging friends and appreciate the backlinks are useful to them. If the memes involve including a whole load of links to those I do not know, I will generally not take part.
[…] for the Entrecard above the fold meme. I’m generally lukewarm about memes (Cellobella wrote To Meme Or Not To Meme on the Aussie Bloggers blog and I feel similarly myself) but this time it is an opportunity to […]
Ahhh that’s interesting Sueblimey - so here’s my question:
If memes are really about linky love - is it important to pass it on with links rather than leave it open?
And if it’s not - why do we feel guilty for not doing them?
I never do memes unless I’m *invited* to specifically. It just feels - I don’t know - a bit desperate really…
My difficulty always is choosing the people to link to! And PS if I don’t choose someone it doesn’t mean I’ve stopped loving their blog - I try to share the love - or pain - as much as I can.
[…] in the discussion at Aussie Bloggers - To meme or not to meme Related PostsAt last! An Aussie blogging forum Thanks to Meg, Snos and Andrew we now have access to […]
Hi! Firstly, this is a GREAT new site, well done. As for memes, I’ve had my fair share. I wasn’t enthusiastic at first, but like Sue I now leave them open ended for anyone to pick up the ball. I change most of them to better my chances of obtaining my ultimate goal. The “Holy Grail” one might say. No one has minded so far and they all take it with very good grace. They’re fun, if you make them fun. That’s about it and take care!
I generally never do memes, because I find them so terribly boring to read - they’re not the sort of thing I enjoy answering. (Sometimes I make an exception for a book-themed meme). If someone tags me, though, I will generally post the meme because otherwise I’ll feel guilty - but I normally follow it up with a regular entry in order to cover it up
I prefer most other methods of blog interaction to memes.
I’m not a fan of memes, and I’m not particularly fond of being tagged for them, and whilst I do sometimes participate, I refuse to tag anyone else, I generally leave it optional. If someone wants to pick it up and run with it they can.
Anyone likely to tag me knows there is a chance I’ll say no, so I don’t feel bad when I do decline…much depends on what it’s about. If it grabs me, I’ll do it, if not I send an email and let the person know.
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[…] blogs. There’s nothing like a bit of free (linky) love. Cellobella recently wrote a post on Aussiebloggers which pretty much sums up how I feel about memes. Despite hating chain letters and emails I am […]