Regular readers of The House have probably noticed that I have absolutely no paid ads of any kind on the sidebars of this site. Part of the reason is that I detest clutter of any kind, anywhere including my blog. And while I don’t avoid sites that plaster ads, buttons, logos, polls, and other colorful accoutrement’s, that look just wasn’t for me. I even had my blog designer remove a calendar I had at one time in the upper left hand corner of the site. I wanted nothing to distract from my writing.
Another reason that I don’t have any ads is that I’m notoriously lazy and ignorant when it comes to that techie kind of stuff. I tried putting my Paypal “Donate” button in the blog template and it appeared 5 times bigger than normal, overlapping the margins of the sidebar and looking ridiculous. I don’t have a clue on how to do it correctly so I simply went without one, telling myself I’ll get around to fixing it sooner or later.
Well, I guess “later” has finally arrived because I just signed a contract with Pajamas Media to have ads appear on this site. So as long as I’m going to be fiddling around with the template, I may as well go ahead and try and figure out how to put the Paypal button on the site too.
I may be the last blogger in Christendom to do a post on Pajamas Media. I haven’t seen too much positive on the company. In fact, I’ve seen some pretty viscous stuff as well as some hilarious takes on their well publicized foibles. But there is very little out there in the way of support – something that I shall try and remedy here.
What hath Charles and Roger wrought? An advertising facilitator for blogs? A multi-faceted E-Zine? Is it a bridge between legacy media and new media? Is it any of these things or all of them?
What is actually kind of exciting to me is that we’re all going to find out together. I daresay that whatever we think the company is today will be invalid within a couple of years – if they last that long. The reason is the changing nature of both the technology and the medium itself. Jeff Jarvis, God bless him, has been thrashing about for as long as I’ve read him trying to define this very thing. Whither the internet? Whither blogs? Jeff has started to crystallize his thoughts toward the idea that content is not very important at all. When you have so many bloggers spewing out content, its value as a commodity quite rightly drops:
Distribution is not king.Content is not king.
Conversation is the kingdom.
The war is over and the army that wasn’t even fighting — the army of all of us, the ones who weren’t in charge, the ones without the arms — won. The big guys who owned the big guns still don’t know it. But they lost.
In our media 2.0, web 2.0, post-media, post-scarcity, small-is-the-new-big, open-source, gift-economy world of the empowered and connected individual, the value is no longer in maintaining an exclusive hold on things. The value is no longer in owning content or distribution.
The value is in relationships. The value is in trust.
Mr. Jarvis has been tough on PJM. In my opinion, he has had cause. But it is a kind of “tough love” given by someone who I believe genuinely wants PJM to succeed. The question is as what?
6. Consider hiring a manager who’d distant and disaffected, who’ll look at this business coldly to try to find a business. Yeah, I know I just told you not to spend money. But sometimes, managers are worth it. Sometimes.I don’ t know whether you’ll have a product or a business as the end of the day. But right now, you have the little engine that could crash. So I’d slam on the breaks. Just my advice.
And this is what has me scratching my head about the rabid opposition of some well known bloggers to this enterprise. How can you criticize a business that no one has any idea of what it’s about? It would be like some passing Florentine looking at the gigantic block of marble that Michelangelo was going to sculpt his Davidfrom and saying “That sucks!”
I can understand the investors having such an attitude. After all, in Michelangelo’s case, no other artist would touch the massive stone block. Its size was an obstacle that even the best sculptors at the time couldn’t see themselves overcoming. If the Medici had told the artist “You’re nuts for taking this project on” that would have made sense. It was the Duke’s coin after all.
So here we have this massive stone block of an internet and PJM wants to chip away and carve out a niche that heretofore has not been seen. Ambitious? Certainly. Crazy? Not hardly. Is it any crazier than believing that a computer should be in everyone’s home like a household appliance? Steve Jobs certainly didn’t think so. But who would have guessed that Apple would have gone from a garage to the IPod in less than half a century?
PJM could fold in 6 months. Or it could succeed. The point is, I for one am willing to be patient and see where this idea is going. Will it spawn imitators? Will it morph into something totally different than what is envisioned today? Will it be able to adapt to the rapid changes inherent in Blogland and the internet itself?
As long as I’m treated honestly and fairly, I will have no complaints. The company hasn’t said a word about content. And if they ever did, I can assure you I would ignore it. So as long as they deliver what they promise, I will continue my association – one that I hope will prove to be on the cusp of something new and dramatic in the way we get our information.
UPDATE
Well I’ll be jiggered.
Some unbalanced blogger has “de-linked” me because of my affiliation with Pajamas Media. I can’t quite figure the reason. Or, more accurately, I can’t deduce what the fellow is so hot under the collar about. He accuses PJM of “killing” me I think because now that I’m affiliated, my content will change:
Many bloggers of recent past, made the speculative argument how the commerce of PJM might change/influence content. Serious respectable bloggers of unimpeachable integrity. It wasn’t an argument that interested me. I’m not much into emotionless abstract thinking. Well true to form, right on cue, their words spring to life. A living example of clear reasoned thought.
I took Rightwing Nuthouse off my blogroll yesterday. Man I liked those cats, a whole bunch. But reading them give an empty, lame defense of Pajamas Media. Because they are now a recipient of their advertising dollars, was more than I could bear. The change in writing quality was instantaneous and complete.
If anyone is curious, the reason I did that post yesterday was because I was bereft of ideas of what to write about. That, and the concept intrigues and interests me as it should anyone with even a passing interest in the future of blogs. Anybody who thinks I would write what someone else tells me is a loon. I’d give up blogging first.
The amount of money I’m receiving over the next 15 months from PJM is less than the amount I could make by putting Blogads on this site. Is the loonbat who delinked me thinking that Blogads tells bloggers what to write? If not, then why PJM?
I don’t get it. I just don’t get it.
UPDATE II
Dan at Riehl World View must think that my ultra-left alter ego Marvin Moonbat is a real person. He used some of Marvin’s more outrageous statements as examples of why corporate advertisers would object to content on my site:
The issue some have with PJM is its putting advertising and content in the same box. You can’t do that without censorship. Below are just a few items from RWNH with which I doubt a corporate sponsor would be comfortable.
He then lists some of the more un-pc things I’ve said when either being satiricle as with Marvin or caustic as I am generally.
Again, the point I’ll make is this – someone that wants to tell me what to write or how to write or what I can write about and what I can’t is more than welcome to do so.
But the idea that anyone would think that it would influence me is puzzling. Why ascribe less independence to me for taking PJM ads as someone who takes Blogads? The “content” PJM is looking for is on its website – a place I could care less about.
Sheesh…the things you can get in trouble for on the internets…
2:06 pm
Hmmm… I’m reconsidering PJM now. Rick, you aren’t the only blogger out there to have been reluctant to jump in. In fact, I don’t wear pajamas—that’s what gave me pause at first.
Oops, a wee too much info?
7:13 pm
It’s properly spelled Pyjamas Media.
10:27 am
But if you join PJM, then Wolcott will make fun of you.
1:58 pm
Gee Rick, not posting a link to my words .... how refreshing, how original. By your own admission you haven’t posted before on the topic. And now you clearly state that not only are you promoting them. Supporting them. But you openly repeat the passe nonsense that circled the toilet over the last few weeks. Criticizing those who criticize, merely because they do so. Day late, booh kooh dollars short.
“unbalanced” that would be a written account of a story or event that has little context, content, historical record, and presents no material in support of the opposing argument.
No one said PJM is telling you what to write, you made your own choice. Used your own words. Employed your own ideas. So calling me a loon in defense of a made up argument?
You were better than that Sir. Much, much better.
Please do not consider that a ‘parting shot’. I have other comments that I choose not to make. I will however decline any further participation.
2:33 pm
Rick: I personally prefer ad-less blogging in the same way I prefer non-commercial music radio. This is preference and not right and wrong, but adding money into an endeavor changes the endeavor. Think for example of adding a single drop of chocolate syrup to a vanilla milkshake. Is it now a chocolate shake? If not then how much chocolate does it take be become a chocolate shake?
That said it is inevitable that commercialization will emerge from any human activity that is perceived as having value to other people, and some commercial endeavors will add value and succeed while others won’t and will fail. You are a great wordsmith and I don’t believe that will change going forward.
2:46 pm
1. Why link to someone who’s dissing me?
2. I am not criticizing people who criticize them. Perhaps if you took a remedial reading course you would comprehend that I was at a loss in understanding why they were criticizing in the first place?
3. I was referring to you being unbalanced, not what you wrote.
4. What is the “passe nonsense?” Part of the problem is that you are such a poor writer, I can’t understand what you’re trying to say. Plesae try to write in complete sentences.
5. You may think asking why someone does something – coming down on PJM - is a criticism. I’ve always thought that it was curiosity.
And if you don’t think my content will change, what’s the beef? Do you think PJM put a hex on me and took away my ability to think for myself? Again, your incoherence makes it impossible to figure out what is your beef with these guys? And with me for that matter. I tried reading some of your other posts on PJM but gave up.
I still don’t get it. A start up company in a brand new industry has problems – well duh! Before jumping down their throats, why not sit back, relax, and see where they’re headed. I don’t care about their website. I’m talking about the concept itself. And as that develops, I have a feeling the website will fall by the wayside.
2:56 pm
Is that what all this is about? Money for blogging?
If that’s the problem, why didn’t Elmo just come out and say it. I would hope that anyone who reads this site knows that any company – including PJM - who tried to tell me what to write or how to write or what subject to write about would, at the earliest opportunity, be a featured post on my blog. And I would give them the most royal reaming possible, making some of my Krugman fiskings seem tame by comparison.
The idea that a couple of hundred bucks is going to influence me one iota is – well, it’s laughable. Writers who seek to make a living – especially political writers – are much more interested in reaching people than in getting paid for it.
I have turned down several other ad opportunities in the past – mostly because I thought they would clutter up the site and not pay well to boot. The PJM concept intrigues me which is why I wanted to be there at the beginning.
7:02 pm
I’ll go ahead and make a liar of myself Rick, as you are being sincere. Has one single blogger in the PJM fold expressed an opinion about Dennis the Peasant? One. Just, and only one?
All I’ve seen [and yes, I could be wrong (the horror)]. Is an endless parade of attack and destroy of Althouse, Den Beste, Kelly. And some of it quite Vulgar (capital V). It was a fairly large story in this little backwater, that is the right b-sphere. And it was a story that touched upon a very, very wide range of issues.
You were writing about a story, in which you have a personal and financial interest. And what you wrote, to me, left quite a lot to be desired.
I’m gonna have some spirits, I’m gonna power up the hifi, and spin a Richard Pryor platter.
Good Luck in Your Endeavors Sir, Respectfully, Elmo.
7:53 pm
Rick,
Either you missed the point, more likely, or you’re being disingenuious, which I do doubt. I didn’t misunderstand the nature of those posts. Read what I wrote:
“And I understand your context – and your humor.”
“Who” wrote the post is irrelevant. All it takes is one screen capture of a major corporation’s ad on a site with content like that to start a controversy for the corporation. And you and I both know the tactics of some well enough to not pretend it can’t or won’t happen.
And I didn’t suggest you would somehow alter your posting because you inked a contract with PJM. What I pointed out was a problem with their ad model as it has been expressed by them. If truly large advertisers with a great deal to lose are going to run ads on blogs, they will have to maintain some standards – most likely very PC ones, as a matter of fact. Pointing that very basic fact out is not an attack on you.
Why not consider and respond on that very valid point, as opposed to taking it as a personal, or blog vs. blog assault – which it was and is not? If you care about PJM, elevate the discourse, don’t drag it down. I certainly didn’t intend to with my post.
8:38 pm
I won’t stop reading, or delink you or anything, but I don’t like the whole PJM idea at all. I guess it all depends on your definition of what blogging is supposed to be about. I think many view it kind of like many viewed grunge music. It was an alternative to the coperatized music industry, like blogging was to the MSM. And many were pissed when Nirvana signed a contract with a major label. Kurt wearing a shirt on the cover of Rolling Stone that said, “Coperate Magazines still suck.”
Regardless, whatever benefit you find by joining is yours. Its just too bad, as much as I’d like to buy an advertisment on your site, I won’t be able to afford it, and you won’t be able to set the prices.
I wish you the best of luck, and hope this helps you to be more successful.
9:40 pm
Rick, I haven’t written a thing about PJM and feel now that I missed out on a trend. Woe is me. How could I pass up a chance to bash a group of bloggers that have joined in a new business venture?
Simple. I think more power to ‘em. The hype and hysteria around the b’sphere since the party in NY has kept me entertained, and I have seen some really great satire come from all of this.
Anyone that believes you are going to change one thing you write here, contract or no, must not reallly understand you. The simple thought of someone calling you and actually having the balls to tell you what you can and can’t write makes me giggle. The look on the face of someone when the realization hits them that telling you what to write was a huge mistake is something I would pay goodly amounts of money to see.
I can’t wait to see how this all plays out.
To anyone from PJM that believes they can tell Rick what to write, please, PLEASE, record that conversation and post it as a soundfile for the world to hear.
That would be comedy.
12:33 pm
Kender:
Hee! Actually, the hype and hysteria on both sides of this debate has been entertaining as hell. Can’t wait until I get my ads up – watch the first post I write. It will go something like…
Today’s news out of Iraq (buy, buy, buy) focuses on the President’s speech he gave last night (click the adlink, click the adlink) in which he defended his war policies (spend, spend, spend) against the charges of Democrats…
But Hey! Who says my content is going to change when I get those ads? Don’t anyone tell me I’m a blogwhore or nothin’!
1:47 pm
Blogwhore
3:47 pm
LOL… Rick, for myself, I confess that I’m mystified about what PJM is supposed to be doing AND how they’re going to do it. I haven’t been very impressed with their current website or with their stumbling debut.
However, that’s just me, and I have no dog in the race whatsoever. If they succeed at challenging the MSM, I think that’s wonderful, and more power to them. Frankly, I would LOVE for PJM to succeed!
And, I find myself agreeing with Kender (surprise, surprise!) that there’s going to be a VERY short pier and VERY long walks for anyone who tried to tell you what to write, much less how to write it!
[Oooooo, Eeeevil Thought™ : Record that discussion and sell it for profit!]
Now, to a very important question: Will being a member of PJM encourage CatBlogging on this blog?
A very merry Christmas to you and your family, Rick, and all the blessings of a happy New Year!
—R’cat
CatHouse Chat
(gosh, I hope the html stuff goes thru…)
9:29 am
Rick, welcome aboard from another Pajamas Blog…and forget the naysayers, I haven’t changed my content one iota, and I don’t plan to in the future…
It’s a loosely bound group to promote content and advertising, folks; there’s no group-think or editorial pressure…
Anyway, good on you and Happy Holidays!
5:47 am
Will Pajamas Media Destroy BlogAds?
If you’re a blogger and have been living under a rock (or you’re not a blogger) then you haven’t heard of Pajamas Media. I’ll give you a quick rundown of what Pajamas Media “seems” to be attempting to do. I…