Irrelevant yellow photo.
I’ve been wanting to write this rant for quite some time and since I’m safe and sound in a peaceful ashram on an island in the Bahamas, I figure now is an ideal time to share it.
Let me preface this by saying: Hate on, haters. You were thinking it, too; I just said it. Also, much like racist jokes and sexist jokes and homophobic jokes and all that mess, this is only ok for me to say because I am a blogger bad habit. My whole life is one big blogger bad habit list and, as such, I get to call all the rest of you out because I do many of these things myself. (But never #6. Ever.) It’s fine.
Without further adieu…
12 Blogger Bad Habits to Break in 2012
- Apologizing for not posting for 24 hours. I hate to break it to you but no one is waiting around with bated breath to hear you rant on about your oatmeal. Life, as they say, goes on. Even when we don’t post.
- Passive aggressively attacking readers on Twitter. “Ohmygawd, some commenters are so stupid when they as things like (insert perfectly reasonable question).” Guess what? Your readers probably follow you on Twitter, too. Now you look like a big ol’ bitch. But a big ol’ passive bitch, and that’s even worse.
- Calling your significant other anything but his/her given name. I’m serious with this. Just stop it.
- Posting shitty, irrelevant photos. See above.
- Talking about your traffic. Ever. Especially if you are living off your blog, this is basically like discussing your salary. Tacky.
- Using emoticons. This is the writer’s equivalent of putting a bumper sticker on a Bentley. Or iron-on patches on a couture dress. If your message is strong, your style natural and your tone clear, people will get exactly what it is you’re trying to say without the need for a winky face. Promise.
- Instagramming everything on Earth. I realize the hip fade makes your skin look flawless and your pumpkin spice latte look like a damn work of fine art, but please just take it down one notch.
- Passive aggressively bitching about people stealing your recipes. Every recipe is stolen, my friend. You probably stole the one you “wrote” and don’t even realize it. There are only so many ways to make a cookie. At some point, every recipe is an adaptation of something that came before it. Ask your great-grandma. She’s probably sick of the whole world getting credit for her goods. Besides, you can’t even copyright ingredients, only instructions. So write a compelling narrative on how to bake your cookie and then (and only then) can you complain if someone jacks it.
- Calling yourself a writer. I’m sorry but… you’re just probably not. Eep. I said it. I’m ok with joggers calling themselves runners, but I’m not ok with casual gym goers calling themselves athletes. Do you see the difference? Someone who enjoys cooking is a cook, not a chef. Following? I’m ok with you calling yourself a blogger or even a freelancer or saying that you write as a verb, but you are not a writer. It’s a fine, blurry line, I realize. Respect it.
- Retweeting compliments. I totally do this. It is sad and pitiful.
- Acting like you didn’t just Google that. Stop spouting information like you knew it before Google told you two seconds ago. Cite your shit… even (or especially) if it’s Wikipedia.
- Thinking you’re famous. Just don’t.
What am I missing?
Great list Katie! Hope you are having a kick ass time in the Bahamas!!
Yes. Especially to number 6 (even I have been guilty at times).
I agree with almost everything on your list, except #3. My husband has a very unique and exotic name – he’s not your average Tom, Scott, or Ben – so to protect his privacy I prefer to simply call him “husband” on my blog.
Is that lame and annoying? Maybe, but this is my blog, my decisions.
I do realize that privacy on the internet is an illusion, but at least I can try.
Hi Sue – SO agree with #3 as well. I never use my husband’s name, and I established this from Day 1 on my blog
I agree with this. I also don’t use my husband’s name on my blog. He doesn’t mind me putting up pictures of him, but doesn’t really want his name all over the internet.
Love this list! I will add recycling the same self-portraits over and over again. If it’s because you’re referencing the same event, then maybe it’s time to get some new events. If you’re not, here’s a reminder: it’s a digital camera. It is basically free to take new photos. Now if you’re just too lazy, that’s a different story…
Anyone who signs up for a blog should be given this list. Although, I’m definitely guilty of 7 & 10, but whatever. I take the most issue with people calling themselves athletes. In my brain, “athletes” get paid to participate in races by sponsors, they don’t pay out of pocket from their desk job just to participate. I’m not sure how I feel about recreational bloggers calling themselves “writers” either. That would be like me telling people I’m a knitter when they ask me what I do.
One thing to add (particular to food bloggers): thinking that a trip to the grocery qualifies as a blog post.
truth.
oh man i agree with the self portraits thing!
and telling readers, “you should know this about me/what i did, but im not going to tell you” okay then…dont. we won’t miss it.
and i love all of your irrelevant cat photos!
hahahaha. “and telling readers, “you should know this about me/what i did, but im not going to tell you” okay then…dont.”
SNAPS.
OMG I LOVE this! I’m not a blogger but I do read many and can’t stand everything on this list!!!
I hate it when bloggers I follow on twitter tweet a link to a post more than once with a completely different subject line. I assume it’s to try to trick regular readers into clicking again so they get hits? It really only makes me annoyed and think you’re tacky. I have circumvented by believing my google reader – if it says you have new posts, I read.
I don’t mind people calling their spouses by different names, and don’t mind emoticons either – I think they’re cheesy but irreverent.
Aww come on, thats a little cynical don’t you think? Have you ever thought that maybe bloggers are just trying not to tweet the same old boring tweet??
i’m with you on the twitter “marketing.” irritating.
You are now my favorite blogger. This list and your awesome thoughtful posts lately have put you at the top of my list. Thank you for posting so candidly! I hope all bloggers read this post. Especially the “Oprahs” of blogging who think they are the shit because theyre featured in magazines. I don’t enjoy reading about their “perfect” lives and their complaints about (for example) a screen door that hits them in the heel when they come inside off their luxurious new deck on their recently purchased home. I’d rather learn something and feel related to by blogs like yours that are willing to share their frustrations and struggles too. You’re awesome Katie!
haha, i love you.
Plugging your own recipes in other people’s comments. Complaining about how hard/time consuming it is to be a blogger. Getting snippy and self-righteous at the slightest hint of reader criticism.
Great list
Oh man, you’re fucking awesome.
This is the best damn list I’ve seen in a while. I’m guilty of 6 and 7
Aside from those two – every other item you listed totally enrages me, and I unfollow people for them.
i love you.
How about deleting comments that you don’t agree with? Or letting other commenters attack someone because they are giving constructive criticism or asking a perfectly legit question? I think most HLBers do this & it drives me crazy. I’m not talking about snarky rude or mean comments, I’m talking about the ones that call someone out in a positive manner & then are attacked/deleted.
Another one – complaining about how hard/busy your day was when you are a BLOGGER for a living. For some reason a lot of bloggers who support themselves solely based on blog revenue just don’t seem to get how silly that sounds.
This list is great & your blog is one of the few that I actually enjoy reading. Keep it up!
YES YES YES ON ALL OF THOSE POINTS.
First time visiting this blog and reading through all the comments this one stood out to me.
Adding. This blog. To my reader. ASAP.
haha, thanks heidi
i don’t believe in deleting comments. i’ve deleted one since i started blogging and it’s because it was an attack on someone other than myself. people can come at me all day, but i’m not about to drag anybody else into this tangled web.
Oh I hope you didn’t think I was targeting my question at you! I wouldn’t think you’d be the type of blogger who would delete comments without a justifiable reason. Yours is one of the few blogs that I read where I feel I am getting an open & honest version of the person writing it, and that you are very open to constructive criticism or comments, which I also love.
Love. Love. Love. Also – duck face. In any form of social media. No one thinks you’re any less vain about posting 100 self-pics just because you make a weird face. If you’re looking hot, own it and smile like a normal person! Also the famous thing. If one more blogger says that they were “celebrity sighted” (*cough*KATH*cough*) I will barf.
sweet jesus. the duck face.
Slow. Fucking. Clap.
Yes, this.
You should just give a list of the bloggers that fall under this since this seems like a passive aggressive attack against them and they have no idea whether or not you may be talking about them specifically. That way they can adhere to this list you provided and be just like the rest of those who blog “perfectly.” Honestly, I feel bloggers should be able to do and say as they please, who cares if they don’t want to mention their husband’s real name or don’t post high quality photos. What if they can’t afford to buy a fancy camera so they can only take pictures via instagram? I feel this list is discouraging and really unecessary. And no, I’m not a blogger. Just a big fan of reading them. And I’m not normally one to leave a negative comment on anything.
Totally agree with you ML
Eep! Totally guilty on #6, but I do try to use them minimally.
But, yes, I wholeheartedly agree – especially #3, and that goes for any social media. The word “hubby” makes me throw up in my mouth. And the whole complaining about how hard blogging is … seriously annoys me. I realize it takes time and effort, but most people work in a shitty office (even those with good jobs tend to work in shitty offices) and when they read that (written by a blogger who is probably sitting at home or in a coffee shop) it’s like telling a poor person that having money is just “so hard” to deal with. (hmmm do you want to add overuse of things like parentheses? oops.)
LOVE this. Especially #9. I work for a magazine publishing company and we would never (ever.. ever.. ever) hire most “famous” bloggers to write for us as freelancers because, honestly, they suck.
hire meeeeeee. just kidding. not kidding. do it.
Amen.
Love this!!! Well said.
*Slow clap*
I think I probably do a few things (like calling my BF The Boyfriend rather than by his name. I’m not even sure how it started but I can’t seem to stop…) but some of these are just too damn true (and annoying!!)
you. are. a. CLASS. act.
So many of these are true, which makes this list hilarious.
I’m definitely guilty of some of these, but I’m okay with some of the ones I do. I’m sure I have been guilty of more, but I always try to be aware of annoying/bad habits. I try to work on them as I realize I’m guilty of them, and I like to try to incorporate reader feedback (like that time someone called me out for posting too many GM recipes in a row…lol). I do call my husband “hubby” for a similar reason as Brittany – privacy. I also do this for other members of my family (like calling my sister “Sis”, etc.). I know, I know…but I blog about them and post their photos on the internet for all to see. It’s just what I’ve decided to do…at least for now. I have considered starting using their real names.
PS: my friend just started a blog, so I’m sending her this list right away! I think she’ll find it really useful.
PSS: Have fun in the Bahamas!
Laughing my ass off. You win.
Ha! I love this and the fact that you own up to things! For the record, you’ve posted random, maybe irrelevant meal pictures in the past which I’m always dying to know what exactly they are because they look so good…
i know! why the hell do i doooo that??
Katie, one of the things I love about your blog is your honesty & openness- even posting your full name! It really bugs when bloggers don’t even tell you their *1st* name. Bloggers are the worst, amirite?
buncha whores. WINKY FACE.
A-frggin-MEN sista! One other one I’d add….asking people to outright follow you on twitter, fb, instagram, wherever. It’s basically the equivalent to walking up to someone you don’t know and asking them to be friends with you. People will follow you based on your actions or content, not based on you asking them to. That just makes YOU look like the fool.
OOO GOOD ONE! I hate that!
YES.
I love this. Period.
haha I love this list! I have to admit I’m definitely guilty of the emoticons. I usually preview my post and delete a bunch when they get too excessive, but it’s hard not to use them at all. I have a really hard time understanding people in person, and an even worse time trying to understand them on the internet. For that reason, I use a lot of emoticons to come across as friendly. Maybe it’s annoying, but I’m always worried someone will take my words the wrong way.
No worries…I actually rather like emoticons & often use them for the same reason!
Although, I will admit that I probably do tend to overuse them.
Haha! ok we are all guilty of at least 1 (or a few) of them which makes this extra hilarious! love it!
I think photos of oatmeal are vitally important. I get thousands of emails every day about how my oatmeal photos have changed people’s lives. They wait with bated breath to see what form of poo the nut butter on top will take. They protest on twitter if I leave off an angle.
Also, I am famous.
Hahahaha…awesome!
hahaha. what the fuck.
Amazing post.
LOVE THIS! #1 drives me crazy and I have unsubscribed from people who do this constantly. I’m guilty of #3 but prefer it and he is a huge Star Wars fan so it makes sense to those who know us in real life.
I cringe whenever I read “the husband” or “the boyfriend.” As much as you may love him, he is not the only one in the world and therefore does not need a demonstrative adjective. Also, so many bloggers who call themselves writers abuse the English language every other sentence. It makes me want to cry.
Thank you for writing what so many people are thinking.
thank you for knowing what a demonstrative adjective is.
I’m not a fan of constant content recycling. Some people just keep posting the same pics and recipes over and over again. If you don’t have something new or interesting to share, just wait. I’ll apprieciate it more if it is a fresh new post. Also, I’m ok with the occasional relevant link to an old post, but sometimes I feel like they are just linking back for a page click. I dont need 3 links in one post that all go to the same old post. I just feel used…
Thanks for this Katie. Really enjoying some of your recent yoga revalation posts.
TRUTH. that is obnoxious.
[...] is a new blog find for me, and I just wanted to share the witty goodness. Plus, this post calls out blogging sins that I am totally guilty of (see: emoticons, calling my boyfriend a stupid name because my blog makes him nervous, crappy [...]
Hilarious. Thank you for this post!
Not a blog thing- but more of a twitter rule everyone should follow is similar to #10 (retweeting compliments): retweeting every time someone nominates you for a “shorty award.” One should not retweet every notification about being nominated for some sort of award. It is annoying and it clogs my feed. (sorry- rant over)
haha. what the hell is a shorty award?
bahahahahaha. i know i’m guilty of some of this probably.
oh, girl. aren’t we all…
[...] didn’t set out to get all ranty today, but I love this “12 Blogger Bad Habits” post on Sweet Tater so much and it got me thinking. Number 3 is my favorite, and it’s something that has been [...]
I love you. Putting you in my reader.
This is fabulous. Can you add saying nom nom nom? Makes me cringe.
GOD. YES.
I just loved this so hard I posted it on my blog too
LOVE. This made me laugh so hard…
Does it really matter if bloggers do any of these things? If you are so annoyed by it, just don’t read their blogs. This post seemed kinda mean.
i’d call it sarcastic, definitely. i do most of these things and that’s what makes it funny. that’s the intent, anyway.
HA. This made me LOL.
The hubs thinks I’ve gone a little cray cray.
Number 2 makes me mad, but I don’t really have any readers so what do I know.
I don’t get number 9. When can someone call him/herself a writer? I’m not disagreeing with you. I really am curious. I’ve heard the same thing from writers interviewed on NPR and a blog of a travel writer I follow. And that’s the question that always comes to mind, when can you call yourself a writer?
I agree with some of the comments about deleting negative posts. This pisses me off, especially if you then (poorly) summarize those negative posts and complain about them. If you delete them, don’t talk about them. And stop deleting them, it’s annoying. We won’t judge your blog from the mean comments.
i guess you can be a writer whenever you feel like you’re a writing. i’m just saying from my angle, i totally have my opinion on whether or not you are in my book. i’m sure there are people who think i’m not a writer. in my mind i absolutely am.
Oh, I think you totally are, too.
And I also think I am, but most would disagree.
[...] and a tremendous amount of love for people. She wrote a post not too long ago entitled “12 Blogger Bad Habits” in which she outlined her opinion on some annoying things bloggers do. A lot of them I [...]
this post is amazing. literally just made my whole morning!
I feel like the people trying to “protect” their husbands by not using their names are really having delusions of grandeur. They’re not that famous and nobody really cares. What would someone even do with their husbands’ names anyway?
Hubbs totally wouldn’t like this post.
AKA: I’m completely guilty for #’s 3 and 6. And I don’t see it changing anytime soon.
Fun post though!
…and just because I’m addicted….
PS- can you do one of these for twitter? Feel free to include my pet peeves:
1. Asking for more followers. I actually unfollow people who do this
2. Sending out multiple political tweets in a row when your blog that you’re representing has nothing to do with politics
3. Tweeting about your new blog post more than once or twice throughout the day. I see people tweet out their blog post 5-10 times a day and it drives me crazy.
PREACH.
Haha love this post, definitely guilty of some of them but hey ho, what can you do!
I’m guilty of a few of these, esp not calling my boyfriend by his name. I’ve never gotten his permission to call him by his name on my blog. I realize I’m not famous, and that’s not why I do it. I do it because I value his desire for privacy. When he says I can call him by name on my blog, that will change, but until then, he will be “The Boy.”
I’m not sure why I haven’t been obsessively reading your blog because you are hilarious and I love it. I agree with every single point mentioned (although I do call my boyfriend “boyfriend” rather than by his name… woops), and you’ve pretty much become my new favorite blogger.
i think we are going to be best friends. can i come to san fran?
you hit the nail on the head. make that twelve nails, twelve heads.
I need to lay the eff off #6 =) <— yup. that shiz right there! bad jenn! Loved your list so much I read it outloud to my husband who knows way too much about blogging for his own good. Its a little disturbing. Anywho, found you through foodbuzz and cannot wait to read more! Thanks for the laugh
Being relatively new to the world of blogging, your list makes for very interesting reading! Every sphere has its conventions and I am slowly getting to grips with it…slowly…
[...] Oh, hey there! You may or may not have noticed I haven’t been around. Okay, you probably didn’t. Well, this is awkward. Anyway, as much as I’d like to believe you’ve been waiting desperately for my next post, I will refrain from apologizing for my absence so as not to commit the Number 1 Bad Blogger Habit. [...]