Two months ago I don’t know any bloggers.
Well, that’s not entirely true. I was aware of The Bloggess and I once went back and forth via email with dooce. By the way, at BlogWorld someone purported that Heather Armstrong (dooce) has more influence, because she has a bigger total audience, than Oprah. Even if that’s not true, it’s cool to hear.
Now that my site is being read by more than just my parents, I have a TON of bloggers who seem to enjoy my crap. And a lot of them are some of the sweetest and most fun people I’ve met. You know, for nerds.
Tonight, I’m staying at a fan-turned-friend’s home. She will be launching a blog in December. We’ll be friends forever, I’m pretty sure. I already had the lockets made.
Last night at the end of BlogWorld celebration, however, I met the most boring broad at BlogWorld. (That alliteration was unintentional, but after reading it back, I’m leaving it in. Don’t judge me.)
Her name is Megan and she introduced herself on the dance floor. Meaning she grinded on me. Hard.
No, we just happened to be on the dance floor and I went up and talked to her and her friend Angie. Because they looked really fun.
Within thirty seconds I realized that that once again, I can tell who a fun person is just by examining their outsides.
We’re way too hard on ourselves about superficial judgment. It works pretty well most of the time.
You have to understand that at BlogWorld, everyone here is insanely passionate about something. In a session yesterday, a man named Dave turned to me and started talking. He works for Boeing, and when I asked him if he was an airplane blogger, he said, “Oh no, I just went through a bone cancer thing this summer.”
Just to be a dick I replied with a disappointed, “So you DON’T write about airplanes?” Then I turned away.
Okay, that was a joke. I’m not a total sociopath. But how amazing is that? It was sort of a bummer to reply with, “Um, I once wrote two stories about my dad’s dork.” I felt like a total asshole.
So, when I asked Megan what she blogged, I expected her to write about something awesome like fashion. Or being a woman. Or rainbows and unicorns. You know, girl things.
She replied really enthusiastically, “I work for a credit union, and do all their social media!”
I just stared at her blankly. Then, literally, I turned to her friend Angie. Thank God she did NOT work for a credit union.
Megan screamed, “Why does everyone keep doing that?!”
Because nobody knows exactly what a credit union is, and more importantly, nobody gives a shit. I mean, honestly. That’s a more ridiculously stupid idea that the chick I met who blogs with the title, “Hot Chicks With HPV.” Okay, don’t Google that. I made it up.
So, Megan had an uphill climb with me. Her job sucks.
But not to her. She was so pumped about what she did, and not in a hey-let-me-overcompensate-for-my-lame-job way. She was passionate and genuine.
I still dubbed her The Most Boring Person at Blogworld. I mean, somebody had to win. Then I spilled my Sprite on her shoe. But she didn’t notice. Solid.
And then we talked for several hours. I couldn’t stay away. She was great.
Oh, this is funny. Because she happens to be really hot, a TON of guys kept coming over to us and hitting on her. One guy from the Middle East came over, said his name and then kissed her on both cheeks. By the way, I’m pretty sure they don’t do that in the Middle East. Then he just stared at her and stood next to me. It was awesome.
The night before at another party some lowlife blogger slapped her ass. She, of course, is married and wears a ring. That, too, is awesome. Guys are funny.
I guess this weekend taught me more about “finding my tribe.” We all need community. For support, mostly. To share passion and to follow each other into the future. I suspect Megan and I will be buddies.
And, quite honestly, The Most Boring Person at Blogworld was still one of the most fun and sweet people I’ve met all year. I’m glad I was here.
Miss Lego says:
LOL, what a story, I don’t know whether you were using sarcasm or what but,lol, it was fun to read.
Angie @amfairbanks says:
Hahaha! Social media is what you make it — if you’re really good and have a passion, you can make any topic fun, or at least interesting. Maybe. I haven’t entirely tested this theory seeing as I work a place that’s more obviously exciting than a credit union. But some people get super jazzed about their interest rates and stuff. Almost as jazzed as they do about their shower gloves. I know, just imagine!
Megan Hoskins says:
I LOVE this post, I couldn’t stop laughing. It was so nice meeting you, I had a great time chatting and learning more about what you do. I am really excited to read your blog.
Bill says:
Great title! Glad you found the Blogworld Session useful. I also liked your phrase, “fan turned friend.” 🙂
BellyBillboard says:
I’m way too insecure to go to something like this and talk about my blog with other people. I like it the way it is. I pretend that I’m insanely popular with a cult following online, and nobody bursts my bubble as long as I don’t leave the house.
Oh…and I see that you mention the Bloggess, but not the Belly Billboard. When it comes to refined and cultured humor, you left out the hot-shot upstart. Since when is it NOT the funniest thing on earth to have some fat guy write a message on his hairy beer gut for your parents’ 45th wedding anniversary? Since NEVER, that’s when. 😉
Great stuff DJ! Keep it up!
D.J. Paris says:
@BellyBillboard I must have told at least 10 people about your website at BlogWorld. “What What On My Gut?” is the best slogan ever. Your site rocks. If anyone is reading, visit http://bellybillboard.com.
BellyBillboard says:
@delfinparis I sure appreciate that shout out. But I really wasn’t trolling for it. LOL Just being me after 8 beers. 😉
MaxZuckerman says:
This. Is. Epic. Loved the post, @delfinparis . You may have scored a new reader here in addition to Livefyre evangelist, hah.
D.J. Paris says:
@MaxZuckerman Well, I am currently #1 for “best blog” on Google. Of course I cheated my way up the ladder. White hat SEO is for sissies.
Stevie Marie says:
So true! You could talk day in and day out about the wheather and if your passionate enough you will be interesting. LOL…. luckily people can’t hear my tone of voice or see my scary face. (Nothing an exclamation mark and some photoshop can’t fix) eh? Hey, hit me up sometime and mabey I can top the list of boring people you’ve met, look forward to doing buisness with you 🙂
Tricia at Southern Spark says:
I, too, can tell if people are going to be fun just by their outsides. A tell-tale sign is if they aren’t intimidated by my fun factor. You’d be surprised by how many bloggers will talk shit about you if you are having more fun than they are.
FormerArabianResident says:
Hahah this was funny. People here in the US might think it’s lame/gay/whatever, but people in the Middle East do kiss on other people’s cheeks when they meet and greet them ..it’s just like a handshake or a hug for them.
Muslims are loving and lovely people. It sounds like that Arab guy was love struck by the beautiful white woman Loooool