RANT: Blowing Off Some Blogger Steam (the "Big Blogger Syndrome")

You know what I'm tired of? The "big guys" getting ideas and post material from us "little guys" and getting more exposure (and the "kudos" for being such a great blog / blogger) because everyone thought it was the "big guys" who found it when it was the "little guy" [ME] with my hard-pressed time who searched and researched for the LATEST and GREATEST Penguins information out there (I pride myself on it) -- and when someone else does find it, I always credit them.

So it's a little hard to stay positive and create a "family" atmosphere with fellow bloggers (Pens, hockey, WHATEVER) when the "big guys" have a bigger platform and in some cases GET PAID to get the information out which leaves us "little guys" without a fighting chance to make anything out of our own blogs even though we spend the most time trying to make it informative and something unique on the internet.

Now I realize my blog is not the best, but BY DAMN I spend day-in and day-out on it to make it what it is and I struggle for / to keep the readers I do have. I don't have tons of money laying around to pour into it or any more free time to learn the latest tips and techniques for promoting it and making it the top result on every single search engine imagineable (I spend what little time I do have searching for Pens info which is the entire basis for it's existence in the first place!). But it is something that I am very proud of and would like the chance for it to get out there for more fans to see (a little exposure - is that too much to ask for?!).

I'm afraid with the "big guys" always taking credit for information and finds that they spend two minutes browsing on the "little guys" blogs for (which they are fully aware are just as good as theirs and the reason they continue to go to it to "pirate" information / material) this will all continue to be a vicious cycle and no one is ever going to be the wiser seeing as how there's no way to successfully promote the "mom-n-pop" blogger (sort of like Wal-Mart and the "Mom-n-Pop" stores -- now I understand why my dad has such a big problem with that damn store!)!!!

But I digress ...

Granted, no one owns information and such, but I think my time and effort are worth something and it's a shame for it to get exploited without any benefit to me (or the blog!)!! GIVE ME SOME CREDIT, DAMN IT -- THAT'S ALL I ASK!!!!! No one wants to share readers / followers / visitors, but they have no problem taking the information on my blog -- THAT'S WHAT PISSES ME OFF!!! I'm a good enough source for information, but not good enough to share the benefit of readers (when, if they were smart enough, they should realize that readers make up their own minds and go to different blogs / sources for different reasons anyway -- if you're good - whether you're paid or not - they'll keep coming back!)!!!

It's been a tireless fight of mine and something that is quite frustrating to me (it has been since DAY 1!) and is the reason why I try to be diligent in crediting sources and mark some pictures even though they're not "mine"!! And I must force myself to realize that nothing will come of it and it will forever be a dynamic in the blogosphere (I'm calling it "the big blogger syndrome" - should I copyright that???!!!!!). I remind myself daily that I must find joy in the fact that I have this blog and to be happy for the small benefits I do get from it (the little recognitions are just as rewarding as anything else!).

And THAT'S what I'm a little tired of. If I can't do anything to make it a fair fight then BY GOD, I'll rant about it and use my blog for the platform (aren't you lucky?!)!!

[END RANT]