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The Mug and her Blog.
So every chance I get I nag LA Observed creator Kevin Roderick to sell an official coffee mug. The casual reader might judge me a opportunistic sycophant, so here I explain...
The coffee mug is to the blog what the baseball cap is to one's favorite sports team. It says to others, "Look! This is what I like." The same objective inspires the purchase of a movie or concert poster, which says, "Welcome to my room, here's a bit more about me."
The coffee mug says "Welcome to my desk..."
The problem is that some are caught up in the "for the love or money" paradigm. Selling merchandise through a blog is considered by some as selling out to the Man. Similar judgments are placed on the indie film director who signs her first studio gig, or when the garage band signs with a major label. (The modern way around this is to sign with an "indie label" financially supported by the major label/studio. The Artist gets to maintain the aura of "indie," while the corporation boasts of their ability to sell what it is "hip & edgy". For more info e-mail Dub here at the TJP.)
So perhaps someone who leans Left, like say a Kevin Roderick (my label, not his), may resist the merchandise temptation for fear of annoying his Left-leaning loyal readers. (Notice those on the Right get a free pass on this one, one of its few social advantages.)
My point is to say the coffee mug, because of its unique relationship with sir desk, the computer, and therefore blogging; is much too sophisticated to be grouped with mere merchandise, and belongs in an entirely different realm- One not be ashamed to sell or display it. It is part of who they are.
(Note this is coffee-mug-specific, an InstaPundit Bobbly-Head doll or Oliver Willis coozie are completely different animals.)<
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| Posted 3/25/2004 3:55:17 AM by O'Malley |
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