Last week I learnt that my blog had been short-listed as a finalist in the Medical Blog Awards 2008. I was initially chuffed to have been nominated for this award and was then even happier to find that my blog had been short-listed by the judges, but that’s where my delight ended. I simply do not agree with public voting as a means of selecting a winner and therefore I’ve chosen to boycott the voting system and to accept the consequences.
Polls opened for public voting last Wednesday and are due to close on Sunday 20 January 2008. Thanks to anyone who’s already given me a vote – it’s good to know that you like my blog. However, the results tally so far appears to prove my point and I now suspect that I’m not the only finalist to hold this viewpoint. ‘The Biospy Report’ currently has the lowest number of votes in it’s category. I’ve no doubt that this is because of my decision not to canvass anyone for their vote though I accept that this will not be the only reason 😦
I believe that if awards are to have any real meaning, then they should be based on merit, not on popularity. What value can you put on an award when the system of voting is so open to abuse?
The Irish Blog Awards this year seem to think likewise.
“There are two judging rounds this year, so every nominated blog will be judged. No public vote means it is about quality, not the number of people who like you”.
I’d like to thank Medgadget for hosting this award, but um … no thanks if this really is their method of judging?
Biopsy Report 
I agree with you Steph. Last year I got to the final stage of the Irish Blog Awards on a sympathy vote and Elly canvassing.
I knew I had no hope of winning anything but went and had a ball with all the REAL talented people.
GM – but you are REAL talented – you just don’t make a song and dance about it!
That’s my very point really – there are some fantastic blogs out there that don’t make it to any award ceremonies simply because they don’t look for attention. There should be a better system in place to identify the real winners.
Steph no system would suit everybody.
I just have fun with all the friends I have made since joining the blogging world
I was thinking the same thing, but, as I didn’t get shortlisted I thought it just sounded like sour grapes!!
I voted for you anyway, of course!
Thanks! Mousie. You were up against stiff competition in both your categories but you get my vote regardless! Your blog is brilliant!
I’ve no wish to be a killjoy on this award thingy ‘cos I know it’s only meant to be fun but still, if they’re going to do it at all then they should do it properly.
Yeah I get the feeling that MedGadget is more about American blogs with a high visitor count…
You got my vote any day.
Cheers! Harry
Be careful where you store my bribe 😉
I had to look up “chuffed”, and I found these two meanings:
chuffed1 British Informal.
delighted; pleased; satisfied.
chuffed2 British Informal.
annoyed; displeased; disgruntled.
What?! It means 2 opposite things?? By context I guessed you meant the first one! Anyway, it doesn’t matter how many votes you get, your blog is still very insightful and appreciated by your readers 🙂
Thanks a million! BaliWhat. Your words mean much more to me than any silly votes 🙂
And you’re right – I was delighted and very honoured to be nominated by someone whose blog I greatly admire in the medical blogosphere.
I understand your position so completely, as you will have gathered from my dilemma re my current post. There is an award mania that swims around blogosphere, and while in way it’s all very nice and friendly and warm, I also feel it gets a bit over the top and becomes a sort of self defeating exercise of sycophancy.
Respect to you for standing up for your values. I admire your integrity.
Hi Steph. I’ve been a bit shy to mention this because some of my bloggy friends are very generous with their awards but I rarely post them and frankly feel a bit embarrassed.
I don’t know if its an Irish thing but the amount of ‘official’ awards available to Irish bloggers seems to be totally over the top. I’m not even aware of any still in existence in Australia. That combined with the little self-created bloggy ones that come around and around . . ias AV says, it’s nice and warm and fuzzy but a bit over the top.
I think a non public vote is the way to go as well and only one vote per person. It seems to me things like th Golden Spiders and Irish Blog Awards are merely popularity contests and largely the same people seem to be nominated, or even nominate themselves! I actually cringe when I see the ‘vote for me’ requests on blogs. Good for you for making a stand. Support for your site and what you’re doing should be its own reward and it’s obvious here that you’re appreciated. Well done!
Cheers! AV and Baino
By writing this post, I ran the risk of appearing as a bad loser but I’m really glad I did stick to my guns as you guys have made me feel like a winner 😀
The public voting system is wide open to abuse and in reality, means nothing. I’m grateful to everyone who’s been willing to air their views here on this topic – you should be the real prizewinners!
You are right Steph to stick to your guns. The best awards come from our readers and their comments as far as I am concerned. I will be curious to see what happens in the Irish Blog Awards, it seems like a pretty cliquish group to me. 😉
Hi! Caoimhin. Thanks for your comment.
I haven’t really been following things over at the Irish Blog Awards but fair dues to them, at least they have a fair system of judging in place this year.
I think it’s more a case of different horses for different courses 😉
Congratulation to the nomination.
Cheers! Ropi and Welcome.
Hopefully next year the medical blogs will be judged on quality, not quantity.