A few days ago, I posted a link to an indiegogo campaign for a book some friends of mine are doing and I stand by that recommendation. However, it prompted a flurry of messages from good friends, casual friends and some total strangers asking — and in one or two cases, almost demanding — that I promote their book, event, video, project, whatever. I have had such flurries in the past and with each flurry, I get more and more annoyed.
When such requests some, they come in such volume that if I acquiesced to them all, this blog would have so much advertising that you wouldn't want to read it. Hell, I wouldn't want to read it.
It's annoying when strangers (or folks who barely know me) ask because I like to think I do this blog to entertain whoever happens by, not to sell them stuff. I've turned down a number of offers to "monetize" this blog by accepting paid advertising and/or putting it under the umbrella of some big, commercial website. I like the fact that it's no more commercial than the occasional cut I receive if you order something via one of my Amazon links.
And it's annoying when friends ask for that reason and because…well, sometimes my friends do things that I don't feel like recommending. That's awkward.
So please don't ask and don't send me photos and graphics that you want me to post to support your endeavor. I don't even plug my endeavors that much on this site. (I also have a general distrust of crowdfunding efforts, having been ripped-off by a number of them that sounded like they'd deliver what my credit card was charged for…and didn't.) You can tell me what you're doing and I might (might!) be moved to write about it. But if you ask for a plug and especially if you send me advertising you want me to post, the answer is no. If you saw the flurry that's presently in my e-mailbox, you'd understand why.