2OV, CTG, The Blog Awards, And The Haters.
With the Blog Awards just around the corner online dirt is flying everywhere (which is as effective as a condom with a hole in the front). Accusations of brand whoring, corrupt voting systems and selling out are rife. Of course no names are mentioned, the Cape Town circle jerk is so close-knit everyone knows who everyone else is talking about. It’s like Harry fucking Potter and ‘the one whose name we shall not mention’.
Is that a PUMA top?
It’s all a little silly and although online handbag swinging holds no weight in my life, I feel I should at least share my thoughts seeing as I’m a part of this online thing. Kind of.
So, after the jump you’ll find my thoughts on…I’m not sure I can say it….the Blog Awards, Cape Town Girl and, god forbid…2 Oceans Vibe.
More.
…..funny….I’m still alive.
Let’s carry on then.
As you well know my ‘publicity stunt’ for the Blog Awards involves getting thrown out if I crack second place in Best Entertainment. This doesn’t mean that I do not want to win, it means that I realise my chances are very slim seeing as 2OV is in the same category. My take on the awards has earned me a few digs, all in the ‘he’s just bitter’ vein. To set the record straight (gayest saying ever) this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Bangers and Nash doesn’t pay the bills. I do it because I fucking LOVE it, maybe for all the wrong reasons. It strokes my ego, gets me laid, I go to rad events (and boring ones), I get a lot of free stuff, and I get to meet some very, very cool people. It enables me to live a lifestyle that I wouldn’t dream of giving up. Coming second to a site that receives as much traffic as it does in a competition that allows voters to vote every 24 hours is like coming second in the bedroom, still incredibly satisfying.
As a result of playing in the same city 2OV and B&N get lumped into the same category and everyone has an opinion. As far as I’m concerned we couldn’t be further apart – he’s Camps Bay beach front with cocktails and I’m City Bowl with anything I can get in my face. Seth has been in the game since before I even knew what the internet was, he’s at the forefront of pretty much everything and the man has earned his spot. Given half the chance I bet every single one of his critics would swap places with him. The dude is ‘living the holiday’, but he’s working bloody hard for it.
That’s not to say I have no issue with 2OV, the site. Gone are the days when I used to literally roll off my chair reading stories of Mavis and beach attacks. His writing inspired me to write, and here we are. I enjoy good content and his used to be the best. Now? If I want to read the 2OV headlines before they ‘break’ I go through my bookmarked pages the night before.
I also believe in credible marketing, and maybe it’s just because I’ve been in the industry, but I cannot see how a brand get’s value out of pointless conversation or advertising banners that are so far down they are ‘below the earth’, as someone recently commented. 2OV started the brand advocacy vibe, real use of brands and mentions when relevant – something the rest of us bloggers now benefit from, but has now moved onto something that resembles the thoughts of a brand obsessed Tourett’s sufferer.
The radio side is something else, and I still don’t know why it wasn’t nominated in one of the radio or podcast categories for the Blog Awards. I really do hope it takes off, because we are all well aware of just how atrocious local radio is. As far as the future of 2OV? Maybe guest writers can save it. Sort of like the WWTDD vibe – an incredibly funny offering from various writers, though you would never know that there was more than one contributor.
Now, Cape Town Girl. I suppose I should bite my tongue on this one as we work in the same office, but then this is B&N and my thoughts are really the only thing I have to share here. My thoughts and my good looks.
In my post on who to vote for in the Blog Awards I did suggest her – Best New Blog. I had no idea she was so new to the scene, mostly because of the popularity of her blog, something I cannot understand – I’m just not into cupcakes, macaroons and highlighted brand names. That said, I’d never expect her to understand why I’m into getting as drunk I can, thrashing around in front of a stage, engaging in promiscuous acts with girls of a questionable age, and throwing up in the street – not necessarily in that order.
The reason I bring her up is the ‘brand whore’ label she has been slapped with, rather viciously I might add. While I don’t agree with her ‘girls don’t respect a guy in a Tazz’ vibe in the slightest (not because I drive one, because I feel that judging people according to that sort of standard is the most unattractive quality a human can possess), I would like to see the people calling her a brand whore. I wonder if they go out in public barefoot and dressed in black bags.
The mere fact that you are on the internet means that you buy things, unless you’re homeless and your local internet café allows you to sleep on the floor at night. Alex writes about what she does, and people want to read it. Because people read it, people with stuff give her stuff to write about. It’s that simple. If you don’t like her or her blog don’t follow her. If you do, carry on.
Maybe her incredibly fast climb to ‘fame’ in this cupcake and cat filled Cape Town blogger industry has pissed a few people off. People who after years of writing deep, meaningful things, never got anything for free. People who are not satisfied with sugar and sunglasses. I don’t know. In fact, I don’t know why I even concern myself with this, because all it’s doing is fueling the pointless online back and forth between those with the free shit and those that want the free shit (as well as the possibility of a few harsh looks as I walk through the office).
I suppose it’s true, as soon as someone get’s negative attention and attacks smacking of jealously they are doing something right, and CTG and Seth are clearly doing something right. Whether I agree with it or not is irrelevant.
I suppose it’s because I consider myself more of a ‘man of the people’. I don’t want to be stuck in VIP – unless there are free drinks, I want to be in the pit, on a grimy dancefloor sweating tequila and pouring beer down my throat…with you, the person just like me on the other side of this screen. And I shall endeavor to keep it that way. It’s up to you to let me know if I start drifting toward the fantasy land of Imtoocoolontheinternet.
I’m in this for the free shit and groupies.
As the doe eyed Rock Star would say ‘let’s get fucked up!’
Nash…
Out!
trollface
Problem 2OV? http://cot.ag/cydslG yes I would be fucking pissed off if I paid good money for views, and then found out my views were ticking away but only people from middle earth were seeing my banners
Kev
I wish I still had a blog…fml.
luckysocks
applaud the Nash and bow before him! dude I’d rather be putting tequilla in my face next to you than masturbating furiously in my penthouse at the royale. B&N is a place for people who have jobs and create life, 2OV is like reality TV – for the lowest denominator of people who watch life and wake up at the age of 40 thinking “hmmm… sure could go for some cock right now”.
B&N – you make me happy!
DAWG!
You were doing so well and then it all fell apart.
this is a convo I was having with a colleague the other day. 2OV works because it appeals to a huge market range. And Seth makes no secret of how he lives his life. CTG on the other hand is so arrogantly written and aggressively marketed that it runs virtually everyone up the wrong way.
It appeals to a tiny proportion of big-spending, young creative types – and that’s why she got the gig.
But you only have to look here: http://www.panascape.co.za/wppana/index.php/2010/09/07/twitterati/
to see what an incestuous circlejerk this is. You can link any one of these people to any of the others. Panascape did 2OV’s apartment tour, now photographs Brauteseth for NoMu, who also do CTG, who was recently on Brauteseth’s Africa Photo whatever site, etc etc etc etc.
Yes 2OV will win it. Yes there will be haters. Yes he has gone off the boil. But a best new blog award for CTG?Sure, if you like your blogs to be written in fucking annoying type with poor spelling and absolutely no fucking clue of how real people have to live.
nash
Still confused as to where ‘it all fell apart’?
Shot for the comment, though you raise a separate issue, that of the degrees of separation in Cape Town.
I, for one, will never have an issue with this. Neither will the circles I play in – a group of incredibly interesting people, doing what they love and helping each other out where we can. I see nothing wrong with this. Would you not help a friend if he was the right guy/girl for the job?
trollface
“Yes 2OV will win it.” And by that I take it you mean Best Media Blog.
My main problem is that the site itself make me want to cut my eyes out with a rusty spoon. So many adverts…so little consideration in being an aesthetically pleasing place to read news/reviews. Its like a prostitute who doesn’t wash or shave… but still expects you to pay top dollar.
that my friend … is a joke.
Frosty
I like this article. And I don’t even want free stuff.
michelle
nicely said nash. the only problem a lot of us have with CTG is not that she’s become a ‘brand whore’ as they say, but because she’s become boring. My Branded Life was top quality, highly entertaining stuff – the type of blog you can’t wait to check the moment u step into work. CTG, compared to that, is just….boring. Alas.
But, each to his own hey.. i understand that CTG does appeal to many people and i respect alex for that and have no problem with it, i just really miss MyBrandedLife! And she has lost a serious following by ditching it
DAWG!
it fell apart when you said that you were not going to bite your lip and then launched into a sycophantic diatribe of how she (ctg) is all so misunderstood and how her haters are hypocrites and so on.
is she under your desk right now, Nash, is she?
And yes, i’d help a friend if they were the right person for the job, but ctg ISN’T the right person for the job. while she may be bringing 1% of the CPT population to sunglasses hut and nomu, she’s singlehandedly ensuring that the other 99% won’t ever go near it again.
good business? no.
i don’t like the whole cape town clique thing either, but these people are perpetuating it in its worst form.
trollface – i gather that you don’t like 2ov. but those advertisers know what they’re paying for. eyes open – what;s the issue?
frosty – always go for the free stuff
trollface
‘Meh’ is about all I can say to that.
The ‘issues’ i have are simple things that should be part of a would-be-bloggers 101 course.
1) When quoting other people its nice to link back to them. (http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2010/09/03/wikileaks-goes-underground/ quote is from gizmodo article… no ref)
2) If the banners that are on the site (see 2ov to see this) are broken… please clean your house and either fix or remove them
RE the advertisers knowing what they are paying for… I guess you cant change stupid. Tho I would think my conscious would come into play when advertiser X agreed to pay me Rxxxx.xx to display their banner…and I knew 99% of my impressions dont even ‘show’ the user the advert.
but thats just me.
a troll.
what do i know
nash
DAWG (nice email address by the way),
I’m not defending her, I’m defending the internet.
Sounds weird, but all I’m saying is I that I don’t follow her, and because I don’t I have nothing against her. If people don’t dig her, no need to follow.
My issue is that brands go to people like 2OV and CTG when there are a fuck load of other quality blogs out there with REAL content.
DAWG!
lip?
tongue?
meh: general mouth parts.
the presenter
I think what Cape Town kids easily forget is that a blog is about a Person, saying rad shit that other people laugh at, and want to know about, and can relate to.
When all of this is happening, people want to give you free shit so other people will want to pay for the same shit you have. (Also, you probably get laid).
Once your blog becomes an advertising platform, it makes us all envy you a little less. Cause now, you’re not using “them” to GET free shit…they are using you to SELL their shit.
Nash, you make joburg want cape town. Literally. We want to drink beer at and union and we want to eat at gourmet burger. Not because they pay you rent in order to rape your site with their marketing….purely because you like to party your face off and eat good food. Don’t we all?
luckysocks
I’d like to nominate this “Nash, you make joburg want cape town. ” for president of the world
Stoner
I agree with this.
Nash, just keep doing what you do. You’re doing it right.
DAWG!
@ the presenter : fair point.
although to be honest Cape Town makes Jo’burg want Cape Town. Nash just reminds Jo’burg that it wants Cape Town.
But you’re right – understated advertising becuase you are using (and paying) and ENJOYING the stuff you’re blogging about is better than the brandwhoring that CTG and 2OV do. Even though, as I said before, 2OV does it rather well.
kyle ecks
The degree of separation in Cape Town is ridiculous. The blogs are a small enough group that it’s understandable but real life is jusy stupid. 90% of the girls I manage to trick into hooking up with me trace back within 3 steps. I can’t have a night of random fun without my sister finding out. Fuck. Time to start targeting foreigners.
Off topic because far too many people are taking this far too seriously
kyle's sister
Yeah – Damn Straight. And unless you buy me those shoes I told you about last week, I’m telling mom + Dad about that Graham oke you picked up on Saturday night.
kyle ecks
Lies, It was Sprung. Whoever told you I picked up a dude was tripping on hallucinogenics. Although being somewhat wasted at the time and having seen the coyote ugly I woke up next to I can understand their mistake.
Jess
@michelle – well said, BRING BACK MY BRANDED LIFE!
DAWG!
If it means that CTG disappears, I’m for this too.
DAWG!
Hey – it looks like CTG is whoring herself out to Pepe as well now.
Trollysa
@Dawg
See I kind of agree with you and what you’re criticising CTG for – her rampant commercialism is a bit gag-inducing. But you see, noticing your frequent use of the word “whore” in fact, your compulsive need to throw the word in every chance you get, while you’re willing to turn a blind eye to the same sins (on a much larger scale) on 2OV, makes me think this is a man-woman thing. Yes she’s beautiful, funny and succesful, but you shouldn’t take it personally guy. Have faith in your monster manhood, repeat after me “I am a real man who will not be emasculated by women I admire” breathe, repeat until calm.
luckysocks
oh snap! wp Trollysa, wp.
daniel
i agree with u nash, 2OC is a bore but it wil win. who cares? just keep up the good content. your piece on oppi was excellent
TheseJadeDays
hehe the comments were almost as good as the post.
re CTG – for me, she writes too much and it is boring, but im kinda green bout her free gear setup. i’d just want better free gear.
2ov gah! been to this site like once or twice (im new to blogging) and agree that the myriad of dizzying ads is not attractive. don’t think i’ve read a whole post on the site yet.
Nash, i can dig this blog. keep it up
TheGiven
I must say Nash I am really starting to dig your work.
I actually knew of you a long time ago, through a mutual friend (well in your case ex…) and never really paid much attention. Suddenly I find myself a slave to your twitter.
Keep keeping it real for those of us with a smaller voice.
luckysocks
lol did anyone see the vote for seth site/video/shameless prostiution (google it I wont give him the satisfaction of linking).
he apparently is making a heartfelt appeal to save 2OV by voting for it. and if he wins he will wear a pink thong on radio… on radio…
now that a second has gone by to absorb how FUCKING stupid that concept is, let’s address it. like his blog it is a tiered rehashing of ideas that were terrible to start with and even worse on second passing.
I think the vein, poorly executed attempt to make it feel like his people matter only gives stength to B&N since that’s your territory. 2OV remains a shabby and inglorious waste of bandwidth and time.
David Perel
It is quite funny, every year this kind of topic crops up and it seems to be the same flaming every time (not pointing at you B&N Im talking about the comments).
The only thing getting old is the hating among these people. I am trying to work out if it is because they don’t have the audience or the traffic or if they sit there everyday and throw darts at a board with CTG and 2OV pinned to it.
We have no problem with sportsmen etc jamming products down our faces, so why have a problem with bloggers trying to make a living from blogging? Don’t BS me, most of you would kill for that lifestyle but the truth is you don’t have the audience to even start leaning towards it.
With regards to cliques, every industry has them so to complain about that is to complain about life. If you don’t like it then start your own one or just join in, its not that bad on the other side.
Stop hating the players and if you don’t like what you read then don’t click, it is not that difficult. Stop telling them how to run their blogs, CLEARLY it is working and who are any of us to say it is wrong? What have you achieved with your blog?
And, if you were offered free stuff and in return all you had to do was blog about it would you really say no? Doubt it.
@Luckysocks – are you going to call it a stupid idea when he wins that category and sits on radio with a pink thong on? Do you know that he has a live video feed when they are doing the show? Oops, forgot about that part hey
nash
Dave,
Well said sir.
Though, the thong is weak. I rock one on the reg.
Jo Parham
Luckysocks, if you watched the video you would have noticed that his radio station is in the Cape Quarter – encased in glass. Anyone (reporters, bloggers, you?) could walk by and photograph him during that time he is wearing a pink thong. did you miss that part?
I’d say that is a fairly humiliating exercise and a fair trade for my vote.
You people are very sad the way you carry on I must say. So bored of this every year.
luckysocks
boy, nothing escapes you agfa. I know that 2OV radio is in CQ and has a live feed. (even if i didn’t seth made damn sure that we knew that – probably in exchange for rent). see what i did there?
The category is best entertainment blog and while it makes no difference to me who wins, my gripe comes from the defence of 2OV – the fact is that its crap and it needs to be overhauled, moreover its dishonest (traffic is way fluffed) and poorly executed. WTF does all the money from the advertising go? does Seth smoke 2.7 tonnes of crack a week? does he sponsor needy children or homeless donkeys? no. and he for damn sure doen’t spend it on his site – making it a pleasant, credible and entertaining place (for users and advertisers) to be instead of the shit-stained tabloid rag that it is today,
2OV seems to appeal to (and be defended by) a frame of society that I would have shot and set on fire as my first act as president. Unfortunately, that frame of society appears to include you Jo and your cheap vote.
read the presenters comment again…
All I’m saying is that if the best blog in SA is 2OV then we as a nation should feel ashamed, it’s just not good enough anymore (sorry).
DAWG!
Many thanks to CTG for not bowing to my “monster manhood” and posting this sickeningly CTG blend of brandwhor… erm… brand exposure and “aren’t I just fucking brilliant for having a gorgeous body”:
http://twitter.com/CapeTown_Girl/status/23914860724
I think that just about sums it up.
P.S. I’m female.
DAWG!
Dear David Perel,
I am very sorry for missing you out of the names I listed in the CPT incestuous circlejerk.
Yours, with love,
DAWG! x
mspr1nt
I made my own proposal to Seth to level the playing field a little….but I think he’s rejected my idea.
I don’t want to see him in a pink thong with all that air. Rather want him to have a full body wax first and then wear a pink thong. That’s a fair trade for my vote.
(my two cents on it all, I’m not part of any clique, hell, I’m, not even nominated in any of the categories these guys are in. I’m just the fat ginger step child nobody wants to play with).
I think what people get pissed off with the likes of 2OV and CTG is because they don’t see these sites as ‘blogs’ anymore. Both these two are successful but they are successful at marketing and people get annoyed because everybody still calls them bloggers and when these annoyed people start blogging all their buddies ask: so do you make money like that seth guy and that cape town girl?
Then they have to say no because 1. they suck at marketing, 2. they don’t have friends in high places, 3. they’ve just started out, 4. maybe they don’t give a shit about the free stuff?
Both of them are insanely good marketers (free shit, fuck yeah, wish I got that!) but they are not, what some people would call, bloggers.
I guess it would be like me calling myself a journalist because I break cricket news *shrug*
*awaits the scathing attacks for comments made*
Trollysa
So Dawg, what you’re saying: it *is* personal. And if you are a female, then try a bit harder to stop burning other women with the kind of hate speech that helps make it difficult for women to rise to the top in our industry. Take the time to think through your critiques
(eg: CTG debases herself and plays to the lowest common denominator notions of young woman-hood. She squanders her obvious intelligence on self-promotion & a transparent effort to be cooler than the hoi polloi), rather than presenting yourself as one of the poisonous misogynists that overpopulate the comments sections on website.
trollface
@luckysocks
“All I’m saying is that if the best blog in SA is 2OV then we as a nation should feel ashamed, it’s just not good enough anymore (sorry).”
THIS to the power of life
Justin
I think MY main issue is not with the blogs themselves (that’s personal preference) but the “blog awards”. Have you ever seen such a poor, visual identity? and let’s not get started on the website or the obtuse voting mechanism…
The blog awards should showcase the best in South Africa (whoever they are) but should also represent the quality that we as a people are capable of. I’m sorry but the SA Blog Awards (this year in particular) is an absolute dog show…. just look at the nomination banners… I weep for our species.
Nice one tho Nash, your site is definitely the best (might be biased cos we built it) but your blog aka YOU and your ability to write at the perfect level and tickle me on the inside is what makes this the best blog (in my own opinion).
I look forward to putting many a tequilla in the face at the ceremony…
Chris M
Best new blog – Take the time to go read geekology.co.za, now that’s someone who’s spent time providing brilliant content and deserves an award.
I’m still waiting to hear if I’m a judge, and if I am, trust me I’ll be fucking active in ensuring that proper people win.
Ruark
Nice 1 gov.
and I do enjoy geekology … their tag line is epic
nash
Will check it out.
Good man! That’s the kind of judge we (the bloggers) are looking for.
Dereck
Are “Judges” not supposed to be impartial? …think it will be a sad day if you are a judge Chris. Obviously you have made up your mind already…lucky your not in the High Courts…
nash
Chris never said he was taking sides, he stated that the correct blogs should win, for the correct reasons I presume.
The Jim
I suppose that’s true, Nash, if you’re one of those people that read absolutely everything verbatim.
DAWG!
And he’s already chosen which of the Best New Blogs will be the correct one to win.
Sean
Not to repeat or re hash anything that has been said here and be boring, but just from an interest point of view, I wonder what the click through rate on the adverts on 2OV is?
Also, is 2OV alone, singularly powerful enough to really make a change to how brands are perceived? My guess is yes, it is that powerful, but has it really been proven?
I mean, companies like Puma, Butlers, Vespa, Sunglass Hut, Nomu and Caprice run on their own steam. They hardly need 2OV to keep themselves alive. I fully understand that 2OV does help and that it is part of bigger advertising strategies if the said companies, but is it really the media powerhouse that Seth makes it out to be?
I just feel they don’t make enough effort to think up creative ideas for the brands they support. If I’m paying a guy R20000 a month for an ad, I want to know that he’s not just mentioning my stuff in the odd post and on Twitter and in conversation.
For instance, I felt the whole ‘Is Tiger Woods staying at Montrose Place’ a brilliant piece of marketing for Montrose from 2OV’s perspective. That’s what I’d like to see Seth offer my brand if I were advertising with him. I just feel a lot of creativity has been lost.
Also, I wonder what the click through rate and trustworthiness is of his new writers…I used to live for the old 2OV where Seth wrote on anything and everything, because he really wanted to. I hardly ever click ‘Read more’ on the Silverstreak articles, and to be honest, if Silverstreak mentioned a brand, I wouldn’t give a shit.
2OV was built on Seth, and with the new writers, and with Seth losing all his old writing style, I feel the quality of the site has dropped to the point where I do not read it anymore. I still go on to check what’s happening, so my ‘hits’ will still appear, but I don’t find much on there that is cool to read anymore.
So while the numbers are still showing, I just feel like the site is losing all its edge.
But having said that, Seth is working on 2OV Radio which is a phenomenal concept and I hope that works out. Then at least we know he dropped the blog to grow another part of 2OV.
I just really, really miss the old 2OV, whatever people say, it inspired a whole generation of bloggers in SA, including myself.
nash
Nice.
Jo Parham
my word, have you actually seen his website http://www.voteforseth.co.za ? It’s pretty funny I must say!
The Jim
@Chris M
Geekology is EPIC.
But didn’t you build 2OV’s site?
Paul Raphaely
Guys, this is all awesome. Spirited debate is fantastic and for our part, thanks for mentioning us by (brand)name.
Then again, it is precisely this sort of debate that explains why we are active online in the frist place. We have no marketing budget – at all, literally so for NoMU, Online is a fun space for us to try and reach more people that our non-existent budget would ordinarily allow us to do.
It does also allow us exposure to interesting, ambitious and knowledgeable people who, to be honest, there aren’t many of out near the airport where our factory is.
As a first time visitor to B&N though, and working like we do, how about we send YOU some Hot Chocolate?
That’s all we ever really ‘give.’ The rest you may see is just goodwill from the various bloggers we work with, back to us, believe it or not. There is very little (basically no) cash involved.
Anyway, debate is great but the Blog Awards system we agree is a bit cracked.
Doe eyes!
LETS GET FUCKED UP!
the presenter
well, if there is one thing all these comments have been good for…its that i for one now feel a strong urge to check out greekology
ann-mari
So glad you finally said/wrote what I have been thinking all along. It’s very simple: vote with your feet/ or your clicks (which is why both CTG and 2OV have lost me as a reader)…. Great work Mr Nash x
Emma Jackson
This is too funny, Nash! Look what you’ve gone and done
My two cents…
1) I hope Chris M isn’t a judge… After the comment he made on CTG’s post about what it takes to be a chick blogger, I seriously question his intellect. You only get one chance to make a first impression, Chrisy! And a judge shouldn’t be punting blogs prior to judging, me thinks anyway…
2) I really don’t get why people have a problem with Seth and 2OV. Who gives a fuck? He’s a seriously smart business man, let him have it.
3) Some people get free shit in life. They just do. But believe you me, it more often than not comes with brains and hard work. Or maybe it’s just karma. Maybe those getting free shit in this life will be cleaning toilets in their next. But maybe the people who aren’t getting free shit and are potentially sitting behind the same desk every day (and probably not getting laid enough at night) should be looking at their own existences and not scrutinizing the careers of others. It’s just your perception after all. Oh and the more you talk about how much free shit they get, the more free shit people are going to want to give them.
4) CTG is one of the best girls I know. I don’t always agree with everything about her blogging vibe but I also have more confidence in myself to not be so threatened by her. She’s having fun. Let her have it. DAWG, I recommend a self-help book titled “You Can Heal Your Life”. CTG is also a very beautiful girl, she just is and it’s natural beauty so ha, blame Jesus. If her ass looks good in Pepe Jeans then she’s one lucky bitch, I say!
5) Content Shmontent. Each to their own… Geekology is so borin…zzzzzz. But for me, not for everyone, that’s why I don’t choose to follow it and other people do. I don’t condemn them for following, I just choose not to.
I’m not so sure about this blogger awards thing hey. You can’t really put this stuff into boxes. I reckon they should have another look at the way they do things. Or we should take this whole thing to another level and do some sort of a “We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Blogger of the Year” series.
P.S. Describing Nash as “making Joburg want Cape Town” is a really nice compliment. Nash – you really are a very cool guy. Vomitus and banging aside!
P.P.S. People should be required to leave their real names when commenting. It’s called courage of conviction.
hardworker-not-a-hater
Just a point i’d like to make since whoring and ctg is being used so much in the same sentence. if she supposedly works for things has anyone noticed the banner at the top of her site. its thats not brand whoring then i dont know what it.
do people actually read her “blog” and believe they must now wear or buy whatever brand because she’s so cool? i doubt it. are brands that stupid. or is it because she works for an establishment which brands trust so automatically she’s considered despite the lack of quality in her blog.
btw i think your blog is quality and actually is funny and filled with proper content.
nash
The top banner is hardly ‘whoring’ in fact it’s quite nice and not ‘in your face’ but thanks for the comment darling, and the I’ll keep that content coming.
Just for you
David Perel
Since when is advertising on your blog “whoring”?? Do me a favour.
DAWG!
Just a point about the differences (such as they are) between 2OV and CTG.
Seth does this thing for a living. So you can kinda understand why his site is SO full on ads and brands.
CTG on the other hand has a job. Allegedly. If I were her boss or one of her clients, I’d be wanting to know exactly how much time she was spending on her work (that I was paying her for) and how much time she is spending on her blog (which is paying her).
Most of her time seems to be spent gadding about Cape Town trying on jeans and sunglasses, rather than looking after King James clients.
Oh – and a new definition of arrogance? Asking your sycophants which outfit you should be wearing to the SABA event a week before the invites have even been sent out.
Ugly.
Vivi Walsh
Thought I’d go on to CTG to see what all the fuss is about – the so called whoring of the self… There’s a modest Pepe strip at the top (I was expecting flashing lights.) To me it seems the theme of the blog is about brands, stuff she likes and stuff she’s seen. How can she be selling out if this is what she’s about? Surely selling out means being paid to do something that wouldn’t come naturally?
It’s not for me; I’m not really a follower of all things fashion, but it does seem to be a bit of a fuss over nothing really.
Like Nash says, don’t read it if you don’t like it. I unfollowed 2OV months ago, and like that (poof) my angst about it was gone.
Deliciously Decadent
Nash! Had so much fun reading your post.. and more fun with the comments! Good stuff!
First visit to your site… really cool read.. I was looking for the adverts.. haha.. cos isnt that what cool bloggers do..keep us up to date with what’s hot!
Dont really get the bad vibe you guys are giving 2OV..that dude works his ass off… I doubt he’d ever comment publicly…but since I’ve had the pleasure of working with him.. my opinion is that he isnt living any holiday. Anyhow.. I think he’s a pretty cool guy and the work he’s doing with Richard Hardiman on 2OVradio is rad..hey off the bat he gave me good vibes for my relatively unknown brand (We’re Daniela’s Deliciously Decadent in the Cape Quarter – haha!) and got my catering company involved in his radio launch party where I’m pretty sure other suppliers were lining up to sponsor ( I got paid btw).
Must admit since I listen to his show and follow his twitter..I’ve faded on reading his blog but i guess that’s partly 2OV..being innovative…setting the benchmark and keeping us moving!
CTG… I love her and her meaningless ramblings..takes me away from a rather stressful life to a time similar to “reading heat magazine when no one is looking at Pick ‘n Pay”… but then again maybe it’s because we’re a macaroon house and that girl is crazy about them! I’ve given her free macs… and she’s allowed me to blatently leave all my stores details on her site. love it! Like Nomu.. we give treats to our pets
Pity I didnt know about her before One&Only and Cassis got hold of her macaroon obsession!… hmm I wonder if she’ll take to the Whoopie pie craze.. wow.. those are Deliciously Decadent and available at my store in the Cape Quarter.. Hey Nash, you seem like a whoopie kinda guy..I think it’s more a guy treat anyway.. shall we send you some with our compliments? We also have Deliciously Decadent chocolate brownies (my favourite) haha.. once overheard a guy using them in a pick up line.. worked too!
So yeah.. great blog.. really enjoyed it this early morning! Good Luck at the Awards.. I actually hope you win.. eeek that dude in a thong is just wrong!
xx
Bloggerati
I have had enought time to prepare my thoughts. It probably wont matter as Im not a blogger, just a user of social media i.e. got twitter, facebook, gchat etc.
I added relaxwithdax and it sorta just blew up from their, now I follow 20v, CTG, Nash, jamiewho, makethman and so on.
I dont have an issue with getting endorsed, athletes do it all the time, so get that paper, or free whiskey, choccies, jeans and sunglasses 0_O
Reading the above comments= jealousy, resentment, bitchyness etc so easily done via online bickering.
I read/follow all the above cos dammit I dont have the time to keep up with any trends etc, but does anyone have an original thought ? HELL NO. All the foodies eat at the same places, review the same books, go to the same launches, judge the same events and not one spices anything up. But Im an observer and I love observing these glorified facebook accounts aka your blogs.
CTG= love the Blog, its a great online diary and we get to see pics each week of where she ate brekkie over the weekend and what clothes you wanna splurge your next pay cheque on= facebook.
Nash: pics of the deck, packages arriving, pics of gals he likes, the blog award stunt= once again facebook
If you want LOL moments, or actual thought provoking stuff you need to add the Princess Malema’s or Ling Ling (there last names change all the time to keep up with current affairs), two Capetonian females who are a riot, their radio spots are hilarious, they faux everything, from racism to homophobia to the downright illegal. Using facebook is great.
So to reiterare as an observer all of your blogs are great for me, but as far as really entertaining? not even on the cusp, no LOL moments ever, no actual debate. Go to facebook for that please, you will end up talking about penis cream, allegiances to Julius Malema, athletes of colour who always appear in the You, the odd homophobic outcry, Islamaphobia etc and why do these two gals get away with it? Because their originality shines through, they dont document every cupcake they ate or each tequila shot they downed on a drunk scale indeax. Seriously?
Keep it up though, I wouldnt know where to get the latest sunglasses or candies from in CT
xoxo
Rudi
I guess Bloggerati summed up his/her own self with one sentence:
“no LOL moments ever”
Cause this is a blog for 12year olds.
Matt
Dude, I don’t mind the approach of brand whoring, as long as, like 2OV does, make it clear. Its not some huge secret that people pay to be featured there. Its similar to you stating the LEE, Scar and Assegai are your partners. YOu make it visible no one can declare it lying.