Pseudotherapy

One of my fairy blogdaughters, HolyGirl427, has honored me with a Thinking Blogger Award! I’m humbled to find myself in such impressive company, but certainly it was only a matter of time before my uncanny talent for *thinking* about blogging — as opposed to *actually* blogging — was recognized.

Google “thinking blogger award” and up comes a long list of awardees. Makes me want to spend the weekend reading previously-unknown blogs! The first one I clicked was Lorelle, whose post turned into an article for the Blog Herald. I’ve read Lorelle countless times seeking advice on WordPress, but she’s so much more than that. This quote from her article is especially pointed:

In “Fortune Cookie Blogging,” I went on a rampage against all the platitudes I was reading on blogs. People writing fortune cookie blogs filled with middle of the road, “kinder and gentler” blogging styles, avoiding a serious opinion or stance on anything. Just regurgitation of the same old same old. Echo chamber. Hello! Anyone in there…there…there…there? Nope, no opinions here!

Recognize anyone you’ve read? Yep, me too. This award is intended, I believe, to encourage movement away from that type of blogging and bring attention to those who are willing to take risks with their words, who aren’t afraid to stir up a little trouble. I have to admit I don’t read too many of the “heavy-thinker” bloggers. Although only a few consistently steer clear of controversy, most of the folks I follow do write with a lighter style. Reading their blog is like chatting on the phone with a friend.

With that in mind, here are my own bestowals. These are the five four bloggers from my “regular reads” that I find most thought-provoking (in one way or another), therefore truly deserving of a Thinking Blogger Award:

1. The Zero Boss. Afraid of controversy? Jay *lives* for it! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fluff post on ZB. No topic’s too touchy, and don’t expect the expletives to be deleted, either. Plus, he writes about stuff you didn’t even hear about. Cojones of steel and a razor-sharp wit.
2. Title Deleted For Security Reasons, authored by The Laughing Muse. More than one of her posts has inspired a train of thought that culminates in a post of my own. Not necessarily about exactly the same subject, but when a blogpost starts you on a wandering wondering, that’s even better!
3. Snackie’s Pudge-Free World. Frankly, I’m astounded that no one has chosen The Queen of Blogistan for this award yet, since she is the quintessential Thinking Blogger. I’ve never known anyone more attuned to their inner self, and Hilly really lays it all out in the open. She makes me think about *my* inner self, and constantly inspires me to strive for deeper truth in my blogging.
4. Ninja Poodles! Belinda’s blog defies categorization. Look at it today and you might think it’s a travel blog. One day last week it looked like a photography blog. Go back six months and you might mistake it for a health blog. And because Belinda is blessed with the inimitable Bella, she is also a mommyblogger of the highest readability. Whatever the subject of the day, each post is beautifully-thought and well-laced with humor.
5. Well, hell. Both of the other two bloggers I was considering have already been chosen by someone else. So I guess I’m only giving out *four* awards. That’s what I get for having such a small blogroll!

And now for the mandatory inclusion: The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative gold version if silver doesn’t fit your blog).
4. Please, remember to tag blogs with real merits, i.e. relative content, and above all — blogs that really get you thinking!

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 17th, 2007 at 8:56 pm and is filed under Blogging, Memes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.