Honey, I Just Want to Connect Women.
I wasn't going to respond to the article in the NYT about Bloggy Boot Camp.
But, I'm not really one to sit by quietly. Below is the comment I left on a post about the article.
So I am finally going to pipe in here.
I am Tiffany, the barefoot sorority leader who runs Bloggy Boot Camp.
First of all, I did not serve any cocktails in sippy cups. If they were there, it wasn't part of the conference.
Matt, we will not be adding a bunch of stops to Bloggy Boot Camp for 2010- since my site {SITS} nor the boot camp site was linked in the article, its not very easy to find. And, honestly, I'm not sure how many out there are interested in hearing about how many hits you can get on a tutu tutorial.
If this is all Jennifer got out of a day that produced comments like:
"Thank you for reminding me I should be authentic in my blogging."
"I was nervous to come, but felt so welcomed and everyone was so kind."
"The information was so valuable, thank you!"
Then she was alone in her feeling that the conference and the women who attended were nothing more than silly ladies, driving minivans and having girl time.
I could go on and on.
But I won't.
I am a huge fan of women. Period.
I run a site dedicated exclusively to featuring them.
I run a conference whose entire goal- from assigning seats so women feel included, to personally trying to meet each attendee, to offering speaking opportunities to women who have never done it before- is to make women feel included, empowered and connected.
When Jennifer, who was on the waiting list for a ticket, proposed the idea of writing for the NYT, I agreed BECAUSE SHE HAS A BLOG-with pictures and stories of her beautiful family all over it.
I also understand that an article for NYT is not going to be all rainbows and unicorns. But I thought she would be more balanced, and less trite.
I was wrong.
I am not in this for publicity or money. I am in this because I love connecting with women. I love the camaraderie this community we have carved out offers each of us.
As for having "the enthusiasm of camp director"- I am grateful for that everyday. It allows me a wonderful lifestyle in which my husband and I both stay home with our son and spend the summers with fantastic children.
Now, excuse me while I go find my shoes.....
Comments
So why so cynical of the other MOMS who WRITE and want to make money for their families??
I am hoping to attend a BBC, btw!
Sarah
I didn't see the article, nor do I want to, but I read another post last week re: a negative article about Mommy Bloggers.
Excuse me, but I do believe it is 2010, not the 1920's! Do these people know Oprah and her little project called a 'talk show?' That's just off the top of my head, as far as women in power.
I'm so grateful to SITS - it gives me a huge boost every time I comment. I haven't been to a boot camp - waiting for SF - and am planning on any more I can attend.
Again, so glad you responded. It may well fall on deaf ears, but, rest assured, someone will read it.
-Dawn
I missed the event (essentially because I'm Canadian and couldn't afford to get there) but would have loved to attend. I enjoyed following along with you all via tweets and posts.
I'm glad it was a success. Regardless of what fluff the NYT article shares (the headline actually made me angry!), those in the SITS community can feel good knowing the reality.
Congratulations on a successful event.
I look forward to a Boston bootcamp.
I am so glad I chose Boot Camp as my first conference. I don't think there is anywhere else I would've felt so welcome and connected and at the same time, being taught SO many valuable things to help me continue blogging in a way that keeps my blog quality true to me.
Thank you Tiffany for being just the way you are.... one of the most welcoming and honest women I know.
Tamara
www.theunexperiencedmom.com
www.blogconferencenewbie.com
Well maybe self loathing?
I thought the bootcamp sounds fun. A nice thing to do for woman who can't make it to the annual Blog Her meeting.
This NYT gal sounds like she thought of a few really funny zingers, and she let them rip at your expense. She wrote the story, imo, to put you down, thereby propping up her own self-worth. It is a cheap ploy that people use who do not feel good about themselves.
What kind of a person attacks MOMS?! Mom is like apple pie. Mom is the cornerstone of the American Family. Our very culture. If moms can hone their skills or experience by networking online, who is anybody to sit back and point fingers. Cheap naysayers with an inferiority complex.
Cowering away in shame.
Again, I am SO sorry about this Tiffany!
The fact that the article was featured in the "style" section adds to the fact that the NY Times was looking to see one angle...and the author twisted that from the conference which she needed to put forth this one particular point of view.
All the NY Times succeeded in doing is alienating a growing, influential group of intelligent business women...not a smart thing to do when newspapers are going the way of the dinosaur in favor of, hmmm, well, blogs.
This author--as well as the NY Times staff--is probably more concerned with keeping her job by giving the paper what it thinks sells rather than accurate reporting. With ever-shrinking readership and revenues, I understand that desperation. But we live in a free, capitalist society, and she is free to make the decisions on how she wishes to report. If this is indeed what she came away with from this conference, then that is a very sad thing.
What has happened here isn't anything different than what has been happening to women for decades; moms are put-down, trivialized, held to impossible standards, and treated as having silly, expensive interests. It's disappointing that the author felt the need to contribute to this.
Personally, I felt your ability to create, organize, and hold such a professional, relevant, informative conference while encouraging social networking (and not "girly bonding," for crying out loud)was impressive and inspiring. This was a respectful, PROFESSIONAL (I can't say that enough) conference. I am sorry that you received such a poor review for what was a helpful, practical, and fabulous conference.
And I will be attending another conference, not because I am a groupie or have a lot of money to spend on my "hobby," but because Bloggy Boot Camp is an excellent investment in my education and my business. I cannot express my gratitude enough that you are offering so much to bloggers at what is truly a reasonable price. Thank you!
And Heather.
And Sits.
And Bloggy Boot Camp.
And Mommy bloggers.
I also love hot, barefoot camp directors. Just so you know.
xoxo
Appreciated by another ladyist.
The NYT column was unfair and, as you so aptly noted, trite.
Sour grapes makes for some sour wine.
Of course you wouldn't want to read this about yourself anywhere, much less in the NYT. It's unfair and it sucks. But opinions are like @--holes; everyone has one but you should be careful who you share yours with. Just sayin.
I'm proud of being a "Mommy Blogger", if that is how you want to categorize me. If that is going to make yourself feel better - go for it. Personally, I go by the Queen of Happiness....
...unless you dare to piss me off...
Tiffany, this response was first class and just another reason why I support all that you do with SITS.
I was glad she did because otherwise I wouldn't have heard about you, read your blog or followed you on Twitter.
I am very excited to discover this whole mommy blogger world. It is so encouraging as I start on my own journey.
I'm such a newbie that I don't actually know how to add the code to put the little SITS box, but as soon as I figure that out, I'll be joining you.
So, perhaps it will make you feel better to know that at least one intelligent mommy out here was able to see through the style of the article into the heart of what you are doing. Perhaps that can redeem some of the fluff. I look forward to getting to know all of you and learning/sharing everything I can.
That's all I've got right now.
My husband forwarded the link to me while I was out collecting my kid from a birthday party. I got all excited "WOW SITS is in the NYT?" and tweeted all "yay woohoo" without actually *reading* the article first (being, as I was, on my iPod without a decent wifi connection). I mean, how could anyone possibly write anything *negative* about the topic?! When I got home and caught up on the twittersphere, I realized that someone did. Now my hackles are up!
Keep on doing exactly what you're doing, Tiffany - more mommy bloggers out there support and love you than you could ever realize!! <3
And even though she sighted that some criticize promoting brands on mommy blogs, she also said that it also can be viewed as EMPOWERing moms because we are helping to shape brands and products by providing feedback, ideas, etc...to these companies.
And we get FREE stuff!!! Who doesn't love FREE stuff???
I think the whole blog conference idea is awesome, and to me, this article didn't take away from that. If anything, it probably intrigued a lot of readers to know that there are such strong mom blogger communities like SITS and that it's even possible for mommy bloggers (like Jill )to get noticed by "empires" like Nick Jr. and land an awesome job!
So seriously, I wouldn't even worry about this article in the least. You rock, Tiffany! I hope I get a chance to meet up with ya at a conference one of these days. Sounds like you ladies had a blast. :)
You did a fabulous job with it!
Please don't ever put your shoes on. You don't need them and are fabulous without them.
The NY article TOTALLY missed the boat.
I just thought there was SO much more that could have been shown about women, about networking, about connecting, even about working with brands.
Mary {Mommyologist} do not feel badly at all about BEING YOUR FUN, AWESOME SELF at the conference- the reporter chose to mention the sippy cups to trivialize our experience- I needed to address it- but hey, I am the chick without shoes on, so what do I know? :)
One day the traditional media will realize that we are a force to be reckoned with and print articles that highlight the amazing things we are doing.
You are doing one hell of a job, lady! One article in what I consider to be a generally backassward newspaper isn't going to change that, nor will it change the opinion of the thousands of women who love and admire you. Keep on doing what you're doing.
Now that I'm hearing more of all sides, it's all coming together. And it's kind of saddening. All around.
Be strong. You're doing good.
I adore you. And your bare feet.
And seriously, assigned seating, how stinkin' thoughtful are you?!
Big raspberries to NYT.
What I got out of Boot Camp was the connection with you and all the other attendees. Though with my lack of kids, I'm not a "mommy blogger" I went to the conference to meet women I'd admired and women I'd never heard of, with whom I'd become fast friends.
Thanks to your tireless efforts and innate kindness, I got all I wanted and more out of BootCamp - and I just wanted to let you know.
I noticed right off that some people quoted in the article were linked and some weren't. Something was really "off" with that article. The nice thing about this is that WE know our value, none of this has changed what WE know to be true--that we have built strong friendships and networks through SITS and our own blogs, and that we really are making a difference out there.
i wrote my take on this all and i gave you and Bloggy Boot Camp lots of love! hope that i can finagle the $ to come to San Francisco because i love hugging you and hanging out with you. You are good people, Tiffany!
Laura
i wrote my take on this all and i gave you and Bloggy Boot Camp lots of love! hope that i can finagle the $ to come to San Francisco because i love hugging you and hanging out with you. You are good people, Tiffany!
Laura
forgot to share the link.
http://adventuresinjuggling.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/its-about-that-blog/
love you, Tiffany!
What I found was a an ever growing quilt, a network patchwork made up of women of all ages, from all ethnic & cultural backgrounds, all connecting, sharing, helping each other. The vibrancy & beauty within this community astonishes & amazes me daily.
The author of the article in the NYT clearly is looking to further some personal agenda or vendetta because her piece bears no relation to a community of women I've grown to love enough that I've decided to join them!
I'm sure she felt that if she put, "It was so fun, the ladies were great & informative, I learned so much about blogging along with meeting some virtual friends...etc, NYT would not print her article.
So in the big scheme of things Tiffany, just take it with a grain of salt...she obviously had to SELF PROMOTE her article.
Sounds to me like it was a huge success! CONGRATS!
Cheers,
E
And what's wrong with not wearing shoes?
You had a hunch about this. And you were right.
She chose to go one direction. One that would cause exactly this type of reaction.
And I don't get why she linked to some and not others.
So what if you were barefoot? :)
Her article screams of how green with envy she is that her blog is in that majority of blogs who never make money. I'm appalled that she, too, is one of those bloggers that she looks down her nose at. This article made me so mad, in part, because all of you are like my sisters, you and Heather especially. Don't give this woman or this garbage article another thought. You are doing wonderful things to help encourage bloggers and women everywhere.
Reading that did not make me feel turned off from blogging or think any less of you or what you are doing.
I wanted to go to Blogger Bootcamp before, and quite honestly, that article made me want to go even more!
Hang in there!
I really understand that she didn't portray you or your group in all that bright of a light, but, I'm so happy to have found your community.
xoxo
Nona
May this be the start of a beautiful trend. :)
Writing this much is giving me the confidence to get back into career mode after my kid goes back to school. I'm not sure how that fits in with the picture of selfish child neglect this woman painted.
The article was not balanced at all. The graphic is hideous. I did not notice it at first...I thought it was an ad. Could the face of the mom and baby be any more grim and miserable? The graphic is not representative of the mom bloggers who I know.
I am upset that Tara at FeelsLikeHomeBlog and Justice Fergie of Blogalicious/Mamalaw were not mentioned by name. Any reporter worth her salt would know that you should make the effort to add the name of the person when referencing them. The reporter should have interviewed both women for the article as both added valuable information to the conference. The article was supposed to be about the conference, right? SITS should have been linked as well.
Did the reporter seek out people to interview? Did she have a list of who she would interview before the conference? Or did people approach her? I could tell by the article that she was focusing on the bloggers rather than the speakers an information exchange at the conference. I wonder if bloggers approached the reporter so that they could be interviewed by a reporter and be linked in the NYT. Sad, very sad.
Being featured in the NYT means that SITS is now on the radar as a force to be reckoned with!
IF you ignore the lame jokes, which I honestly didn't notice as I skimmed the article, what comes across is the power and the size of the "mommy" blogging community, the serious topics discussed,and the friendships that evolve here.
and hey, who doesn't love Mimosas in a sippy cup?
Anyway, I really appreciate all the help that not only SITS has give me, but all of the women I have met through SITS, who have helped me when I had no idea what I was doing. I feel like what I'm doing is important, and what others are doing are just as important to them and the people that follow them.
Andye @ Reading Teen
Or I should say... SITSta ;)
Keep doing what you love. THAT'S why we love you. Your passion for empowering women is inspiring.
xoxo
SIGH- I need more coffee. My brain can't take all of this right now. All I can say is shame on them. Tiffany, you are AMAZING, inspiring and empowering. ((((HUGS)))))
Nuff said. You rock, and I'll bet your toes were looking pretty. Don't let the man (or sadly, in this case, woman) get you down.
http://LifeForward.onsugar.com
:(
Your comment to them, however, was awesome!
From a writer perspective, I wish she would have been more honest and open about her intent.
From a blogger perspective, I think she missed the mark.
I commented on Kat's post about this, but I think you were the one who was walking about how we were pioneering this new age of media... that us mom-bloggers were creating something so new and so powerful, we don't even know what it is yet...
we will be heard.
This gave me chills. I was inspired, in awe... and yet, none of that was covered.
I happen to be working on a Mommy Blogging story for a local magazine I freelance for... Can't wait to get a few things off of my chest.
I loved BB and can't wait for Philly time to get here. I learned alot and I know almost everyone there has said the same.
Really really wrong to go out and make mom bloggers look bad, especially when she herself is a mom blogger.
I read the article, first page only, before I heard of the outrage, and thought "wow, that chick just doesn't get it..." while also thinking, Tiffany is amazing, look at all she does!
xo