Tagging, Awards, and Memes at the Tea Room

Posted on August 7, 2008 - Filed Under Meme, Site Info

There have been a lot of good memes going around lately so I thought it would be the perfect time to document my thoughts on tags, awards, and memes and get my readers’ feelings on them if they care to share.

Memes and awards can take some time to participate in because they usually involve some work in placing links (either as part of the meme or in order to tag others), photos, or videos into a post. Some people would rather only have what they consider “quality” posts at their blogs. Some people choose not to participate in awards and memes for other reasons of their own.

Sometimes I wonder if I should be participating in them myself. They can take a lot of time to put together. Sometimes I have a whole slew of what I think will be great posts to write and then I get tagged for several memes in a row. But then I think about it a bit and I remember something important. If it weren’t for awards and memes, I wouldn’t have run into many of the bloggers I have run into, even the ones who don’t participate in these things. Some bloggers I ran into because I found them through a comment or blogroll of a blogger who DID participate in a meme or award post. Some found their way to MY blog through similar means.

So as long as I am able, and as long as there is no pressure, I will try to complete a meme or award post when a buddy tags me. It may not be immediate, but I will do it as soon as I can without stressing myself out. In return, when I tag someone I want them to realize that the tag comes with no obligation - it simply means that I’d be interested in seeing that person’s answers or response to the meme.

To me, memes offer a chance to grow your blogroll, meet new bloggers and find blogs that you may be interested in, and to share links, which are a free and easy way to reward a blog/blogger that you appreciate. If someone tags me, they have given me a link and I find it courteous to return that nicety by completing the meme, and in doing so, giving them a return link. If for some reason, I can’t complete a meme, I will try and find another way to thank them with a link. This brings me to the next topic - tagging.

I realize that some people don’t like to tag and that it is sometimes very difficult to choose from fellow bloggers when handing out awards or tags. I like to name a few people to tag because I think it provides a little extra impetus to complete it and it lets people know that I really would like to hear especially from them. But, of course, there is never any pressure because that is not my intent. For some reason, I personally feel like I’m slacking if I just tag everyone in my blogroll or if I don’t tag anyone at all (probably some guilt thing leftover from grammar school days - I never said I couldn’t use therapy - LOL).

I also like to leave the memes open for anyone who would like to steal it and complete it on their own, because some of these memes are really fun and interesting to do and read and because as bloggers, we all have days where we just don’t have a brilliant post idea. Sometimes a meme is a great way to put up a post and it could lead to more post ideas.

In any case, each blogger should do what is right and works for him or herself. I love all the different styles that are out there and I just like to document why I do things the way I do here at the Tea Room for my new readers and my own sake. Sometimes when I document things it really makes me think about why I do things. Which is interesting until it hurts my brain.

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Comments

20 Responses to “Tagging, Awards, and Memes at the Tea Room”

kilax (42 comments.) on August 7th, 2008 10:16 pm

I think memes can be a lot of fun… but I am one of those people who tries not to do a lot, because I think they can be kind of dry. Well, some, not all of them!

Oh, I hear you. It’s funny because lately there just have been a whole slew of them, but they have been rather interesting and not hard to do so I can’t complain. I do love reading them when people take the time to be original or really think about their answers before they post them. Those are really interesting and fun reads.
pearl (14 comments.) on August 7th, 2008 10:27 pm

I am one of the guilty ones teeni, coz I couldn’t do the memes you had tagged me for. It was almost spooky to see this post as I was reading your comment on one of my posts back in December My Best Blogging Achievement about tagging me and I came here!

I started to shy away from them ‘coz a lot of my readers started complaining at one time! but I need ideas to write and it definitely gives a chance to know others! So, I promise I’ll do the meme if you tagged me now..
Aw, Pearl. I wasn’t trying to make anyone feel guilty. There’s never any pressure to do the memes and tags on my end. I just wanted everyone to know why I do them when some people choose not to and what my thoughts were behind it. But hey, we all get busy and there are always more important posts. If they get too stressful over here or get to be too much, then my policy will change on the subject. So if I tag you in the future, you respond only if you have time and are actually interested in it. Fair enough?
B.E. Earl (79 comments.) on August 7th, 2008 10:51 pm

This is the strangest meme I’ve ever read.

LOL. Thanks for the giggle, Earl. I never know what to expect from you but it usually makes me smile or laugh. Hugs to you!
Bethy (43 comments.) on August 7th, 2008 11:05 pm

They can take much energy and time. In fact I am so tired I don’t even have the energy to say how I feel about it all. But let me try…

I have mixed feelings about it all…let me think about it.

I didn’t mean to stress you out with this post!
Mike Goad (62 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 1:00 am

Now I feel guilty for not completing the meme on tearjerker music.

I guess I’ll have to figure out a way, even though I really don’t pay much attention to the names of songs or the lyrics.

Wait a minute. Maybe there’s a song out there about not being able to complete you memes assignment.

…. just kidding! Of course I had a bit of a clue that it wasn’t “mandatory.”

Keep it interesting!

I like the way you did the meme in the comments - that is acceptable. I don’t want anyone to feel guilty. I just wanted them to understand how I feel about it. I guess what I want is that if I accidentally tag someone who doesn’t do memes to know what was behind it rather than have them be cursing me.
Hannah (382 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 1:05 am

Good to hear you share your thoughts on all this (although I pretty much knew your opinion on it already).

Recently I have stopped tagging people for all memes when I complete them. This is mostly because I could never figure out who exactly might like to take part, and I worried that I was “leaving out” somebody else. I still tag people for some, but definitely not all.

I love being tagged for memes though, I’m not one of the people who only wants “quality” posts. Sometimes (not often, but sometimes) I don’t have time to do one, but 99% of them I will do.

I totally understand about the not tagging. I’ve wondered sometimes if I should just not tag too, for fear of hurting someone’s feelings or leaving someone out so that is why I now also leave the memes open for theft too. I didn’t used to. Also, I used to try and only tag people that I thought would do the tag, but then I wondered about my reasoning for that. So now I try and tag people who I really would like to hear the answers from and if they don ‘t care to do the tag, well, they just aren’t going to do it so the worst thing that happens is I gave them a link that they did not reciprocate. After a while, if I tag the same people over and over and they don’t ever respond, then I probably will learn not to tag them anymore and may even move them off my blogroll onto a list of “other sites that I just visit” since they aren’t very active. Then I can have a blogroll full of active bloggers who I know I can tag and a separate list of sites I just visit but don’t hear from often. I’m still thinking on this one. I find my blog and I are evolving slowly over time so that is why I feel it’s good to reflect on it and document it. And I’m very glad that you enjoy doing the memes because I always enjoy reading yours. You do put a lot of thought into your answers. Oh, and sorry for babbling so long in response to your comment. I guess I just feel comfortable talking to you and your comment allowed me to touch on a lot of things.
Peter Parkour (107 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 2:22 am

I liked this post. It forced me to think about my feeling on the subject. I don’t mind the occasional meme, but I’m not a big fan of tagging. Still after hearing your thought, I think you may have swayed my opinion. I like the way you go about your low pressure tagging.

Thanks, Peter! The good thing about this whole process of documenting how I do things at the Tea Room is that it makes me really consider why I do things and why I feel the way I do about them. It’s helping me along, I hope. And at least gives you all a clue that there is some kind of method behind the madness!
javaqueen (102 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 2:43 am

Bottom line, when you start to feel pressure about your blog- it’s not a good thing. People own their personal blogs, their blogs should never own them.
I know not everyone does, but I love meme’s. I always do them because it gives me a chance to talk about myself; the real person beind the words and in turn, I get to learn more about other people’s personal thoughts and personalities. And, if I’m lucky; I pick up a blog bud in the process
Your posts always invoke a good conversation Teens! You handle yourself so well — xoxoxoxo

You said it, sister! The blog should NOT own the blogger. If I start getting too stressed about the way things go here (or God forbid my blog gets so popular that I can’t keep up with it all), then I will change the way things are done. But I’m not at that point and so I just want to show the reasons for why I do things. Because you know, I may appear crazy at times but it’s usually a result of good reasoning. And I LOVE reading your answers to the memes, whether it was me who tagged you or someone else! Thanks so much for the kind words. But hopefully you already know I love you too, girlie!
javaqueen (102 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 2:45 am

… and what I mean about “you handle yourself so well” is that the way you write feels real to me, as if we were sitting together talking…. you are wonderful! But, you have to already know that!

Aw, that’s sweet and thank you because that is how I want all my babbling to come across. And, no, I don’t know that. Keep telling me!!! I like it, I like it!
VeggieGirl (91 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 3:43 am

I simply don’t have the time to do all of those memes and tags and things - they’re super-fun, and I enjoy reading others’ answers to them; but unfortunately I can’t do them personally.

Yes, my dear, YOU are one seriously busy little person. I totally understand that it would be impossible for you to do all the memes and tags and awards going around. There is a difference between can’t and won’t. I know you can’t and that is why I try not to tag you. However, I do want you to know that if things were different for you and you weren’t so busy that I’d want to read your answers on every single one. Because I’m a nosey buddy and all. Hugs to you!
ozymandiaz (25 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 6:23 am

Yea, what you said.

Exactly! LOL.
Paige Stanton (77 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 8:59 am

I’m having a dang hard time coming up with a song for that last meme you tagged me with. I’m still thinking…

LOL. No pressure, Paige. No pressure. If you can’t do it, that’s fine. Really. I still love you!
Memarie Lane (37 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 9:13 am

I will do the occasional meme, if it’s one I haven’t done before, but I work it in as a regular post. I think a lot of readers will simply pass if they see “meme” in a blog title. I always give credit to the person that tagged me, but I don’t tag anyone new. I’ve noticed that even though I don’t tag, if people like the idea they will do it.

That’s a good idea to work it in as a regular post. I’ll have to go check exactly what you mean at your site. And I totally agree, that some people will avoid those posts, yet others are fascinated with reading about their fellow bloggers. I admit that I am. I like people and learning about them. I do agree that if a meme is interesting and easy enough to do that many who like doing them will simply help themselves to it. I’ve seen lots of people have success doing memes that way. For some strange reason, I don’t feel right doing that though. As I said in the post, it makes me feel like a slacker - some kind of guilt complex I guess. Weird. On the other hand, I think tagging a few people is much more personal than just leaving it open and maybe that is just my style. I honestly don’t know. I do try and let you all into my thought processes when I document these things, but hey, even I can’t explain some of the dark wirings that go on in my mind!
Bethy (43 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 9:34 am

Heh heh…I’m not stressed!

Oh, being funny, then!
CuriousC (69 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 10:11 am

You’re the coolest. tag me anytime if you want. I might do it, I might not.

hugs, C

Exactly. That’s the way it should be. Thanks, C!
CuriousC (69 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 10:22 am

and same goes for you, of course. If I ever tag you and you can’t get to it, that’s perfectly OK.

Gotcha! Perfect!
writerchick (32 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 10:26 am

Hey Teens,
I guess we all have our own take on memes and awards. I know that when I first started out the awards meant a lot to me because it was about acceptance into the neighborhood so to speak. And while I am always touched and flattered whenever anyone gives me a bloggy award - you’re right, the posts involve a lot of work - and in my case for some reason, it seems there is no one to pass the award to because they all have it. You know?

Memes - I actually kind of dig memes if they are creative and interesting - some of the best ones really tell you a lot about the people who do them. And truth be told they are a backpocket fallback for any blogger when they’ve run out of ideas too. I used to tage on memes but then I started to feel like I was putting pressure on people and didn’t like doing that. So, now I just put it out there and somebody wants to do it, cool and if not, cool too.

Reflective post. Nice.
Annie

Yes, we do all have our own takes on them. It is not my intention to judge, just to let people know how I feel about it, which could also change at any time (in which case I’ll update my thoughts on it). LOL - I know about the awards - if you can’t jump in right away, then everyone is passing it on already and you’ve got nobody left to give it to. Totally understandable! It has happened to me too. No matter how one handles them, I definitely see that memes and awards have a place in blogosphere. Thanks for the kind words, Annie.
Memarie Lane (37 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 11:46 am

The one I did today isn’t exactly a meme, but I think it may turn into one.

I just did one that accidentally became a meme and those are some of the best!
honeywine (76 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 4:35 pm

I don’t mind them probably because I appreciate all the reasons you offered. Just today I stumbled onto a blog with a meme and because of the descriptions of the tagged, I went looking at them and saw some awesome stuff!

That is one of my favorite things - reading the intros that some bloggers give to their buddies before they tag them or give them an award. It shows the effort and thought they put into it and some are very creative. I want to be better about stuff like that. It makes it more special.
joanharvest (47 comments.) on August 8th, 2008 4:44 pm

I’ll do any meme I am tagged for and accept any award. But I have a lot of time on my hands so I can put the time and effort into a meme. Plus I like to write about myself. Ha! Ha!. I also like to learn more about other bloggers and memes are a good way of doing that. I don’t usually tag but sometimes I will.But I agree with you about no pressure. Everyone’s blog is their own to do with as they please. And we should all accept that. So far every single blogger I know does.

You said it. And I really like the differences. I sometimes am jealous and want to do things differently, but I find that this way works best for me right now. It could change in the future. Right now, like you, I have lots of time on my hands, but I’m hoping to fit a lot more into my time in the future so who knows? But if I decide to change things I’ll document it again and let everyone know so everyone knows what to expect from me and my blog. And I agree with you - so far every blogger I know has been very accepting of all differences and that is one of the great things about the blogosphere (plus I don’t have to dress up to visit any of you guys)!