It makes absolutely no sense. What’s the purpose of engaging your readers if you’re simply going to choose a blogger at random? It’s pretty much drumming up views and interests to their site, having people work overtime and a half for a possibility of recognition.

I, personally, do not believe that your letter was out line, nor do I think that it was inappropriate.

Thank you for expressing OUR thoughts!

Jia

“I, addition, the random drawing implies that bloggers are fungible…”

Of course, “I,” should say “In”…

Thank you for your thoughtfulness and for taking a stand.

NEGRO PLEASE. Constant communication? You print your email and I will post mine okay? You told me about a contest for bloggers at which point I told you I was not interested because I.DON’T DO. CONTESTS!!!! One freaking email does not equal “constant communication.” I did not know the terms of the contest . I didn’t know you were going to turn it into some two bit low rent American Idol contest. Nor was I consulted about the roll out.

Mo’ Don’t even try it. First of all, I don’t have any obligation to go behind you and your boss to clean up your mess. Second, I read your contest rules. You admitted that YOUR OWN RULES that YOU DRAFTED were WRONG. That’s not my fault. That is yours.

Second, don’t yout hink it is a bit patronizing for you to tell me to call YOU about YOUR idiotic contest? I didn’t create the contest. I didn’t draft the rules. I didn’t choose to market it in the manner you chose to market it. MAN UP Mo and take responsibility for your own bad acts and don’t run up on my blog trying to blame me for your short comings.

Third Mo’ you came in the comments and admitted that you are Tavis’ employee, what more indication that you have access to Tavis was needed from me.

I suggest you just take one for the team Mo’ I was content to let the matter rest, but if you would like me to return to this subject, I certainly can.

You are just trying to do damage control at this point. You screwed up and embarassed your boss, just take the hit like a man and move on.

Bloggers are credentialed…if you look at the registration portion of the site, you would’ve seen this. The Washington Post isn’t even invited…just FYI.

Did anyone check the registration portion of the SOBU site? If so, you would’ve seen that when “press” registered, it also asked if you were a blogger…to be included, not excluded.

There’s nothing wrong with raising these issues, I just implore you to be accurate in the process of doing so.

Or better yet, if you would’ve asked me…you would’ve been clear on this so there would’ve been no further misunderstanding. You already have my cell phone and email Gina. In fact, since you posted this letter, we’ve emailed each other.

I’m immensely disappointed that given our personal rapport and constant communication PRIOR to today you did not see fit to communicate with me in this regard…your other concerns. The truth is you’ve known of this contest since October 23rd, I gave you the heads up well in advance. To suggest the blogging community was skirted around is simply untrue. You were the FIRST in the blogging community to know this was coming down the pike.

To suggest that somehow bloggers are being INTENTIONALLY slighted is simply untrue.

Not only that, to have a direct line to Tavis through me and not acknowledge that to your readers in terms of this discussion is disingenuous. If this is broken, we can work together to fix it.

And since we don’t pay ANY of the panelists, from Dr. Cornel West on down…it’s more than “odd” to suggest that we pay bloggers “a fair wage.” Nobody is getting pimped here.

We’re treating bloggers the same (and in many respects BETTER) than everyone else involved.

If you had questions in that regard, I surely could’ve clarified them for you.

I get the sense this isn’t about communication or discussion as evidence by how this conversation has proceeded…

But if I’m wrong, you still have my email and cell phone number Gina.

Still love you Gina,

Morris

Seems to me that Tavis is employing the old ‘Crabs in the barrel’ mentality.