Whoever you are, 66.9.106.146, thanks a lot. You stuffed the ballot box at 2003 Weblog Awards last night, to the tune of 35 votes that are going to be taken from me at the end of this. You cheated, and you made me look bad in the process.
I got up this morning, and after I checked the news as usual, and the obits to make sure I wasn't listed, I checked the polls at Wizbang's. Lo and behold, I was at the top! Last night I'd been a far-behind #4, and there I was, Queen Cheese. The bad sleep full of horrid dreams and anxieties about how the hell am I going to get a job today were shoved to the background for a little while. I did a crack-of-dawn happy dance.
Then I checked my email, saw a letter from Kevin nicely explaining that there was a problem with my votes.... checked the link to the explanation on his page. I am to be docked 35 votes because whoever you are at 66.9.106.146 got clever last night and voted and voted and revoted for me.
This is not right. I know I'm supposed to take it as a compliment. I know these awards aren't supposed to mean anything. I know it's just an exercise in vanity/ ratings game/ super-link enhancement fest.
I don't fucking care.
If I win anything, ANYTHING, I want it to be rightfully mine. I don't want anyone's finger in the pie. I don't want my rich daddy calling in favors or my good-lookin' mama flirt-lobbying with obese congressmen. It means nothing otherwise.
Am I taking this too seriously? Most likely. It makes ME look bad too, not just you, whoever you are. It makes me look like some pitiful whiner who had nothing going for her except that her friends are techno-capable of getting around the rules. It's embarassing.
Goddammit, people, I had some nice posts planned for today. I have a Santa's list thing and a post about my sister and now I'm just so disheartened, I could unplug the cable and go watch shitty daytime TV all day.
Shame on you, 66.9.106.146. Shame.
UPDATE: I've calmed down, had some coffee, took a nice shower, shot a few neighbors, and read all the input I've received, for which I thank all of you.
I realize I'm probably taking it too hard, too seriously, too much to heart, and that in the big scheme of it, it's all x's and o's and pooftah gone with the wind.
It's not like there's a prize waiting at the end, you know?
Thanks, y'all.
That bites. Why can't people just respect the nature of competition? The only thing I can tell you is who ever they are ... they're in NY.
And please post nice stuff, the 'sphere is a grey and unhappy place if we let stuff like this get us down.
Posted by: Rob at December 11, 2003 07:01 AMNobody's blaming you.
Posted by: Patterico at December 11, 2003 07:05 AMThat sucks. People *do* take all this stuff too seriously, and this 'trying to help' crap doesn't. But, this may not have been so much helping you as trying to screw over one of the other blogs that was ahead of you. Just a possibility.
Posted by: Ted at December 11, 2003 07:18 AMGood luck on your job hunt, LeeAnn...and keep on posting!!
Posted by: eric at December 11, 2003 07:18 AMThat does suck, no question. But maybe the person that did it just really likes you and wants you to win. That simple.
You have fans. Doesn't that make you feel better? :)
I think people are allowed to vote once a day or something, right? Well, I'll just wander over there again (haven't had time to go back since the weekend) and vote for you...once. (Once today, at least. I voted for you last weekend, of course.) That means that 35 dropped to 34. You can earn them back the old-fashioned way. Keep up the wonderful posting, ma'am.
Posted by: Zonker at December 11, 2003 08:05 AMAwww man.. that's just not right. Some people have no sense. But OTOH, it is a compliment that some poor, misguided fan wants you to win so badly that they did that. I'd be pissed, but take the compliment and keep on posting. Don't let it bug ya. : O)
Posted by: JaxVenus at December 11, 2003 10:02 AMCouldn't have been me. My number starts with 666.
Posted by: Jeff at December 11, 2003 10:30 AMI had had enough of "contests" even before I read this. I updated and trackbacked to it.
How annoying for you to have that happen.
Ah well.. these things happen.. at least someone wanted you to win...tracert brings up nothing.
Posted by: pylorns at December 11, 2003 12:02 PMI saw your post and it broke my heart. Try not to let it get you down.
Regardless, The Cheese Stands Alone is a FANTASTIC blog -- and favorite of mine. It's about time I spoke out and gave you the love.
However, alas, I can't give you my vote. Parkway Rest Stop's Jim is my dad. Nepotism a go-go!
Best wishes and take care,
TJ
I feel for you. I went to bed in sixth (I think) place in the Flappy Birds Category, and lo and behold, when I came back from lunch today, I was in first!
I posted a gloating piece about said situation, and, about an hour ago, found out how I got there. I'm temporarily sharing a terminal at my office, from where I do most of my posting. I'v told my coworker about the poll, and told him to vote for me. Apparently, he figured out how to post repeatedly, and did so.
I got an email from Kevin informing me that I was cheating, and that he had noticed several repeated posts from my IP address, whereupon my coworker Brendan began laughing hysterically. He spilled the beans, and I "revised" my gloatful post. GAH!
Posted by: Jared at December 11, 2003 03:26 PMI really think I may change the name of my blog to "What is wrong with People???" I have voted for you 3 times, LeeAnn (alternating my votes with the occasional Ted for variety) because we can vote once every 12 hours. I was excited to see you in second place today when I voted, and sorry to hear the "real" reason.....But there's still time!!!!
Posted by: Susie at December 11, 2003 06:40 PMI can't vote every 12 hours - it always says I've already voted.
But I can vote from home and from work, and so gave one to Ted and one to you.
I slipped in another vote while I was - wait... No, never mind. I slipped in another vote when I had to change the IP on our proxy server (for entirely unrelated reasons), but I don't remember who that was for...
Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 11, 2003 07:19 PMPixy you are so going to get banned... :-)
KIDDING!!!
Posted by: Kevin at December 11, 2003 09:29 PMWith the adjusted totals you are still in the top 3, and not too far behind.
Posted by: Kevin at December 11, 2003 11:44 PMI have also only voted for you once, but that's because I have the same problem as Pixy Misa (it always says I've already voted). I swear the voting bastard wasn't me (I'm not in NY!) and don't let it get you down-I mean, obviously someone wanted you to win really badly. Think of it this way-someone just liked you that much.
Good luck on the job hunt. It sucks, I know.
Posted by: Helen at December 12, 2003 03:12 AMSo both LeeAnn and Helen have now blogged while pissed :)
Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 12, 2003 04:35 AM