So Jason Kottke announces to the world that he has quit his job and plans to work on kottke.org full-time… “Congratulations Jason” was my first thought, til I read on and saw he was asking for people to donate money to this cause.
I know I’ll probably be the only one who thinks this is a bad idea and no offence to Jason, it’s admirable that he’s quit his career to start a full-time blogging career, people will be falling over themselves to pat Jason on the back simply because he is THE Jason Kottke… But it’s also in danger of setting a horrible precedent where people think that they can blog full-time as a way to make a living… Sure, he masquerades it as a “micro-patron” program where people who contribute can win gifts along the way, but at the end of the day, he’s just some guy who quit his job and is now looking for a handout from people to support himself.
Fine Jason, blog full-time if you wish, but please don’t be asking for money along the way.
Comments
8 responses to “Cash For Kottke”
Full-time blogging
I’ve got to admit, I wish I could ‘pull a kottke’ and move to blogging as a ‘job’. The idea has a lot of appeal. Unfortunately, I’m in no shape financially to do such a thing, and I don’t have the wide readership that he has that would allow me …
Is this different/better/worse than taking advertising? Why not have pay-as-you-go media?
I think it’s worse… With advertising you can choose not to click through, Jason has even said that nothing will change regarding content access on kottke.org, so what are you paying for? You’re paying for Jason’s bills and such likes, so if you don’t become a “micro-patron” you’re left reeling with this guilt trip that you’re not assisting in puting food on the table…
With google ads you don’t get that.
At least in my humble opinion.
Guilt trip?
Really? What else do you feel guilty about? What other things do you get for free that you should be donating to?
I can sort of see your point but I think this is one of those things that some people will read one way, some another, and the reflection is on how you take it rather than on Jason (IMHO).
I do agree that, if I could, I would try this, but there are very few bloggers that have the stats – something I’ve mentioned on my site. I think that he is possibly trading on his popularity, but hey, why not – celebs do it all the time!
As I said, it was just the impression I got… Jason’s using his blog for income, probably not his total income but income none the less… If everyone who’s donated has donted $30 he’s made a nice, tidy $3,090 in the space of 5 hours today, so by the looks of it, he could make a proverbial mint off this.
But my first impressions was that the whole thing was the digital equivalent of a “Will blog for money” begging bowl and I find those kind of impressions a guilt trip where it be Jason Kottke asking, Tsunami Funds asking or a homeless man asking me to buy a copy of “The Big Issue”…
Again, just my opinion…
Gotta give JK credit… He’s got some stones.
I imagine he’ll do *alright*. Although I doubt his sole income will be micro-contributed.
My thought is there may be something just over the horizon, that he’s in on. But I could just be trying to start a conspiracy rumor?
I’m sticking with my original assumption… It will only work because this is done by THE Jason Kottke, and bloggers are an incestuous bunch with most falling over themselves to kiss his ass and call it ice cream… If anyone else said “hey, I’ve quit my job, give me $30 as a donation so I can blog full time,” they would be laughed at, ridiculed and told to get a job or most likely ignored.
The fact I’m being dismissed on other blogs as someone who “missed the point” of what Kottke is trying to do simply by voicing a negative opinion says more you could possibly imagine… OMG, how dare I question Jason Kottke! He’s a visionary and should be respected for sticking it to the man by quitting the ol’ 9 to 5 in favour of making blogging a viable vocation!
But judging by the first few days of Kottke:Pro, it’s pretty disappointing thus far…
HOLY SNOT MONKEYS!
If every one of his sponsors has given $30, he’s made almost $12,000 out of this, and in less than a week
At this rate, he’ll be able to pay his bills for the year within the first month :-P