Saturday Discussions: Blogger Bragging

I've seen several different people talk about blogger bragging on their blog lately so I figured it'd be a perfect time to discuss. So let's buckle down and get to it!

I had never really thought about bragging until I read a few things on it recently. Sure, I've definitely had blogger envy (who doesn't) but I'd never thought too much about bragging. I guess it's because I've never really seen the bloggers who I follow do this. Sure, I've seen them maybe tweet that they got some books in that I wanted (heck, I'm guilty of that myself) but it never came off to me as them bragging.

I think one of the reasons I haven't seen too much of this is because I haven't gone to too many events. I know that it seems like this comes out more at places like BEA where there are a lot of invite only parties (so I've gathered). As I stated, I haven't even seen much of that. I guess it's out there but I haven't met a blogger that comes off as rude or haughty. If anything, I've been surprised at the generosity of the blogging community.

Do I feel sad when a blogger I love might not answer a comment or Tweet and feel like I'm not in their "special club"? Sure I do! But there are a million different reasons for that and I know not to take the oversight personally.

I hope I've never come off as bragging because I can tell you right now, that has never ever been the intention. I know that in real life some times people think I don't like them because I won't approach them or won't know what to say after they approach me. This isn't the case at all. I'm just socially awkward and I promise you that I do warm up (just ask Angela from Reading Angel, she can vouch for me). As for bragging on the blog, I absolutely don't mean to. I do tend to write up recaps of author events but that is because I feel like my duty as a blogger is to report on all things books and I want to share the experiences here. I do talk about the books I get sometimes but again, I feel like publishers want us to.

Chances are, the people that are bragging probably don't know it and the ones that are worried about it probably aren't. I know that I haven't seen anything like this (can't think of a single instance) but that doesn't mean it isn't out there. Likewise, I know I would never intentionally brag but if I do, then I am truly sorry to those I might have offended.

Here's to talking about books, passion and everything in between without fear of bragging and to a killer year in books for 2012!

What do you think about blogger bragging? Myth, real or something in between?