We (I) put up badges for blogging through November, badges touting my writing partner’s musings on Montana politics and I would probably put up a badge in a heart beat to support some of my favorite bloggers, so why, you might be wondering, since Rebecca and I are such vocal Democrats, is there no badge spouting our political support (for what it’s worth) for a presidential candidate?
Well, turds: you don’t need to know who I’m supporting by a badge and if you’re really interested in knowing which way we lean you need only read a few entries or use the search box. I’m frankly a bit sick of seeing those badges everywhere else, of having non-political bloggers let their stance be summed up with a silly little badge. I might be a minority, but unless it’s something you occasionally write about or have waxed poetically on in the past, I think you should just zip it. Let people make up their own minds and stop proselytizing.
You can’t pick up a paper, change the channel or turn on the radio without hearing about the political sphere for the next nine months and a little spill-over is expected, but please – unless you feel you’re doing your readers a service, or believe that they come to your site for your politics, just let it be. People will make up their own minds and a badge in your sidebar won’t swing a vote their way and it’s more than a bit jarring to suddenly see a badge, without mention, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions.
I’ve been waiting for Becky to post about who she’s supporting (and this might prompt her to do so) but I’m keeping my choice off this website because I hope and pray none of you give two shits and that’s the truth.