Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Blegos, Tweegos and Reagos

To be a writer, or anything remotely as ridiculous, it's almost necessary to develop an alter ego. Not that you're pretending to be someone else (unless you prefer to dress up as Batman when no one's home), but tapping in to that little person inside of you (I hope s/he bought you dinner first) that demands people pay attention to YOU. Like RIGHT NOW.

I think writers, in general, aren't super confident. We write down words people in our real lives either don't care about or can't hear us say. I'm sort-of quiet in life (unless you pump me full of alcohol), so it's imperative I write things down for anyone to hear me at all. Otherwise, I'm just a walking mime with no way to communicate with real people. Or that gorilla, Cocoa using sign language for *wants*...

There are several types of alter egos that exist, some more annoying than others.

Blego: Your blog ego is what lets people get to know you. Some writers use the opportunity to talk about contests/writing tools/cats/strange rashes. Personally, I'm more attracted to the blogs that show me the writer, as a real person. Honesty and humility go a long way because were all people, dudes. I *get* it when someone opens up about difficult topics...or toilet glasses.

There's no judgement (except in the comments) (and by lurking agents, editors and VIPs) (oh...crap...) and because it's YOUR daily/weekly/monthly account of the way you see things. It's also one of the easiest ways to really connect. Yay for networking and friendmaking! (You mean you already know about Feel me up Fridays and you STILL love me? Wow. That's love)...

Tweegos: Everything Twit/Space/Face/My/Book is an ego of another level. If you're a pro-serious writer (you have an agent, sold a book, etc), these egos are primarily for promo purposes and less actual networking. It's a fine line between annoying as shizz and somewhat useful.

Tweegos can be like viruses. Links, plugs and mememememe all the effing time, is exhausting. If you have nothing to offer but a constant Tweego of marketing verbal vomit, you'll be lucky to keep said "friends" for long (unless they've been brainwashed by zombies) (okay, even then) (if zombies have brainwashed you, blink twice) *silence* (I'll take that as you have no control over your Tweego due to a zombie invasion. You're forgiven and I'm here for you).

If you know someone who's Tweego has gotten out of freakin' control, it's time for an intervention.
Step 1: Link this blog via Tweet with @(insert crazed person's user name).
Step 2: Space/Face/My/Book the same thing.
Step 3: Blog about Tweegos and wait for said person to realize you're talking about them.
Step 4: Repeat process until everyone is sick of hearing about it. Wait.....hmm....

Reagos: In real life, we're uuuhhh real. Via the web, it's unrestrained, and care free. We type these silly, little words that seem not to mean much. Then we hit send, publish, Tweet, comment like it's nothing. Online, we get to choose to be someone else or ourselves. It's the freedom that's sexy. Oooh and the danger of saying something like "I like....Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam." There, I said it. And it's there, forever. With little to no real consequence. (except extreme mocking)

BUT, in real life, if you walk up to someone and say "hey, dude, it's Friday,wanna feel me up?" It might not go over as well (he told me he loved me and I believed him...I'm so stupid). And creepy much? Our reagos are who we are walking down the street or in the bathroom stall next to you, digging our phones from toilets.

Point is, friends, whatever ego you use today, use it with class. It's not always about you, and even when it is, be gracious. So what about you? Which ego do you prefer?
Candyland. OUT.

28 comments:

Unknown said...

Haha Hilarious! Is there any super combo of all of the above?

Matthew MacNish said...

I like my id Beth. In other words, if something pleases me, I do it, other people be damned!

Renae said...

You always make me laugh out loud, which is interesting when the rest of the house is fast asleep! I like the combo of all of the above too...though I can't talk about this stuff with people at work. Their eyes glaze over and they just nod. Great post!

Jared Larson said...

So... what the hell is wrong with dressing up like Batman when no one is home? And what if the wife likes it? Now, Superman, I can understand. But Batman is entirely understandable.

Linda G. said...

I was kind of waiting for the LE-go, because I like to play... ;)

Kelly Breakey said...

I try to keep it real without disgusting the people who are taking the time from their day to stop by and read the words that I painstakingly write. I appreciate each and every one of them, and if I could would send them all Thank you notes each and every day for their love and support.

Cuz that is how I roll! A little levity never hurt anyone besides everyone likes to smile.

PK HREZO said...

Hmm... good points. hadn't thought of it, but you're right. I'm just breaking into the web presence world, so I'm a newbie. Thanks fo showing me the ropes. ;)

JE said...

Blego--would you believe that I'm pretty quiet in real life, too? My blego lets me be who I would like to be. ;-)

Oh, and please come to my house and shoot me if/when I get a tweego.

~JD

Colene Murphy said...

I'm pretty much me on my blog. I guess that might be kinda sad...*happy place happy place* No, wait, I do censor myself on my blog. Cursing and pointing out how many times I eye-roll and call people idiots under my breath each day might not go over well...I need one of those little counter thingies.

Great post! I almost spit when I got to the feel up on the street part.

Stina said...

Great post! Not all of us are great blogeos like you, tho. You have a gift for it. :D

Shannon O'Donnell said...

How on earth do you think of stuff like this? You are amazing! I think, based on your terms and their explanations, I choose Blego! It seems pretty friendly and harmless - like me. :-)

Unknown said...

I understand you sister! The other day I asked them if they were excited about 'Feel Me Up Friday' women were disgusted, men were elated. Guess I should watch my wording.

I love my Blego personality the best. I can talk about writing and people listen. I mean they actually care about my shizz.

Being a Reago stinks, unless I could apparte, then I could visit my besties around the blog... but then would what would I be?

ReaBlego?

Deborah said...

Hey there, I just write what I'm thinking and I wish I could express myself more like you! Your very funny and you know exactly what to write!
Have a great day!
xxoo
Deborah

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I think my Blego and my Reago are pretty much the same...(But I could be wrong? I'll have to ask my blog friends that know me in real life too...) I hope if I ever get a tweego it's a nice one...

Happy Wednesday, Candyland!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Ah the alter ego. I have so many i could probably be diagnosed with multiple personality disorder.

Riv Re said...

Blegos are awesome! Online I can be cocky, arrogant and even try to be funny...and people will still love me for it. I crack a joke in real life and I get strange looks. I crack a joke on my blog and I get comments like "I love your blog, you're hysterical!" The first time I got a comment like that, I was stunned. ME? FUNNY? I'm TRYING to be funny, I'm not ACTUALLY funny.
I don't have a Twego. I know, I should be put in isolation, or I might contaminate someone...

Elana Johnson said...

I LOVE THIS. There are so many egos out there to consider!

I happen to prefer the blego. I like to get to know a real person, or at least imagine them as real. I'd like to be able to meet them for lunch and pick up on a conversation we had through blogging or email, because they're just that same person.

Robyn Campbell said...

Did hubby tell you he found my cape? RATS! :)

Am I blego? I haven't told you about the rash on my ____ have I?

Oh and the Camp Rock thang? I will nevah evah let you live it down. hehe

And you are one classy chica, my friend. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh with out a doudt I am a blego. I'm just hoping that if they make a movie from my blog it isn't titled Annimal House 2 :-)

Carolyn V. said...

Hee hee. Oh Candy, this is why I love coming here so much!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

blego -- I'm not so shy on the blogs ;)

JB said...

I loved this. :) I like keeping it real in the blog, too. I don't have a tweego.. I can't learn yet another THING and I can't maintain another THING. Great definitions!

Vicki Rocho said...

I was thinking "Leggo my Eggo" when I read the title, but now it makes perfect sense. I'm gonna say I like my Blego best. It's strikingly similar to my Reago, but the words come out easier with the Blego

Shannon said...

Interesting post, Candy. I was thinking about the blog ego thing the other day and was wondering if I should dawn one to open up more. As it stands right now, my blego is still sewn tightly to my reago.

Oh and tweego? We broke up on the first date when she tried to limit how much talking I could do on our first date. Bitch.

Creepy Query Girl said...

I agree about the twitter,fb, and all that rot. I think my online ego is a lot like my offline. In real life I'm an extroverted introvert. I'm a people person. Last week my mother in law said 'you could put a dead horse next to katie and she'd still chat it up' after I spent a half hour talking to some algerian women at a birthday party.

Anonymous said...

The combination of this post and Katie's above comment is almost too much awesome.

Almost.

Blegos and Reagos are generally pretty cool, while Tweegos tend to push the boundaries of what I'm willing to put up with. However, that's liable to change if I ever get one.

Angela Ackerman said...

Great post--I like your take on things. :)

Now what the hell are toilet glasses? LOL

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

DL Curran said...

Oops - late to the Blego party! I'd say my Blego is my fave because I'm far more relaxed in the blogworld now that I've been around a couple of months. Dropped in via Jenn at unedited...

Oh, and the Camp Rock 2 thing... I admitted to my critique group that I'd watched it - Oh the mocking, the shame! (but I still liked it... in a wincing painful sorta way)