Mr. Impressive.
I was at my local Starbucks getting my caffeine fix in the early mornings of eid when, in a temporary lapse of judgment, I decided to browse through a issue of Bazaar. The article was describing the Blogging phenomenon in Kuwait… I thought cool, lets see what Mr. Impressive (The name of the writer … really!) has to say about it/us/Blogging.
Here are some parts of the article:
Ever present are the conventional diary writers who detail every move of every day, opening the floor to discussion amongst their fellow cyber friends (many of which are unaware that there is a real world beyond their front door).
With these you’re forced to wonder “if they spent the time they spend blogging on an activity such as having a functional life, then perhaps they wouldn’t have half the imaginary problems they think they have”.
Or that one Blogger, who bears an uncanny resemblance to a high school colleague, is in fact the heinous human responsible for creating many of the awful adverts that were aired during Ramadan. Such information may be engaging, especially if you don’t have friends or a television.
I’m having serious thoguhts about revisiting Blog-Land… lets pencil it in for this time next year. The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously.
Those were just some of the comments … add some sarcastic ramblings and you have the article.
There was a great reply forming in my head, then I realized:
1. It is Bazaar.
2. It was written by Mr. Impressive.
I do not wish to insult my intelligence and reply to someone whose name only fittingly belongs as a sticker on the back of an old mustang, misspelled of course.
Bazaar so doesn’t know what they are talking about.
And if the author is hinting towards me when he says “Or that one Blogger, who bears an uncanny resemblance to a high school colleague, is in fact the heinous human responsible for creating many of the awful adverts that were aired during Ramadan.” then he didn’t do his research properly because I didn’t work on the MTC campaign.
I’ve never heard of this magazine before - is it written and published in Kuwait?
Either way, I’m curious as why ‘Mr.Impressive’ feels the need to hide behind a pseudonym. Hmm..so he’s writing out his opinion on a regular basis and is reluctant to give out his real name. Yeah, ‘Mr.Impressive’ is definitely a blogger.
I’m just surprised at how desperate the publishing company has to be in order to pay him for his columns when it’s clear that they are plenty of bloggers in Kuwait who are more original and write a lot better than he does (from the small sample I see here).
I could pick out at least 5 posts off the top of my head from the blogging community that would make excellent columns and are definitely more intelligent and noteworthy.
How bazaar.
Sorry for the bad grammar and spelling - I just woke up.
I guess they haven’t discovered the blog about the Kuwaiti wanting to become an astronaut…
Typical of them, so typical that makes me laugh LOL. When they have no talent or interest or basically are blind to what technology is offering, they tend to whine about it. And label us as losers LOL.
Well if your magazine is given away for free, it tells a lot about the quality of the writers you would employ and of the high standard of their research for an article.
You give peanuts, you get monkeys.
In bazaar’s case, I don’t even think they have peanuts.
All valid points. I read the article as well… thought it was a little negative, but then again, everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion.
Side note: A lot of the writers in Bazaar are bloggers whose blogs are frequented by some of you who have replied to this post… so, I doubt they’re all monkeys
I’m still trying to figure out what’s worst… Starbucks or Bazaar? or both mixed together?!
the horror!
I wanted coffee … and Coffee Bean still hasn’t reached Mishref.
you guys are all so unfair to us here at bazaar. First of all,we totally respect all you bloggers,and over the past year have had at least 20 very positive articles all educating our readers on the facsinating blog world.Moreover,at least 10 of our writers are bloggers.In addition,the reason we left THAT article in the magazine is because we respect the freedom of speech,the same way you all do. We constantly have ads asking for new writers with new opinions,so please spread the word. Its your voices that we want to hear and represent and its your thoughts and opinions that we want to print. Looking forward to hearing from all of you at bazaar@hotmail.com
Hi K. The Kuwaiti. It’s a pleasure to finally visit your blog. I like it.
Now concerning Mr. Impressive. He’s getting most of your attention which should say a lot in itself. In my opinion, he sounds like Entrepreneur with a lot of confidence and little writing style to show for it. And if you guys think you can write anything better, then show it. Prove it on the magazine. After all, they do pay KD 20 for each article.
(I am trying to stir any chaos this time, so please be tame. Thanks)
Ahmed:
I respect a persons right to voice his opinions. If he were to have written an article on why He doesnt like blogging because of valid points, I would respect that. However, that article was a bit on the personal side (attacking certain bloggers) and quite distasteful. Also, Bazaar would be much professional if you got a decent website/domain name.
Tantalize:
Thanks … I actually want to take it a step further and create a magazine written by bloggers.
K:
creating a magazine or similar to it is being attempted on Kaleidoscope They are thinking of publishing an anthology of the best clips in the near future on paper, also. You should think of writing a piece over there. It doesn’t have to be literary, nor is it limited to writing. They are trying to illustrate photography as well.
And maybe YOU could design the website for Bazaar. I am sure they are on the lookout.
Ahmed:
KD 20 won’t cut it when you allegedly charge advertisers KD 500 per advert per month, unless I am mistaken. Maybe that is why you are not getting the better writers! If your magazine ever thought of charging their readers to buy your magazine, then most of the writers you have now won’t help to generate profits collected from the literary material. And your demographics aim at a young audience. Just my 2 cents.
You should come by and take a look at Kaleidoscope as well. You might get some ideas for the sort of writers you may want to have writing for you IF YOU PAY THEM ENOUGH.
Tantalize:
Sounds interesting .. where/what is Kaleidoscope? As for the website, I am currently managing two major websites in my spare time. I don’t have the time (or creativity left) to do a decent website for a magazine.
k: I totally agree with you and we have been working on our site for quite some time.Unfortunately we never get it quite right,so if you know anyone who is interested in taking care of putting together a simple easy to navigate site,please have them contact me.
Regarding the blogging article,we had no idea that mr impressive was getting personal.Thats not right if its true and we apologise.
k and tantalize: we have been thinking of starting a new magazine with ‘bloggish’ content for a long time.The main problem is censorship in this country which is very strict.We are attacked month after month and year after year by certain elements in society that want us closed down.However im sure we can find a way around it,so let me state for the record that we are very interested and are willing to lend our support to an idea like that.
k: tell me more about kaleidescope plz. Also, the reason we only pay KD 20 per article and charge KD 500 per ad (which isnt true by the way) is so that we can afford to open an office, print and distribute 20,000 copies of bazaar all over kuwait and keep it at that quality. Afterall, tell me of another free magazine of that quality with that many articles and distribution points in kuwait. I sincerely wish we could afford to pay our amazing writers more,but thank god every day that they are more interested in getting a message across than making more money.
tantalize: oh,and dont forget that every month for the past 9 years we have been profiling young ambitious kuwaitis trying to succeed in the corporate world and we write about their inventions, business ideas,art,poetry,short stories, success stories etc along with pics,design etc….all this costs a lot of time and money but we do it cuz they totally deserve it and they/you are the reason kuwait is improving so much year after year.
don veto: for your information, our bazaar mascot is a monkey,and we have plenty of peanuts in the office. I welcome you to come have some with us ! :))
K and Ahmed: I added the URL before on my last comment but it didn’t register for some reason. Here’s Kaleidoscope’s site: www.inkaleidoscope.blogspot.com
It was just started in October and it’s blasting off. It’s a literary magazine without any advertising and without any censorship yet decent enough not to attack any particular person or thing. It combines the elements of conventional creative writing with the blogging world. It’s another voice of Kuwait and the Gulf and it’s slowly gaining readership abroad. We have already featured an accomplished Kuwaiti poetess who writes in English and will continue to expand on that literary front. The design of the site may not be superb but we will be on the lookout for anyone who may want to assist (hint K.The Kuwaiti) as well as contribute to the place.
Ahmed: Since we both know each other personally and work and have worked in similar posts (without needing to mention any real names online), maybe we can form a collaboration between your paper-published Bazaar and Kaleidoscope to extend the creative flow. If you are interested, you can email the address on the Kaleidoscope site. Thanks.
ummm dudes i just the article in bazaar, i dont see personal references to any one blogger in particular. I guess if anyone thought they were being written about theyd better re-evaluate their friendships in real life
Too funny Bazaar made interview with me on October issue regarding my space call with cosmonaut Krikalev.
I think Ahmed is right.
How about this:
Each blogger that criticized Bazaar this past few days writes an article for Bazaar next month?
Show us how you would want to improve things. He says they are looking for writers and most of us blogger do right on a daily basis. If the magazine was yours, what would you want to see in it?
urgh, imagine writing something and then waiting for a month to have it published! Magazines are so slowwwww…
WIRED has a blog posts section every month now. They take the best posts from the web and they put them in.
magazines are slow!!!!!!!!!!! besss i dont see the printed magazine industry going out of bizniz any time soon!
mark: you pick up a copy of bazaar and read it right mark?
I don’t like the large size of bazaar mag, the articles’ font size, and alighnment. Thus, I just flip it’s pages.
BUT, I appreciate the work done and look forward to it’s improvement.
I am interested in publishing, photography, editing and websites. So call me if you need me.
Tantalize
Inkaleidoscope is a good attempt. I wish I can read it but the black background color blinds me!
The article by “Kinda Al Faris” in Dec issue of Bazaar is most disappointing.
If she thinks she’s too good to be liviing in Kuwait amongst us Kuwaities,well….I have a suggestion…….GO BACK TO LONDON ur utopia…lets see which bank will hire you as a manager there!! she is unloyal to her own country and is a disgrace.
What a douche.