Today I decided to do a few little experiments of my own. Since I started my blog, my controversial ideas has sickened many Arabs. That’s fine. I wasn’t writing for a specific audience to begin with. Anyways, I wanted to be part of the group of Arabs because I am one. I never denied who I am. I state it LOUD and CLEAR!
So what did I do in the past, and I repeated today? There are a few Arab blog networks out there that I don’t mind being a part of. So a couple of years ago when I first started my blog and wanted to enhance its presence online, I tried to join as many networks as I can, especially Arabic ones. I wanted to join itoot and I thought it was an amazing piece of web application that is well made and looks oh so pretty.
So I submitted my site. . . . .
No reply.
I thought it was a fluke the first time. Submitting again . . . Same crap.
I was like huh? Then I submitted it a third time and nothing. Not even a reply of rejection or acceptance. Nothing. Over time I kept checking the site and seeing new blogs added to the site. I tried to dissect their content to see if they were blogs that are only situated in the Arab world, or are they from all over. Most were only situated in the Arab world, but why does the blog submission form have a list of countries from all over the world then?
Later on I chatted briefly at some point with one of the programmers and behind the scene guy of the site. The conversation came up one day while chatting with him that he is one of the guys that were in charge. A few red sparks flew from my ears and I asked him, “why you people didn’t approve my site?” He refused to answer.
So what did I do today? I resubmitted my site again there to see if they are still ass holes and would actually look at my site to see this post and be known that they are the most prejudice bastards on earth. There are MILLIONS of us Arabs all over the world! It’s funny how Arabs are so prejudice against each other but welcome everything else that is not part of them. I hope they read this and know that I am insulting their presence on the internet. My site is far more popular than theirs and I really don’t need to be part of their prejudice community.
Here is my dedication to itoot piece of crap site.
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My name is Mona and I am an internet savvy and technology obsessed girl. I am originally Palestinian and I live in the province of Ontario in Canada. That's some info about me, and you can learn more [
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A girl this morning asked me by email about living a double life in an Arabic culture. The cause and reasoning of why this thing is quite common within Arab societies. Especially for us that live here in the western world. [
Wednesday, May 21st 2008 at 1:03 pm
ROFL. That is so aggravating. Sorry it’s happening to you. I agree with the whole notion that cultures welcome what is not part of them. It’s called, “internalized racism.” You know, like Chinese people hating others from other provinces, even though they are in the same country; Arabs hating Arabs; and even Canadians hating on other Canadians (e.g., Noofies). It’s not enough people hate others; they now hate themselves.
Wednesday, May 21st 2008 at 1:20 pm
I am only prejudice against people with stupid brains. I guess that’s 90% of the world!
Wednesday, May 21st 2008 at 1:54 pm
Yup, screw ‘em.
Wednesday, May 21st 2008 at 2:21 pm
Actually I don’t think it has so much to do with Arabs hating other Arabs but rather more to do with the site managers’ personal tastes. I know many popular blogs that have been rejected and I also had a similar experience to yours. I also noted that many of the blogs they add are Jordanian, despite the fact that Jordan does not dominate the Arab blogsphere.
I tried to work out what criteria they choose people on and I really can’t work it out! Some of the blogs on Toot are absolute rubbish!
Wednesday, May 21st 2008 at 2:47 pm
I wanted to say Jordanian.. and then rubbish all in one sentence but then people think I am prejudice just like them. Oops. I said it.
Wednesday, May 21st 2008 at 3:54 pm
Yup, I know. Look at the bright side Mona, it is their LOSS.
Wednesday, May 21st 2008 at 3:57 pm
I don’t want to be part of any club that would have me as a member …
Wednesday, May 21st 2008 at 6:14 pm
:lol: @Canucklehead! :laugh:
Wednesday, May 21st 2008 at 11:21 pm
yes!
yeslam tommek!
fuck them all even that stupid programmer!
i hate them to the max, they think they own the internet..
and i blame you for submitting your site to such idiots!
thanks a million for fucking them alive!
Thursday, May 22nd 2008 at 4:07 am
I’ve read several posts from people complaining they didn’t get a response either, or a clear selection criteria, which is why I never bothered submitting.
I guess it comes down to why you blog.
Be careful though, they might be able to sue you for the graphic.
Thursday, May 22nd 2008 at 6:46 am
I seen many many ppl alter the graphic in a profane or hateful manner. If they do, I will just take it down. Big deal!
Thursday, May 22nd 2008 at 3:09 pm
Mona, start your own! I mean Sabbah has a 2 or 3 Arab blog aggregators. Yours can be more rebellious.
Thursday, May 22nd 2008 at 5:07 pm
I thought about making an Arab community. One that serves all 22 countries with all kinds of blogs and categories and everything in it. However, lots of Arab bloggers hate my guts and I don’t want to cater to such people. I wouldn’t have been selective of the blogs either. It would be based on rating of popularity and the community selecting what they like. Not me. I don’t have the right to judge good blogs and enforce it on others.
I am so democratic! However, democracy + Arabs does not always work. But I thought about having a community like that. Yet, do I want to maintain it? Is it worth my time? Having this blog and maintaining it and answering people is like a part time job. Sometimes full time. I donno. What do you guys think? I can make a community, or maybe just a rebellious forum.. but I dunno. It will be time consuming for me but doable.
Thursday, May 22nd 2008 at 5:47 pm
I like the idea…it would be good to create another more high profile and democratic aggregator. I find that Qwaider’s one is very good and has many varied blogs but again it is quite Jordan-centric…though I don’t think that is intentional as anyone can submit.
It would be great to meet bloggers from lesser blogged from countries like Yemen or Libya or even the Maghreb (though I believe maghrebi bloggers mainly blog in French or Arabic).
I think it would be kind of self-moderating in a sense- those that hate you wouldn’t submit to you, no?
3la fikra..I really don’t think Arab bloggers hate you as you say, I have never encountered any anti-mona posts/ comments in my travels around the blogsphere. You are too sensitive habibti
Thursday, May 22nd 2008 at 7:31 pm
Well I am an Arab blogger and I certainly don’t hate your guts. I’m sure other don’t as well. Maybe there is simply a disconnect between Western Arabs (us) and those Arab bloggers who haven’t left (or weren’t forced out).
Perhaps you could cater to other Arabs who live in Canada and the States. There are quite a few of us.
Thursday, May 22nd 2008 at 8:07 pm
Arima.. don’t mention Qwaider on my blog again.. and his community site is as prejudice as itoot.
Sunday, June 15th 2008 at 9:34 am
a couple of weeks ago i just started what you were describing, a pan-arab aggregator meant to eventually cover 22 nations.
there is a home page which updates all the aggregated blogs, and then its broken down into countries. its not corporate like itoot or dwwen, so its completely unmoderated, which means you’ll probably get blogger garbage every now and again,… but hey, democracy blah blah etc etc.
and its only just hit me what i’ve let myself in for! but i’m forging ahead nevertheless.
bloggersarabia.blogspot.com
do have a look and let me know what you think. still in the process of populating the aggregator so it only lists a very small number to date.
one question tho, for yourself and your fellow overseas arab bloggers,… would you want to be classed under your nation’s category (ie palestine for you) or would you rather i run a parallel “arab bloggers overseas” type thing?
and you’ve already been added to the home aggregator.
cheers,
IRaggregator.
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