Welcome to the most boring section of any Blog, hence why the Feature Image above has a grey border to it. This special Section features two things: The ways you at home can reach out to me outside of here and what I can and cannot entertain when it comes to messages and queries because my tolerance for trolls and crazies is near-zero.
To give credit where credit is due, the site logo was designed by Mia James. She can be reached via Discord where she is miajames. Also, if you are in the market for a design of some kind, say to her ‘I saw you designed the site logo of The ADog Blog‘ or something along those lines so she can pass on a useful discount to you. (And don’t lie to her or you’ll be blocked by both of us!)
What I DO entertain
I have already mentioned some of the things on this list all over the Blog. But I think to keep things organised and convenient, here is a list of queries and messages I can definitely respond to and engage with, which will evolve as this Blog evolves:
- Comments and Feedback: Whether it’s about Posts or the Website, if you have opinions and suggestions you don’t feel comfortable sharing publicly on this Blog, you can always share them with me in Direct Messages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter / X.
- Post Ideas: I might have a catalogue of ideas constantly running around in my head, but if you have seen something interesting I might want to talk about, know someone cool I could interview, or want a specific topic covered, I’m happy to consider ideas on paper.
- Research Support: Having said that, some post ideas will definitely require minds exchanging knowledge and insight with me, especially with topics of a sensitive or contentious nature. If you have that knowledge and insight and are happy to share with me, please reach out so we can discuss how to put it to good use.
- Reference Revisions: As I said in Part 1 of References & Supplements, I don’t expect to be perfect when creating my list of references all the time. So feel free to send me a message when I make a mistake, need to make an update to a link or could do something better in this area. The specifics of what I mean are available on that page.
- Supplement Submissions: As mentioned in Part 2 of References & Supplements, I’m pretty sure you, the reader, know of things that can really put the useful in usefulness. And if there is something out there you think is worth adding to a Supplement List, forward it to me in e-mail only and it shall be added in. Subject to passing the criteria I lay out for judging if a submission is worthy on that page.
- Invitation to Interview, Collaborate, Voiceover, etc.: I don’t call myself a man of many talents but I wouldn’t have thought in 2020 that I would be comfortable, let alone interested in doing any of these and maybe more! If you, having read my content, think that I’m worth being interviewed, that doing a project with me would be worthwhile, or are in need of anything media related, send an e-mail only outlining who you are, what you are after and let’s have a conversation about it.
- Right to Reply: Last, but by no means least, there may be times when I give an opinion about someone or something people view as unfair, a misunderstanding or me misinterpreting something. If you are the person or entity implicated and wish to provide a response, please reach out in order to directly reply to the point(s) of contention ASAP (unless I reach out to you first prior to publication). It might help add clarity or context to things I overlooked or couldn’t get a clear answer to during research!
Please note: I might not respond to all messages immediately, but I do read everything good, bad and ugly. Also, please put the item you are invoking from the above list at the start of your DM or in the Subject Box of your e-mail so I know exactly what I’m reading and responding to.
What I DO NOT entertain
Here’s what I mean when I say my tolerance for trolls and crazies is near-zero, which again, may evolve as my Blog evolves:
- Unacceptable Language: This means straightforward ableism, racist, sexist and especially homophobic language. Phrases I’ll treat on a case-by-case basis since context and nuance are things that exist. Any Blog Post Comments that contain any of that language will be instantly deleted and any DMs or e-mails that contain them will almost certainly result in a Block. I mean… Is it really that hard to express an opinion without resorting to curse words and insults of the lowest sort?
- Spam & Scams: I’ve fallen for a Steam Scam once before and I’d prefer not to do it again. Don’t bother me with an invitation to take action on something like undelivered packages or eFlow Toll Charges when I know otherwise. Same goes for links that sound too good to be true.
- Advertising and Sponsorships: Right now, I do not feel comfortable making money from this Blog until I get it to a consistent standard and establish its identity. So anyone offering Sponsorships and Advertising opportunities will be ignored out of hand right now. Maybe to my financial peril but I don’t want this to be another content mill or a Get Rich Quick scheme!
- Poor Supplement Submitters: This means anyone who consistently provides poor quality Supplements that are not relevant, not citeable and not submitted in good faith. My philosophy on issues like this is once is forgivable, twice is concerning, three times or more is a pattern. Afterwards, a Block ensues because why should I trust people who constantly feed me garbage or something from James Somerton’s back catalogue?
- Time Wasters: And finally, if you pledge the sun, the moon and the stars when it comes to helping me research or something, you must deliver the goods in a reasonable amount of time, which I will define at the start of any conversation. If that cannot be achieved three times or more, I shall look for someone else.
Just to be clear, both lists will no doubt evolve as my Blog evolves. If there is something you think should be added or taken away from either one, inform me through any of the social media channels above.
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