“I need you to nuke my blog.”
When I saw those words sent over three weeks ago as as part of a direct message from Twitter, my heart sank. Without knowing any of the facts or the details, I knew right then that The Burgh Blog had come to an end. As PittGirl said as part of her very eloquent goodbye – we both knew the day would come.
Even now that some time has passed, it doesn’t make her departure any easier.
Over the days between when PittGirl first said she needed to shutdown The Burgh Blog and the plug was actually pulled early on that Tuesday morning, I had several discussions with her on how it would be done and how it would be received. I told her that I thought this was a big deal - not because I thought it was a particularly newsworthy event, but more that people would have an emotional reaction to it. I also thought there would be some press, but had no idea how much. She was truly stunned at how people reacted.
Even all the while her fanbase was lamenting her exit from the Burghosphere, it became clear that PittGirl was not sunshine, rainbows, and fuzzy bunnies to everyone in the city. While not agreeing with them, I could see the perspective of some of their criticisms. Some felt strongly that she should have stood by her blog with her real identity and backed up her words with a face. Others didn’t like the fact that she didn’t regularly blog about serious issues such as the current status of worldwide nuclear proliferation, the problems with Fifth and Forbes, or the shitastic state of the Port Authority.
Separate from all those was one criticism that came off as just plain ridiculous and smelled of a tinge of jealousy: she isn’t a good writer.
Come on. Really? Are you serious?
PittGirl, as I and others have observed, is a great writer who happened to blog. While you might not have liked everything she wrote (I didn’t on occasion), you had to respect the consistent quality of her material.
Much was made of the strong reaction by media, bloggers, and readers when she hung up her heels. Snarky remarks abounded about how people need not jump off the Rachel Carson bridge or do faceplants from the top of Mt. Washington. It’s true – here we are three weeks later and Pittsburgh survives. It is now, however, an emptier Pittsburgh. Human beings are creatures of habit. We love routine. When something is disruptive of that status quo, it becomes uncomfortable. Couple that change with the deep emotional investment many readers had made over the course of months or even years and you start to understand why many lost their shit for a few days.
I’ll let the words of others express what The Burgh Blog meant to the city and why it was better for her writing. It will only come as biased coming from me anyway.
Instead, I will tell you what she’s meant to me.
What started over three years ago as a request for a sit-down for my nascent interview blog turned into something much more for me. I was able to assist a very talented writer as she created something very special. The funny thing is that she didn’t know she was creating it while it was being created. A week into The Burgh Blog’s life I knew that it was something that would become popular… perhaps the only prescient thought I’ve ever had. The common refrain I always heard with those new to The Burgh Blog was, “I started reading and was immediately hooked.” So many were able to identify with her even though she was unidentifiable.
She never had lofty goals or grand designs on self-promotion. If anything, I am greatly responsible in calling attention to her anonymity by creating the silhouette trademark when doing her first blog template several years ago. She had never really sought out a way to make money from The Burgh Blog – it was only within the final months that I even brought up the idea of sponsorships or other sorts of supportive revenue. She simply wanted to write and share her thoughts through a creative outlet. And she did just that. Reliably. Nearly every day and often several times a day. Her blog really was a joy to read and I deeply miss it every day.
Most importantly – I gained a great friendship. PittGirl and I had lunch on a semi-regular basis where we would talk about The Burgh Blog and the Burghosphere. We’d also discuss our personal lives and what was going on with our jobs. I would seek her counsel on matters both professional and personal and she would do the same. When Mrs. Woy was in the hospital for the Battle of the Clot and the Delivery of WoyGirl, she was very supportive and I communicated with her along with family and close friends. She was a shameless promoter of WearPittsburgh and was behind it from the very beginning without asking for anything in return. Incidentally, all proceeds of the newest PittGirl shirts will be going to her – it’s the least I can do to thank her for all that she’s done.
The second most asked question that I would get behind “who is she?” is “what’s she like?” In many ways she’s how she wrote – hilariously funny, a tremendous storyteller, and fiercely loves her family and Pittsburgh.
And she’s what made The Burgh Blog extraordinary.
Thank you, Jane, for three and a half awesome years. I’m honored to have been at your service.
What started as an idea forever and a year ago has finally bore fruit in the incarnation of WearPittsburgh: a localized apparel company cool t-shirts featuring fun, witty, and interesting designs that not only celebrate but also poke fun at Pittsburgh and surrounding neighborhoods. These are great products – after trying out MANY prototypes, I can say these are high-quality and so very comfortable.
When you first dream up an enterprise like this, you can’t begin to comprehend all that will be involved in getting it going. Planning, marketing, branding, designing, etc. The thought of “Oh yeah, this shouldn’t be too hard!” really goes out the window. It was a lot of work, talk, solicitation, feedback, opinions, and vetting. Real life gets in the way too as you push onward. And, fortunately, all startups have help:
My friends Amy and Robin for their wise counsel.
Katy D, who was able to peer into my brain for many of these designs and pluck out of my imagination what I wanted.
Cindy and Anthony at Big Big Design for the great website.
The great people and materials at Pittsburgh-based Spreadshirt, who is our material and fulfillment partner. (Thanks Lindsay so much for introducing me to this at Podcamp Pittsburgh!)
All of our existing and future partners who have created and/or inspired such cool designs.
Everyone at Podcamp Pittsburgh and Bootcamp, as well as who offered their advice when getting a sneak preview… your opinions were so appreciated in tightening things up and getting things ready.
Finally – my close friends, family, and Mrs. Woy. Without her eagle eyes and great advice, I would have never been able to get this off the ground.
I hope you enjoy WearPittsburgh, and will watch the store’s blog for new products as they are released on a regular basis.
Recent Comments