Sitting in the hotel room on Saturday, finalising the video sheet for Rick, getting ready for the evening, my phone flashes. Congratulations, knew you'd do it! I read the message. A couple of emails followed followed by a Twitter DM or two. What the hell? Then I'm being PM'd on Boards as well. Everyone saying 'Congrats for winning best Blog Post' - a good eight hours before the results were due out.
Somebody on Twitter, under the identity of @IBA09 claimed to have leaked the results of the Blog Awards a good few hours before the awards. Damien swooped in quickly to quell the rumours with a tweet to the community which was quickly spread from person to person.
Please RT: Winners of the Blog Awards will be announced by people you already know and on awards.ie at 10pm ignore @iba09 #iba09Ha ha, a good joke, right? Well, yes, except for people like my folks who phoned me in high hopes that what they'd got a call about from a well-meaning relative online was true. As if I didn't have enough to do, I had to explain to them that no, it wasn't true and in all likelihood wouldn't be. I had no expectations.
Just how wrong was @iba09? This wrong:
Best Popculture Blog
They predicted: Rick O' Shea
Actually won: The lovely Raptureponies
Best Blog from a Journalist
They predicted: Adam Maguire
Actually won: Markham Nolan - expad.ie
Best Food/Drink Blog
They predicted: Cheap Eats
Actually won: The Daily Spud
Best Fashion Blog
They predicted: The Sexy Pedestrian
Actually won: Beaut.ie
Best Arts and Culture Blog
They predicted: The Asylum
Actually won: Pursued by a Bear
Best Political Blog
They predicted: PublicEnquiry.eu
Actually won: Cedar Lounge
Best Group Blog
They predicted: Blather.net
Actually won: Dublinblog.ie
Best Use of the Irish Language in a Blog
They predicted: Gaelgannaire
Actually won: iGaeilge
Best Technology Blog/Blogger
They predicted: Pat Phelan
Actually won: Justin Mason - taint.org
Best Sport and Recreation Blog
They predicted: Worldwide Cycles
Actually won: The Kop Blog
Best News/Current Affairs Blog
They predicted: Limerick Blogger
Actually won: Suzy Byrne - Maman Poulet
Best Newcomer
They predicted: Trust Tommy
Actually won: Trust Tommy
First one they got correct all evening.
Best Blog of a Business
They predicted: Blacknight
Actually won: The Blacknight blog
Best Music Blog
They predicted: State
Actually won: NIaller9
Best Personal Blog
They predicted: Grannymar
Actually won: Annie Rhiannon
Best Humour Blog
They predicted: Twenty Major
Actually won: The Swearing Lady at Arse End of Ireland
Best Photo Blog
They predicted: Gingerpixel
Actually won: Ryan Whalley - glassvalley.com
Best Blog Post
They predicted: Me
Actually won: K8 the Gr8 - the secret fire - who, as people know, I'd predicted from the start.
Two out of 18. EPIC FAIL. Wouldn't have liked to have put a bet down with them!
Okay so it's a bit of fun, a laugh and sure no one takes it seriously, right? Actually it's also damn inconvenient to have to try to explain to friends and family that no, it's just someone who should have thought more and given a damn about the people there, both nominees and supporters, there or not, about the level of organisation that goes into something like the awards and how it's the stupid things like that that can spread so quickly around that to some, they become truth. Not all people are in on the joke. Not all people are laughing.
As Damien said:
Petty and pretty stupid. Fuckwits.
