When I saw a little off-line message in Google Chat from Moof saying that I’d been nominated for an award followed by a link to a post in her blog, I thought it was another tag.
When I checked her blog, I realized that the schmoozing den mother for the entire blogosphere really had nominated me for an award.
There was an explanatory note which was handed down from Ann to Comedy + to Empress Bee to Lois Grebowski to Fat Doctor before it reached Moof and through her to me.
As it goes, schmoozing is the natural ability “to converse casually, especially in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection.” Good schmoozers effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.
After the initial delight wore off, I rushed off to check who or what a schmoozer or schmooze is.
I can’t honestly say that I’m overjoyed with some of the definitions.
I thought I had a professional (okay, a semi-professional, semi-personal) blog!
To be classified as an idle chatterer / gossip is such a let down.
Before Moofie classifies me as an ingrate and plucks the award away, let me hasten to add that I’m thrilled.
Really….
But as I still harbour doubts about the award I choose to abstain from passing this on to others.
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Hearty Congrats !!!
And the definition you wrote in the post is the correct one, not the one you showed as a link.
Anyway, sometimes it is not a bad idea to be called as a gossip.
Well, Someone was responsible enough to pay close attention to the definition! There was something about the “gain advantage to make a social connection” that bothered me too! Sometimes, I can be such a follower! Good for you!
Ann
Congratulations Vijay, I think. I’ve seen this award doing the rounds and wondered about it. For me the word definitely has a no-so-nice connotation. It always makes me think of a car salesman sucking up to a client while trying to sell a car. In fact, I didn’t even know the idle chat/gossip definition since obviously I did not look it up.
However I think you should consider it in the spirit it was given. So well done.
Of course I found out later that Moof had given me this honour too. And also another blogger, but her definition was kinder so I thought you might be interested in it.
Schmooze: etymology: Yiddish shmuesn, intransitive verb : to converse informally : CHAT; also : to chat in a friendly and persuasive manner… transitive verb : to engage in schmoozing.
See you are not a gossip, but a friendly persuasive chap. Much better don’t you think?
regards
jmb
Thanks Cuckoo, Ann & JMB.
JMB: I saw something about your decades old cars being ‘driven to death’ on a Random Facts meme post by you yesterday on my feed reader. Why isn’t it up on your blog yet?
The award was accepted in the spirit it was given. Moof probably meant that I’m a friendly blogger who makes friends easily. I take that as a compliment.
I just used the varied definitions of ’schmooze’ to pull her leg.
As for the persuasive ‘car salesman’ part of it, I don’t think I’d be too successful. I drive a 6-year-old out-of-production car which I would love to sell at a good price
It’s good schmoozing…Like you said…being friendly.
Vijay, that post accidentally got published before it was finished. I was typing away and suddenly it was gone. I don’t know how that happened but I unpublished it, finished it and it’s up there now. Of course you can’t do anything about the feeds problem. I’ve told MedBlog Addict, who is so fond of deleting her posts, that we bloglines addicts see them anyway but she continues to be very quick on the delete trigger.
I can agree with how you were feeling vijay. I took it in the vain I know Moof to have intended it “Moof probably meant that I’m a friendly blogger who makes friends easily. I take that as a compliment.”
My first thoughts however, gave me an Ut oh feeling…I thought as JMB did.