Will Write for SWAG

Promotional products are this blogger's new best friend

So there are some critics of blogging out there who ask "what's the point?" What satisfaction does the blogger get from posting daily?

Some would argue that blogging is the new "it" emotional release, a modern form of self expression or a free therapy session.

If those aren't good enough answers for you, though, how about this?

Of course there are the conventional ethical dilemmas to accepting free stuff in exchange, presumably, for a favorable write-up. But this isn't a new problem.

As part of our mentorship program for class, I interviewed D Magazine Executive Editor Tim Rogers who offered his opinion on the topic:

"It's impossible to not take a little free shit. I firmly believe that. What am I supposed to do if the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau wants me to come play the course at Las Colinas at the Four Seasons. Am I supposed to say no? Well, yeah, I'm supposed to. But I don't really think that compromises what I do as a writer."

Amen. This guy would agree with Tim, too.

But back to blogging- what do you do if you receive a new product that you end up HATING? Some of the bloggers from the NYT article said they'd try to be as nice as possible about it or altogether just not write about it.

Don't readers deserve to know what you really think, though?

If it were me, I'd probably choose not to write about a product that I hated, instead reserving my negative comments for products that didn't overtly solicit me.

I know, I know, this is a slippery slope of sound reasoning, and the more I think about it, the more I realize that you probably shouldn't accept free stuff at all if you want to be completely ethical.

But like Tim said, how am I supposed to say no? If someone offers me this or these or definitely this, you better believe I'm going to accept it, and chances are I'll write the best damn review the company has ever seen.

So calling all PR people: I am now accepting "free shit" (as Tim so eloquently calls it). Anything fashion/food/beauty/travel/luxury vehicle-related is more than welcome.