There are some real assholes in our profession. I'm not going to point anywhere, but you can find your own examples of assholery by reading comments about this year's LJ Movers & Shakers list. And those comments refer to the inclusion of non-MLS persons receiving recognition for their contributions to the profession.
This is my feeling: if you work in a library in a capacity that makes you feel like a librarian, you're a fucking librarian.
I got my degree over 15 years ago, and if I've become a lazy ass who doesn't want to improve services or reach out to the community, that undoubtedly has changed in that time, to share the benefits of the library, then reward those who do. If I ain't movin' it and I ain't shakin' it, then recognize those who are.
Frankly, I would love to win an award, and it does bother me when someone gets recognized for having the freedom to do a special project while I spent the year supervising all the crap I got conned into managing. I don't have time to look good. But the other side of that is, since I'm so busy I'll never learn how much I might really suck. I'm busy, but am I useful-busy or just same-old-shit busy? (For the record, I'm useful busy. Because I say so.)
The same with this blog. I would love to have someone recognize my writing for something that deserves an award, but I don't even know what this blog is about. I don't advocate any position except for, "don't be an asshole."
Don't be so much of an asshole that you can't recognize the useful people around you because you don't see their professional credentials. That's my position. And here's the link to next year's award so you can nominate me for being so awesome; I'll help get you started:
Reasons for nomination:
Advocates the universally important position of, "don't be an asshole."
Describe one event, project, or situation that illustrates your reason for this nomination:
Writes the.effing.librarian blog which sets the standard for anti-assholery.
Describe one attribute or characteristic that illustrates this nominee's unique ability:
Demonstrates through the example of post-post-modern thinking, the way assholery is acceptable and unacceptable in the library profession.
Wish me luck.
