Squidoolicious

A comment on my Squidoo Journey lens, and some other things that happened this morning, have inspired me to write about quality at Squidoo.

A long time ago, I did some work that got us listed at Alltop.com. It was an effort to help the world see that Squidoo does mean quality.

We (lensmasters) are constantly fighting the battle between good and evil. The good being quality content and the evil being spam, link-laden lenses with no originality, and the like.

We have fans of Seth Godin who can separate him from Squidoo, such as Chris Brogan, who sees Squidoo as little more than lists and links (according to a conversation I had with him). Chris likes Seth, I think, but does not, or has not yet(?), seen the good of Squidoo — although he apparently saw a value in Squidoo at one time, because he did set up a lensmaster account.

Anyway, this, and occurrences of spamming and linking without content is a losing battle for Squidoo. …Don’t you think?

Well, if like me, you think not, then there is something you can do to help:

Encourage every person you mentor on Squidoo to write original content. That’s really two things. Number one is to write it yourself. Number two is to make it your own. With all of the modules we have at our disposal, making it our own is the easier of the two. So, get the writing done and you’re over halfway there.

Here are just five examples from thousands and thousands of the best content pages from Squidoo — and I’ll venture to say that they are some of the best content pages on the entire Internet:

Riding The Tail Of The Dragon | Legally Blind Golfer | How to Create a Patio With Stone Pavers | Bullying At Primary School | Woodstock Music Festival 1969

All hail Alex!

I’ve known Drifter0658 for some time now, and not once have I felt that he isn’t who you see online. I really feel that we’d be great friends in person, as we are here.

And y’all, what a pleasant thought it is to think that we might meet in person! I love to laugh, and I believe we’d be gasping for breath every few minutes!

Alex, you are a winner. Thank you for the Squidoolicious Crabbysbeach community.

And if anyone reading this hasn’t read any of Alex’s lenses yet, this is a good one for starters: Writer’s Block; The Walnut, The Squirrel, The Muskie And Me

Photo credit: Jovan – Fotolia.com

For one thing, Squid Angels are inclined to make lenses about Squid Angels. This is mine: Who Are The Squid Angels?

If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.

—Atticus Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird)

With her homeless lenses, Squidoo’s Lensmaster Kylyssa teaches empathy.

Drove by a church today. A sign out front read:

Watch your step. Everyone else is.

This is a negative message for me. It’s telling the passersby that all people are full of gossip, hatemongering, and yes, the “righteous indignation” that Seth Godin talks about.

Is this true of you? Are you these things? If so, is it really the way you want to be?

If you are busy watching others, then you aren’t attending to your own life.

Here is a start toward living real — from BevsPapers.

Having received my fourth Purple Star award, I am feeling very pleased — and awkward. I don’t know who I should thank!

Why the anonymity?

At my blog, Squidoo Lens Reviews, I post a question each weekend. The best response, chosen by me, gets all of the author’s lenses posted in a separate post.

This has been a fun thing to do, and I hope you will consider responding to some of the questions as time goes on.

And if you have any questions you’d like me to ask, then just post them below. I’ll be happy to consider them. :)

Well, since I am a Squid Greeter, I have been handed down a pair of wings. Officially, I am an Honorary Angel. Honorary Angels work the same way the other Angels do. In short, we are able to bless, ding, and nominate. I will probably be an Angel throughout my “greetership.”

I must say that I had never aspired to be an Angel. The main reason being that it is a huge duty — one that can’t be taken lightly. With the power comes much responsibility. Now that I am an Honorary Angel, it’s a relief to know that the wings aren’t too heavy. My “game plan” is to just do the right thing, and I can’t see going wrong there.

There have been no dings as yet; I’m sure they’ll come. There have been no nominations, yet. I am sure nominations will come, too. So far, I’ve been blessing only. It feels really good!

My badge is nice, too. :)

OhMe’s Doggie Birthday Party makes me laugh.

Entertaining children, especially my grandson, gives me great pleasure. Gonna Catch A Big One is a story I wrote for him. He stars in it and narrates it. I decided to share it, and hope you enjoy it.

Update 10.12.09: Gonna Catch A Big One received a Purple Star this morning!