Free. Everybody wants something for free these days. Well, I tell you what Mrs. Ross, my eleventh grade economics teacher told me, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” This is a simple way to say that someone always foots the bill for something that you get for free.
I have been thinking about this concept quite bit lately since there have been many giveaways recently on almost every blog that I read regularly. Frequently, these giveaways are re-gifted crap that the writer doesn’t want; something that the blogger has made; or, a gift donated by a sponsor looking to stir up business. But no matter how and where the gift comes from, someone always foots the bill.
So, the question becomes do I want to foot the bill to give my readers something? Do I want to hassle with a contest and go through the trouble of shipping the winner their free giveaway paid for by me? Although I have plenty of crap to giveaway, I have asked myself what does this buy me? Happy readers? Probably. Do I care? Probably not. In reality, how would doing a giveaway on my blog benefit me?
It wouldn’t really do much other than create more work and give me more reasons to ignore my children. And, when it really comes down to it, I am a giver every day. I give out the gift of tough love. I tell you that your children aren’t as good looking and smart as you think they are. I tell you that the New York Times Best Sellers you read are not in my league. I point out that you’re a lazy parent with your Elf on the Shelf; and, I let you know that your nervous smile makes you look desperate and slightly pathetic. Yes indeed, I give you, my readers, a gift every day.
In return, you should be sending me Thank You gifts. Perhaps my contest should be: Who can send Garbageman’s Daughter the best Thank You gift?
So please get to work on this exciting new contest, I will announce the winner in two weeks. The winner will receive nothing from me other than the privilege of being mentioned on my blog.
Thank you for your participation, and remember there are many creative things you can do with chocolate and tea.
