For The Record

A reader wrote in taking issue with FuelMix about his post entitled The Fog. In it, FuelMix reiterated his policy of declining social invitations from his readers. The reader pointed out that he had already met FuelMix.

He's probably right.

When the blog appeared 4 years ago, FuelMix personally introduced himself as the author. Read any blogging manual and it recommends that is exactly what a neophyte blogger should do. As FuelMix recalls, the reaction to the blog was at best mixed, at worst hostile. The blog was - and still is - completely different to mainstream gay trash.

As the quality of the writing became apparent, the blog took off internationally. It had nothing to do with FuelMix being there or introducing himself to anyone.

Here's an analogy. When a business owner first starts up, its founder is chief cook, bottle washer and PR man. When the business takes off, the founder removes himself from the other functions to concentrate on policy and direction.

Those who are criticizing FuelMix for now declining to meet his readers when he had done so in the past, have missed the point about the evolution of a blog's trajectory. It was never about the writer. It's about the storyline, the ability to observe and the ability to make a strong point. That's why the global readership keeps coming back.

Several financial bloggers with a huge global audience operate under pseudonyms. Do some people know their identity? Of course they do. But they respect the distinction between the person and the alter ego to allow the quality of the information to come through. It's the same with this blog.

FuelMix is pleased to be remembered by those with whom he might have shared drinks and fundamental disagreements about the gay lifestyle. But with a current global audience of 17,765 (as at 7 April 2010) exactly how his FuelMix supposed to make the time to Meet N' Greet any number of those readers over dinner or coffee? And still find time to hunt storylines? Should he first ask to see their stats and choose only the hot ones? If that's the case, shouldn't the blog only be available to the hot guys instead of being accessible to everyone?

With all due respect, given the blog's growth there is nothing irregular at all in ending a policy (which only lasted the first few months) of personally meeting readers.

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