I had a wacky thought earlier today that I thought might be worth running with, when I built the Saverocity network it was to provide a community platform where people could benefit from the collective. Why not extend that platform to the people without a voice, but who probably have way more interesting stories anyway?
It struck me that the stories of some of the lot of the most interesting folks, or perhaps the average everyday reader who finally managed to pull off a great award trip might be a lot more relateable and fun to read than the latest blogger who figured out how use the Bluebird Card (it did take me a couple of years and a walk around Manhattan with The Miles Professor so I am not pointing any fingers here).
Perhaps we could run an interview series here on the Travel section featuring non-bloggers, people who read the site and have insights to share about their own journey, be it in F and Hyatts or in Camper van, and along with the joy of being a blogger and talking about themselves and their experiences for the day they can also pimp a link or two for their own benefit.
I see some of the poor, blogless souls on Twitter trying to push the Uber link, and there are other great options too, such as the Lot18 $10 for New Customers ($25 for me, which equals out since I probably have more expensive tastes than you) or whatever you can think of.
What do you reckon, could it be fun to read from someone ‘normal’ (or perhaps even weirder than I am)? Leave a comment below if you feel like participating as a writer, or if you think it is a good or bad idea as a reader. Cheers!
I think it’d be interesting. I don’t read most interview articles because I assume they’re just trying to get me over to their site so they can plug some affiliate links. Having the writers/interviewees be non-bloggers would solve that problem.
The concern I would have is how do you keep it interesting? Not everyone who partakes in MS (and related activities) has a niche that makes them unique like FM, BigHab, or CtP. So would it turn into a bunch of people talking about their Bluebirds?
You raise a good point, I think the stories that will be interesting will involve a little background into their life position, approach to travel etc and some stories of what they have achieved. Too much on the earn side might be repetitive.
One day I’ll actually write up the results of my research/casual reading into whether flying and offsetting one’s emissions is an ethical thing to do, or whether, pace Holthaus, leisure flying is in itself unethical. I offered it to George first, but I have doubts I’ll ever write it.
In other words, I’m a drag at cocktail parties. I also value my quasi-anonymity on the Internet because a) I think it’s funny that people have accused me of being a blogger, b) I’m really a dog, and c) I have another professional image/presence to keep separate.
That all being said, I think a peek into frequent commenters’ lives elicited along the lines of a “what was your most memorable experience while traveling/vacation/abroad?” contest, would be interesting.
Well someone’s got to be first! I’m sure you can be the one if we loosen you up a bit first with some Jaeger bombs or whatever the kids are doing these days.
I’m fine with maintaining anonymity too, just be fun to see the tables turned on the reader/writer equation.