SORRY, KOMO, THIS BLOGGER DOESN'T WANT TO BE YOUR BUDDY.

I just got an "Evite". Quote:

"KOMO-TV and its owner, Fisher Communications, has graciously agreed to serve as host for a blogger meet-up at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday August 2nd. [...] KOMO-TV is interested in getting to know bloggers in the [Seattle] area, and what better way to do that than helping facilitate this meet-up? Fisher Communications recognizes the significance of the personal media revolution, and they want to listen and pay attention to what you're saying. I think this is a good way to start."

The "I" above is Chris Pirillo, blogger, geek, Internet entrepreneur, etc. -- you can read his complete list of self-appellations on his blog. He's also founder-operator-promoter of Gnomedex, an annual schmoozefest, ahem...conference for the bloggerati, also held in Seattle. In fact this year's event, the seventh, begins just a week after the above party, which will be held at KOMO-TV's shiny headquarters near Seattle Center.

I think I read on Pirillo's site that Gnomedex 2007 is already oversubscribed, though his post seems to imply that he could be talked into opening up an overflow room and graciously accepting more registration fees.

But getting back to the invitation. I'm flattered that I made a list of Seattle area bloggers, but not starry-eyed enough to accept the invitation to come and be cooed over by the TV people, no matter how sincere they may seem about recognizing my significance. See, I have been, and plan to continue, commenting upon and sometimes criticizing KOMO-TV, and many other media organizations. So, I prefer not to drink their booze and eat their hors d'oeuvres, thanks all the same. I guess I can't help thinking I'd have a harder time blogging about them afterward, and that they--KOMO-TV and Mr. Pirillo, the self-styled self-promoter--would like that very much.

Bloggers have not build reputations for journalistic anything in the first years of the phenomenon, and, as a matter of fact, I think I want to stand over here, away from blogger trade conventions and PR stroking parties and remain free to comment on my blogger brethren, too.

So, enjoy the pop and pupus at Fisher Plaza, boys and girls. Just remember, you don't get to be universally believed if you drink the KoolAid.

P.S.: I'll use the Pirillo-prescribed tag for this post, hoping some of my fellow bloggers drop in, read it, come to their senses, and buy their own drinks.