*I Google’imaged “anti politics” and this is what I got, posted on a game forum. If this is your photo, please let me know so I can properly credit you.
I talk a lot. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to you.
But one thing I am remaining vigilantly silent on is which presidential candidate I support in the upcoming election.
Whether it’s Obama (the popular choice in my heavily democrat state) or McCain (a woman recently was beaten in my city for holding a pro-McCain sign), I feel my choice has no bearing on this blog. Because it’s a food blog. The focus is food and my culinary point of view (thanks Rochelle!), not party platforms and which way I lean.
As such, am I the only one who gets annoyed when politics find their way onto people’s food blogs? No offense because I don’t care who you support, if I like your food blog for the food, I want to stick to the food. I don’t need to know that you’re Obama all the way, or McCain’s your game, I just want to see pictures of pretty food with recipes or reviews of the restaurant from which it came.
What I find the most irritating isn’t you telling me who you support; I find it most irritating that most references on people’s food blogs are insults to the candidates they don’t support. I don’t need to hear about how Palin is an idiot on a food blog or that Obama consorts with terrorists on a food blog. I have my news sources for all of this stuff, thanks!
Anyone else agree with me in this plea to please keep politics off the food blogs? Or am I the only one?
Mimi says
I concur. Here here. I’ve stopped reading a few of my faves recently because they forgot what their blogs were for. Whether science, food, home remodeling, whatever… If you have a “themed” blog, stick to it. Other non-themed blogs, I’m okay with political rantings… but they have a place. Please don’t interrupt your pretty pictures of lovely food peoples!
Sarah Palin says
Here’s a tasty recipe for all you young maverick republicans out there for my family favorite. Do I kill em and grill em? You Betcha!
MOOSEBURGERS
1 lg. egg
1 tbsp. bitters
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tbsp. melted butter
1/2 c. minced celery
1/2 c. onion, minced
2 c. bread crumbs (dry), cubed
2 lbs. lean ground moose meat
6 strips thick sliced bacon
24 toothpicks
Kill a big old moose. In a bowl, beat egg, bitters, salt, and pepper. Stir in butter, celery, and onion. Toss in bread crumbs. Divide moose meat into 6 flat patties. Put 1/6 of stuffing on each pattie. Wrap pattie around stuffing into a ball. Mash balls into patties again. Place stuffed burgers on oiled roasting pan. Cut bacon strips in half. Secure atop burgers with toothpicks. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Broil for a minute to brown burgers before serving. Serves 6 young republican mavericks.
Blondie says
I’m ambivalent on this. I think most people understand that this election is extremely important for many reasons. Every where I go, work, bars, the LIRR train, everyone is talking about it; it’s almost a fever pitch and spilling over into every aspect of some people’s lives. I think yes, if it’s a themed blog, then stick to the them, but on the other hand, it’s my blog and I can do whatever I like. Just my thoughts.
Anonymous says
I must agree with you. One of the reasons being that I am not an American and Internet is world-wide-web for a reason. While these elections indeed are important, so would be the presidential election in MY country and nobody in USA would be interested if I started blogging about that… Not that I even blog… Much… 🙂 Anyway, one of my favourite food blogs has entirely turned political and unfortunately I do not even visit it anymore. So yes, I think a themed blog should stay the way it is or simply risk losing some of its readers.
Hungry Bitch says
Hey Sarah! Get off my street and outta my blogosphere!
Rochelle says
Yes; reading about politics in a food blog is about as disconcerting as finding a shard of glass (or metal!) in your food at a restaurant .. an unpleasant surprise 🙁
mike says
Food bloggers are generally liberal yuppies. Liberal yuppies love to talk about their political views.
Rochelle says
Mike; boo to grossly overgeneralized stereotypes.
Yvo says
Blondie: I concur that this is one of the most important things in our lives right now, and that it’s that person’s blog to post whatever they wish – themed or not. I agree completely — and it’s within my right to complain about those things on my own blog. (As an aside, it irks me to no end at work when people start bringing up politics as well. Certain of my coworkers badger those without the same convictions as they, which is where the real issue lies. And again, it’s that all the food blogs talking trash about the other candidate- if you’re promoting your candidate with positive terms, it’s one thing, but to keep talking negatively about the other candidate is extremely disrespectful and just unnecessary.)
Hungry Bitch: I’ll ask you to refrain from harassing the other commenters. They are all allowed to express their own opinions (though I doubt it was a Palin SUPPORTER who left that comment).
Rochelle: Exactly.
Mike: While the stereotype/generality may [usually] hold true, it simply isn’t an across the board truth. Regardless, liberal, conservative, I don’t want to read about it on a food blog. I have no power to ask these people for this… I’m just expressing MY opinion about this on MY blog…
Thanks for all the comments!
ambitious says
I am totally with you. Food bloggers should stick to food. And I prefer to keep my political opinions to myself.
Along similar lines, Obama’s face appeared on the screen during the Jason Mraz concert. The crowd went wild and I was annoyed that politics had crept its way into a concert too. If I wanted to hear about a political candidate, I would have attended a debate, not a concert!
Melissa Good Taste says
I agree, I agree, I agree! I just recently was just reading a food blog, no names need to be mentioned, and was saddened when she started getting crazy political. I left a comment saying she should stick to writing just about food because she wrote so well. It just bothered me she had to go there witht the politics. Ahh well, she ended up getting mad at me for writing that and I felt kind of bad, I mean it was HER blog and HER decision to write about whatever she wanted but… I agree with what you are saying.
Hungry Bitch says
Next time I see that Palin bitch I’m gonna bitch-slap her with the bottom ass-side patty of my moose burgurrrr. Yeeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Melissa Good Taste says
Hungry bitch: Why such anger? You don’t have to trash talk. I am sick of listening to people bash candidates. Everyone should just speak positively of the candidate of choice, rather than shout out insults.
Yvo says
Melissa – THANK YOU!!! I wholeheartedly agree.
Hungry Bitch says
How do you know I’m not playing the role of both Sarah and Hungry? Just a little faux anger in the spirit of the election? Hey, at least I’m not Jon Stewart! Now there’s a guy who would like to issue SP a couple of slaps with a wet perogy. 🙂
Evie says
I think that most food blogs illustrate the blogger’s personality in a myriad of ways. We talk about what we eat, which is an extremely personal thing to share with the world via the internet, and we discuss a myriad of topics including and not limited to body image, vegitarianism, weight loss, manners, customer service, etc. This upcoming election WILL affect our food choices and that is something that every food blogger should think about. We all complain about the rising cost of food, guess what, that ties into the economy and the government. Michael Pollan wrote an article in the NY Times Magazine two weeks ago discussing just how and why this election is going to affect food production and consumption in this country. These things are not trivial.
So yes, to each his own, if you do not want to discuss politics on your blog that is completely understandable and your readers should respect your wishes, but to say that is has nothing to do with it is missing out on a crucial part of what food is. We makes choices every day that have farther reaching consequences than many think. We should be conscious consumers and remember that we are what we eat more and more every day.
For example, the found of Carl’s Junior, Carl N. Karcher, was a huge supporter of conservative causes during his life and used a lot of his money donating to these which included anti-gay and anti-abortion initiatives. So if one does not want to support his agenda you shouldn’t eat at his restaurant, something a lot of people don’t think about when they’re cruising down the highway with an empty belly. It is simple choices everyday that will change the way our country eats. McDonald’s will not be as prevalent if we do not eat there. Chains will not take over this country if we support our local businesses, etc.
I know this is long but I just thought I should share my thoughts regarding this. However you vote on November 4, just make sure you have a voice and you use it wisely.
Cristina says
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Deborah