As more and more bloggers we read daily head out on vacations the issue of what to do with their blogs while they are AFK arises.

Was wondering how long it would be before somebody complained about the guest blogger trend. When some bloggers go on vacation they decided it might be a good idea to invite in other bloggers to “guest blog” on their behalf. Whether this is done to keep their post numbers up (and ad revenue coming in) or done as a favor to readers remains the 2 1/2 penny question.

Boris isn’t crazy about the idea:

Um, can we stop with the guest posting already? If I wanted to subscribe to other people….I’d subscribe to them. We have a time honoured tradition of pointing to off-blog content…it’s called a “link”, or perhaps a “quote”.

Boris named names too. Good for him.

I must admit considering reeling in a guest blogger when we’ve gone on vacation in the past but kind of like the idea of giving readers a vacation once in awhile too. This blog updates with at least 3 posts per day on average (and some are well over 500 words) so getting a few light posting days here and there might be appreciated by readers.

Also, and perhaps more importantly, most of the guest blogging I’ve read has been lacking in the quality department. Sorry, Scoble, this might not be a happy thought and Bubba might be your bud, but he’s not you. The quality of most guest blogging I’ve read has turned me off to the concept frankly. That’s not to say it’s all been bad, no, just that it hasn’t all been comparable.

It’s one thing if a guest blogger being brought in has a blog of their own and is compelling in their own way and just filling in here and there, still giving us readers a break, but it’s quite another to bring in people readers haven’t ever heard of or read before and assume your readers will be enthralled, educated, impressed and/or entertained. Just because they have an interesting job, hobby or life doesn’t mean they will be a good writer.

That’s the long way of saying no guest blogging here any time soon. Unless some celebrity wants to blog here of course. Robin Williams could blog here. Warlock and I would be down for Dee Snider guest blogging. Heck, any metal head would work for me. Or a freak guest blogger like say Jacko might be entertaining.

Definitely not closing the guest blogger door. If you have three eyes or pee out of your ear, step right up.

Seriously, this doesn’t mean Hmm hasn’t ever had and won’t continue to have posts here and there from other authors. I encourage readers to submit posts they think Hmm should publish. It would probably be editorialized and commented on by me, most likely, but Hmm would be willing to use it and link out on the byline where appropriate.

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