To say it up front, I'd be more comfortable if the award in question was a little more...how shall we say...personality oriented.  That said, I really like Brigitte Dale which is why I'm happy about any recognition even if that recognition comes in the form of  Playboy's Hot Female Bloggers poll. 

The story behind my being such a big fan starts with something I'm a little ashamed of.  I...to a certain extent...enjoy entertainment news.  There, I said it.

Anyway, a couple years ago one of the sites I visit started featuring her videos on a daily basis.  At first, to be honest, they were a little rough.  Ok, a lot rough.  But fairly quickly she hit her stride and she's only gotten better since.  I personally think she's one of the top 3 video based talents on the web right now. 

By the end of her run on that site she had even inspired me to participate in the comments section which is unheard of. 

Which is why I've always kind of resented her lack of celebrity on the web.  To my eyes the explanation for that lies in her choice of topic.  She chose to cover a topic she's interested in (entertainment) as opposed to covering Tech (which is how pretty girls get big audiences on the Internet). 

To see what I mean, check out the chart below (courtesy of Compete.com) which compares her to two other prominent female tech vloggers...or vbloggers...or video bloggers...Oh whatever...

Now I'm not saying the other ladies here aren't talented but they certainly aren't more talented so the vast difference here definitely tell us something.  Just to hammer the point home I'd point out she even ranks below one fairly "no talent" man, namely me...

Look, seriously, joking aside I like to think I add something to the lives of people who come here.   I try at very least.  But lets be honest, I'm no entertainer.  The fact that I'd be above someone with honest to God talent is nothing short of obscene. 

Which leads us to the real question here of what exactly this teaches us.  To me, I think there's a lesson here and I think its an unpleasant one.  Some times, you have to sell out. 

Warning: Before I go further I have to point out the rest of this article was written by "Harsh Tom".  You know, the Tom that tells it like it is even though it will probably offend people.  I don't like him, you don't like him, but this is no doubt a job for him.  That said...

Look, I don't mean to burst anyone's bubble, but the great majority of pretty girls doing tech related video couldn't care less about the topic itself.  If you think for one second that Amanda Congdon has a legitimate interest in technology (beyond its ability to make her famous) than you're being naive.  Pretty Girls who want to get noticed on the web talk tech because its a field filled with (mostly) guys and guys eat that up.

We all want hope and tech guys see a beautiful woman who seems to love video games as much as they do and it gives them hope.  Hope that, despite what real life has taught them, there are girls out there who love video games as much as they do.  Girls who'd rather stay at home and watch Halo than being taken out on a Saturday night.

(I'm sure a few girls like that do in fact exist but I've never met them)

Which is why pretty girls talk tech to get traffic and it works.

Brigitte Dale has more talent than most (if not all) of the aforementioned girls and, according to the voters of Playboy, is better looking to boot.  But she covered what she was interested in and didn't sell out which got her burned for the trouble (even though that's the advice everyone gives you when you start blogging). 

Just recently Ms. Dale has said that some big things are happening for her and I honestly hope that's true.  If/When that happens I'll happily revisit this topic.  But right now I can't help but feel this is one of those places where life just screws a person for doing the right thing.