Remember the Smurfs? I wasn’t a kid anymore when the Saturday morning cartoons appeared, but I watched them anyway. For a while, Smurf mania swept the world. On a whim, I thought it would be fun to match the Smurfs to different kinds of bloggers.
So, if your blog were a Smurf, what Smurf would it Smurf?
Clumsy Smurf
Everybody loves Clumsy Smurf. His heart is always in the right place but disaster strikes with everything he touches.
The Clumsy Smurf blogger is constantly recovering from one mistake after another with his blog software.
Brainy Smurf
Let’s face it, everybody hates a pedantic know-it-all. What’s worse, There were so many times when I wish Gargamel would have caught Brainy Smurf and eaten him (lest you forget, yes, it was quite a macabre show: Gargamel wanted to eat the Smurfs!). Well, OK, I don’t really wish that.
The Brainy Smurf blogger writes long-winded posts dense with technical jargon about how everybody else is doing it wrong. The Brainy Smurf blogger has no comments except from the Clumsy Smurf bloggers (Clumsy was Brainy’s only friend).
Lazy Smurf
Lazy Smurf would rather sleep all day than do anything productive. Lazy Smurf is always looking for the easy way, not the most rewarding way. He’s not bad, he’s just… lazy.
The Lazy Smurf blogger prefers automation to real content, and doesn’t try very hard to be original or check his facts.
Vanity Smurf
Vanity Smurf is never without his mirror. He never wants to take risks if it means he might get his hands dirty. He only thinks about himself, not about how he can help others.
The Vanity Smurf blogger writes to hear himself talk, because he loves the sound of his own voice. He’s drunk on his own words. The problem is, there’s nothing of value for anyone else, so nobody cares.
Handy Smurf
Handy Smurf loves to build inventions and gadgets. The other Smurfs aren’t too sure they’re such great ideas, and often something goes wrong. But every once in a while, one of Handy’s inventions saves the day!
The Handy Smurf blogger is always trying out the latest widgets, plugins, and other technologies for his blog. Sometimes they break his blog or are just a passing fad. No matter, because the Handy Smurf blogger just found a cool new widget to replace the old one…
Smurfette
Everybody loves Smurfette. The other Smurfs trip over each other whenever she’s around. Smurfette always has a kind word for other Smurfs, always sees the best in others, and is always doing nice things for the other Smurfs in the village. Other than as a morale booster, she doesn’t have any speciality.
The Smurfette blogger is popular with everyone because she’s always creating benefit and value for others. In doing so, she accrues benefit for herself. Everyone comments on and links to the Smurfette blogger.
Papa Smurf
Papa Smurf has wisdom, temperance, and something most of the other Smurfs don’t: magic! Papa Smurf knows how to motivate the other Smurfs and has a lot of experience. He’s patient and indulgent of the other Smurfs.
The Papa Smurf blogger takes his extensive real-world experience and applies it to his blog, which makes his blog a great place to learn from.
What Smurf Are You on Your Blog?
Any of these Smurfs sound like you? For some of them, I hope not! Each of the Smurfs is designed to reflect what’s both good and bad back to us, to show us we can have our hearts in the right place while being flawed.
There are many other Smurfs besides these. Can you think of how any of the other Smurfs are certain kinds of bloggers?
PS – It would be really smurfy if you subscribed to my blog’s RSS feed!
What a blast from the past! I confess – I never watched the Smurfs (Journey to the Center of the Earth, Land of the Lost, the Lost Saucer, and of course, Animated Star Trek) ruled my days back then.
I see a Papa Smurf but what about the Mama Smurf? Did she get any of the limelight?
Enjoy, Barbara
Ugh. You’re doing it ALL wrong. I would outline in great detail just how wrong you are, but frankly I’m just too lazy. And besides, this comment box isn’t working quite right. It was fine a second ago, I was just trying to tweak the size a little… Well anyway, you better believe I could set you straight- I’ve got a lot of wisdom stored up in this marshmallow noggin. It’s your loss- I just don’t have time for this, I need to go and polish my trophy collection.
@Barbara – Land of the Lost! Yes! That was one of my favorites.
@Daniel – It looks as though you’re suffering from MSD: Multiple Smurfality Disorder. Better go smurf Papa Smurf about that smurf.
Let’s see.
50% Papa Smurf
20% Vanity Smurf
20% Brainy Smurf
and
10% Lazy Smurf
That’s about right!
David “CrazyKinux” Perry
Ah, David, percentages, very smart!
OK, 50% Lazy Smurf & 50% Smurfette for me.
(I try not to be Brainy Smurf.)
I watched the Smurfs for years with my kids who were young during those days! Loved them–the Smurfs AND my kids!
OK, I’m definitely a “Handy Smurf” trying hard to be a “Smurfette” and “Papa Smurf”!
Actually, I just officially launched my first blog on July 7th; but I’ve been studying a lot and learning a lot!
I know I’m a “Handy Smurf” because I blew up my blog TWICE trying to add the latest and greatest stuff! But, in putting it back together TWICE, I’ve learned a lot and am passing that knowledge on to other new bloggers in my little network.
Hey, I even put some code in my blog HTML the other day and got it right the first time! (I also learned to save my template just in case…)
Love your stuff…I’m learning how to trackback and linkback…as soon as I teach myself, I’ll do it!!
Thanks!
BTW: I don’t think there was a “Mama Smurf”; Papa Smurf was a single Dad as I remember…
great article
just starting reading the blogs and its very well wrote
im handy smurf i think
always looking for something new and different
I would say I’m Jokey Smurf.
I don’t necessarily give people presents that explode, but I pretty much am constantly making fun of things.
Everyone – Love the “smurfographs” with the percentages!
By the way, Smurfette is NOT the only female smurf!
Oh dear, smurfs…I think I was busy doing something else when they came on, but my kids were watching them.
I’m not a Papa, but that defination sounds like a good goal for Life’s Little Inspiration to shoot for. I’ll work on that one.
Nice post title, caught my eye and dragged me over from Pen Men.
Ok, I will say I am a mix between Handy and Vanity. This was hysterical and very unique. =D
[...] in everyday life. Michael Martine develops this theory a little further by asking, “What Smurf are you on your blog?” Are you the carefree Smurfette? Maybe you’re the tool-wielding Handy [...]
[...] full of good observations, shared in a fun way by Michael Martine of Remarkablogger. Michael asks What Smurf are You on Your Blog? and gives you some advice on how to improve your blog if you are Vanity, Lazy, or even Brainy [...]
[...] What Smurf Are You On Your Blog? [...]
As always, I’m behind on my blog reading…
Love this one, Michael. Absolutely love it.
Any time my kids ask “are we there yet?” I rely on wisdom from Papa Smurf:
“Not much farther now, my little smurfs.”
Of course, my kids have no idea what the hell I’m talking about…
Anyways, very fun and insightful post!
@Bob – Thanks! There are plenty of Smurf cartoons on YouTube, if you want to introduce your kids to the little blue guys.