In 2006 I was checking out a forum for writers and saw a post from one of the founders saying that they were starting a blogging network and needed writers. I decided to check out what was available and I saw that there was a toy collecting blog up for grabs. At that time they wanted ten posts a week and I wondered if I could actually write that much about toys on a consistent basis. Nearly three years later and after over a thousand posts, Toy Bender is done.
What happened? Well, the network apparently wasn’t making enough money to keep paying the bloggers. We all figured that the writing was on the wall earlier this week. After having been locked out of all the blogs with no word from the head honchos, the person who was our liaison between us and the owner was laid off. The other bad sign was that the network forums were also deleted at the same time. Nobody knew for sure what was going on, until the confirmation that it was officially over came today in the form of an email from the network owner.
I want to thank everyone who enjoyed the site and especially to those of you who would regularly leave comments. I can’t begin to express how worthwhile it was to build a community of kick-ass individuals. It always made my day to see comments from you guys and gals, so I really must thank you for that. Through the comments and working on Toy Bender, I made a lot of online friends and acquaintances whom I’d otherwise be worse off for not having met them virtually. Hell, I wouldn’t be writing here if it hadn’t been for Poe leaving comments on the site back in the day. I’m really going to miss Toy Bender as a means of keeping up with the “fans” of the site and making new friends.
So what’s next for the guy behind Toy Bender? Well, I’m going to keep guest posting on Poe Ghostal’s POA for sure. Think of it as the coolest port in a storm anyone can ask for. I don’t think I can start another toy blog and build it from the ground up, especially right now. I’m also working on my personal blog The Robot’s Pajamas to make it like Toy Bender without the toys (you know fun), so you might want to check that out if you haven’t.
More important than any of that though, the Toys For Tots contest (i.e. Joes for Tots) will live on. I don’t think there’s any other thing I did at Toy Bender that gave me more joy than seeing the pictures of fellow toy collectors dropping toys off to the Toys For Tots organization. With Poe’s blessing the contest will be hosted here and I’m hoping that it can be even bigger than before with the help of sponsors and the proven success of last year’s contest.
Thanks again everyone! I think I’ll just close this out in the form of song and dance: