Shorter Atrios:

It's not about your ego. It's about getting something accomplished. Do it for the love of the game.

Which is why I much prefer his and Markos' style to that of Anna Marie "I write so people will pay attention to me" Cox (aka Wonkette); it's more generous, not to mention more substantive.

I believe in a world of Quality and Generosity: you do what you do because you like to do it; because you like to do it you do it well; because you do it well it's probably helpful for other people. Someone's still got to take out the trash, but there are people who enjoy cleaning too.