read me and shut up
I was reading a comment on another blog recently to the effect that Comments (particularly frivolous ones) are a pointless addition to a blog. Why? Because, the writer said, 'blogs are for blogging'. Apart from the obvious absurdity of making a negative comment about Comments via a comment this struck me as a particularly elitist and stuffy point of view. I simply don't see what the problem is. Blogs, comments, who cares? This is the Internet not the United Nations Security Council we're talking about. The notion that blogging is some sort of specialised activity, a 'higher calling' of some kind, even an important part of the fabric of society, is simply ludicrous. There are zillions of the bloody things floating around out there, and every one of them has its merits. If it makes the writer happy or fulfilled in some way, that's good; if a single person reads it and gains something from it that's good too; if a million people read it and it changes the world for the better that's equally good. But the world of blogging is not some kind of exclusive club, it doesn't exist on a higher plane, it doesn't need to be protected from infectious diseases such as frivolity, criticism or cyncism which can be transmitted via the Commenting system. If a blog is strong enough it will take everything that's thrown at it with equanimity, and just move onto the next post. Bloggers are not divine entities, although there are, unfortunately, quite a few out there who harbour that delusion. There is not - as far as I'm concerned - some natural pecking order in the blog world. All blogs are created equal. Full stop. Personally I think Comments are a good thing. They are part of the glue that holds the blogworld together and forges new connections within it. It's the mind-set of people who either want to ban them or tally them up as an indicator of a blog's position in some imaginary hierarchy that worries me. Here endeth the rant. Please donate your comments in the plate below. This blog urgently needs funds for a new roof and to complete the Angelina Jolie stained glass window.
I was reading a comment on another blog recently to the effect that Comments (particularly frivolous ones) are a pointless addition to a blog. Why? Because, the writer said, 'blogs are for blogging'. Apart from the obvious absurdity of making a negative comment about Comments via a comment this struck me as a particularly elitist and stuffy point of view. I simply don't see what the problem is. Blogs, comments, who cares? This is the Internet not the United Nations Security Council we're talking about. The notion that blogging is some sort of specialised activity, a 'higher calling' of some kind, even an important part of the fabric of society, is simply ludicrous. There are zillions of the bloody things floating around out there, and every one of them has its merits. If it makes the writer happy or fulfilled in some way, that's good; if a single person reads it and gains something from it that's good too; if a million people read it and it changes the world for the better that's equally good. But the world of blogging is not some kind of exclusive club, it doesn't exist on a higher plane, it doesn't need to be protected from infectious diseases such as frivolity, criticism or cyncism which can be transmitted via the Commenting system. If a blog is strong enough it will take everything that's thrown at it with equanimity, and just move onto the next post. Bloggers are not divine entities, although there are, unfortunately, quite a few out there who harbour that delusion. There is not - as far as I'm concerned - some natural pecking order in the blog world. All blogs are created equal. Full stop. Personally I think Comments are a good thing. They are part of the glue that holds the blogworld together and forges new connections within it. It's the mind-set of people who either want to ban them or tally them up as an indicator of a blog's position in some imaginary hierarchy that worries me. Here endeth the rant. Please donate your comments in the plate below. This blog urgently needs funds for a new roof and to complete the Angelina Jolie stained glass window.
posted by alan at 4.6.04
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