Paul Boutin, writing in Wired, has just pissed off a bunch of people. With good reason. He makes a reasonably cogent argument against blogging, but blows it by starting out as a dismayed populist then slides on over and becoming a disgruntled elitist. He waxes sentimental as to how blogging once was, yet fails to see that for many, perhaps for the many who are just now entering the blogosphere, that their current experiences are just as meaningful as those that he experienced just a few short years ago. And, to highlight his issues, he uses examples of leading bloggers so prominent (and perhaps unknowingly and unintentionally puts himself in their category) that I would hazard to guess that most of us readers can not relate to. Sort of a “the cool people don’t do that anymore…it’s only the masses that do”.
All of that masked an intriguing and insightful article. Today’s blogging atmosphere IS quite different from that of only a couple of years ago. It has is some ways become more cluttered, reducing the level of discourse. It has become more “professionalized”, with corporate leaders (or ghostbloggers) writing positive stories in blogspeak. And it most definitely become a domain for marketers, advertisers, and PR people to promote and push ideas, products, and services. And, sure, that’s had a negative effect.
But each individual’s blog is a their own thought platform. That hasn’t changed. And while he suggest bloggers move over to Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube – they ain’t the same. Twitter, which I love, allows us 140 character spurts of info. Not enough for real intellectual thought. Flickr is important, but it’s a photo album. And YouTube may not be for everyone as they may not want to speak to a camera and have the world see their thoughts.
Paul starts out by saying “Thinking about launching your own blog? Here’s some friendly advice: Don’t. And if you’ve already got one, pull the plug.”
That’s not necessary. That’s because many entering it right now – those that may be considered to be cut-rate journalists – aren’t looking to be respected amateur thought leaders. Those days have passed and those of us that have been part of it have grown to accept it while those entering it now for the first time won’t really know the difference.
The point I take the most issue with is his use of Jason Calacanis and Robert Scoble as examples as trendsetters for us all. They aren’t. They are of the blogosphere elite who have earned their reputations but I won’t be comparing myself to them anytime soon. I’d say most of the readers of this article wouldn’t – or shouldn’t either. And we shouldn’t do what they do because, simply put, we aren’t in their league. It would have been better off if Paul Boutin interviewed a couple of mid-level former bloggers who stopped or have considered stopping. By highlighting the elite as examples, he brings forth the very hierarchy that blogging was supposed to neuter.
Overall, he’s absolutely right. Blogging has changed and not always for the better. And that’s not necessarily what I would want as well. But maybe it’s time we altered our view of blogging and what makes it worthwhile.
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