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Raw mouthiness
Who says raw mouthiness can't be honest? But I'm NOT saying it is worth reading all the time. I really can't care about all this stuff because the 'Encounter" movement of the Sixties taught me that honest feelings can be as cloying, obnoxious or boring as made up stuff, and working with convicted criminals (and using the Internet) has taught me that the most interesting stories are BS.
(Damn, why don't I post this stuff on MY blog?!)
posted by
majroj
on April 15, 2003 at 7:50 PM
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"First taste" of blogging unflavorable
Maralite:
I think your concerns are valid and clearly expressed, however some of the responses were less so. I'm hyper-new to this whole thing and am considering it (blogging) on a "trial basis." My first impressions -- especially from the mere titles of some blogs -- were not very high. I hoped there might be readers (and writers) of intellect, integrity and decorum "out there."
The jury is still out with regard to that question.
More than anything there seems to be a lot of mulling, undirected angst and people have found this to be an open form in which to spit and blather. I haven't seen much in the way of what I would consider professional essay material and thought-provoking retort. We live in a culture fostered on hype and a certain type of raw mouthiness many people mistake for honesty.
I hail your call for serious discourse on the issues you raised and the points that you made, but frankly will be surprised if any response equal to your call rises out of the muck.
Professionalism would not need to be explained to professionals.
Probably just passing through.
Regards,
gk
posted by
garrie
on April 12, 2003 at 8:36 PM
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Glad you got a job BigV. I don't stay tuned in all of the time, so I missed the comments to which You refer.
Personally, I don't go for any labels. I reacted to the Molly thing because it seemed highly emotional and more personal than factual but will admit it is a matter of perception. I am unaware of lines being drawn and am not asking anyone to step over the line for me. But I will say again, I used to be an editor-in-chief for a good respected magazine and we all need to think about the Front Page. But, it is what it is and will be what it will be.
posted by
maralite
on April 10, 2003 at 10:53 AM
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Congratulations
Good for your, Big V. I am not sure what is going on or where you comments are coming from, but best of luck on your new job.
For the record, I keep reading about these "sides". Does anyone have a score card? Do the teams have names? Where is the roster posted? Just curious.
posted by
Whim
on April 9, 2003 at 10:50 AM
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My My!
I have been sitting here with speechless wonder as I watch the righteous crowd blast me for 'attacking poor Molly' even tho she tells you that she knows it was't an attack on her. I questioned her 'facts'she used in a COMMENT. If I began to quote "World Weekly News"... the home of the famous "Bat Boy"... and I presented them as facts, I am sure some one else would do the same.
I guess I am now properly wondering where you same righteous people are when one of your own is doing exactly what you have falsely accused me of doing? In two seperate responses, Xena has called a poster a "homo" and in her last little ran from reality, she tells him that she is far superior to him and that he is "Spineless, balless, and filled with deep-seeded hatred."
It doesn't matter if it is TRUE or not (and I freely admit that some of his writings are over the top, but no worse that your "Hammer" buddy using false and profane rants about the President.) I want to know where the righteous crowd is now? Why aren't you chiming in here? You think I am wrong but you have no comment about this? What gives? I haven't seen a word from ANY of you people! This makes the old saying of "Free speech for me but none for Thee" ring through loud and clear.
Many of you have advocated people stop reading my posts because I dared question your stance, but you have no problem with those on 'your' side when they go totally off the wall? I don't get it! You can't have it both ways. I am not posting any more comments after this one because it just doesn't pay. I will contine to post my stuff and you can read it or you can leave it alone, I frankly don't care because this is the good part... my response to your post got me A REAL JOB! LOL... now ain't that weird?
I have been telling some of you that there are REAL people out there reading this stuff! I saw BN was thinking about making a special section for professional browsers for talent. They are already here! So... read me... hate me... I don't care... I'm just here for the cheap bandwidth!
Be well!
posted by
BigV
on April 9, 2003 at 8:39 AM
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Group dynamics and BN
We folk are going through behaviors not unlike any other crowd of strangers; developing insiders, outsiders, outriders, goats, heroes, etc. As long as we don't get the "spoilers" who gang-lynch contributors like a vigilance committee, we're fine. And even then, what's going to happen, someone going to drop by with a baseball bat if they don't like my attitude or stuff? I say we can "boo" and "hiss" and cheer and applaud , throw peanuts and bouquets (and money), but not to take it too seriously.
Go for it!
majroj
posted by
majroj
on April 8, 2003 at 5:09 PM
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If we were truly and completely free...
OK, this is a bit of a rant here, but here goes.
When it comes to the people who do all the ranting and controversial stuff, they tend to serve as lightning rods in a way. Recently we went through just what I'm trying to talk about. Everyone focused on one blogger and we rapidly became a dysfunctional family, essentially making that blogger the black sheep of the family.
It looked for all the world just like something my old adolescent psychology professor used to talk about. His term for dysfunctional families was "seriously crazy" - they tended to pick a hero and a black sheep. The hero merely made a mistake when he or she did something wrong, and was quickly forgiven, when the behavior of the black sheep was seen as essentially bad; the black sheep could do nothing right, and if he or she did, bingo! It served as an excuse for emotional abuse (remarks indicating that the person did that one right thing as something of a fluke). "Normally crazy" is what I personally aspire to - taking responsibility when I blow it, and crowing when I do something right. Everyone gets blame when they blow it, and everyone who does something right gets credit for that good thing.
In an ideal world, we would be "normally crazy" - able to write whatever we needed to, and get good, tough criticism when we do something wrong (and boatloads of praise when we do something right). But as the recent incident with one blogger shows, the BN community is far from a "normally crazy" environment, so we need something in place. However, that "something" is essentially something we enforce on ourselves.
posted by
kidnykid
on April 7, 2003 at 9:42 PM
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dealing with attacks
I think the best way to deal with personal attacks and sensationalism is to avoid reading the bloggers who write them. In reference to Big V's comment on my Private Lynch entry, I didn't take it as a personal attack, just a unfocused, off-topic rant. I do know though that personal attacks/sensationalism have been an issue here before. By not reading the people that write them, they sink in popularity naturally and one would hope, will turn to other types of blogs.
posted by
MollyB
on April 7, 2003 at 8:07 PM
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RE: FREE PRESS
Whim:
When I interviewed Dan Rather about his reactions on 9/11, he talked about a code of conduct. May be it is pre-mature for blogging, but maybe not.
posted by
maralite
on April 7, 2003 at 7:03 PM
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HMMMMMMM
Okay, you and me, custard pies at fifteen paces, right here, right now!
No, I agree with you personally, but some folks are just prone to play harder. If they get too rough we complain, and we react in our comments and blogs as you say, and also the ringmasters will recognize things going too far and move to work on it.
As for me, I am basically a boor and I depend on folks to let me now when I go too far, so comment and email away!
majroj
posted by
majroj
on April 7, 2003 at 5:29 PM
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Real Free Press
I appreciate your point of view and personally agree that attacks are a waste of good space not to mention childish, but I question your means of correcting it.
Doesn't the concept of free press contradict having many if not any rules in place governing what can be posted?
Unfortunately, as readers and writers, there are whole groups of people who thrive on sensationalism and other peoples pain, which is why the tabloids are so popular. And, some even consider that journalism.
posted by
Whim
on April 7, 2003 at 3:48 PM
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I second mara's comment on personal attacks!
If we allow personal attacks than we might as turn this into a chat room where people are notoriosly attacking and degrading each other. I came here to find quality reading where it be drama ,life stories or comedies.Lets keep the standards high here.I think it would be wonderful if high school used this site for creativer writing
M aybe could even have there own site and we coild get a panel and the blogger site could award the winners a prize.
posted by
okohiored
on April 7, 2003 at 3:47 PM
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