Comments on Stacking the Deck

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Corbin

My point was, and still is, that early on the morning of September 11, when I wrote this post based on the Blogit update of September 10, there were 15 N&P blogs current within the seven-day period that determines the rankings on this site. Ten of those blogs, from just three bloggers, had a conservative slant. It was not an evaluation of just the Top 10 blogs within the category, and it most particularly was not an evaluation of the Top 10 from the September 14 update (the one you pasted into your comment) since that was three days and four updates into the future. If I now apply the same criteria to the September 14 update the balance has shifted some with the passage of time. There were 19 blogs active within the seven-day ranking period. Of those 19 blogs 10 (52.6% of the total) from four different bloggers had a conservative slant. Seven (36.8%)of the other nine blogs had a definitely more liberal slant. Those seven more liberal blogs came from three different bloggers. One obvious conclusion is that there is still a strong conservative tone to the category, 52.6% to 38.6% and four bloggers to three bloggers. That is my point for this particular update. If I were to draw any other conclusion from this more recent data it would be that the liberal element of Blogit has become more active and is closing the gap on what was a stacked deck. Will this trend continue? I don't know. We'll have to wait and see what transpires during the next few updates.

posted by notapoet on September 15, 2009 at 8:02 PM | link to this | reply

Kind of sounds like a Blogit "fairness doctrine".    I have 2 blogs.....If they are not visited they won't be in the top.  Right now the top 10 in the category hass 4 conservative, 5 liberal, and one that doesn't show a slant.   What is your point?

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posted by Corbin_Dallas on September 15, 2009 at 5:34 PM | link to this | reply

Thanks, isiS_Eyes
Although I can't claim to own much courage other than that of my convictions.  In my younger days I developed quite a reputation as a brawler because I refused to be bullied.  Over the years I've taught myself to be slow to anger and developed a thick skin.  On the few occasions when I've been harassed by someone spoiling for a one-sided fight rather than civilized debate I usually handle it by saying, "Thank you for reading," and letting it pass without getting into a shouting match.  For me this works better than blocking and, quite frankly, it's better for my earnings -- a fact I've pointed out on more than one occasion.  But what works for me is not necessarily best for anyone else.  I admire your resolve to handle obnoxious attention as you see fit in a manner that works for you.

posted by notapoet on September 11, 2009 at 8:15 AM | link to this | reply

Re: isiS_Eyes
notapoet, that's truly good to hear, that my comment made sense.  I wish I had the courage you do, though.  All I can do is avoid getting slimed: I block them, biding my time until I figure out what to say to cut through the muck.  Certainly I've thought about leaving (I actually have left, a couple of times.), but something keeps dragging me back in.  I guess it's because despite the detractors, I still feel relatively safe sharing my writing efforts here.

posted by myrrhage_ on September 11, 2009 at 7:26 AM | link to this | reply

Thank you, sam
 and I applaud your efforts and the support you give to other bloggers.  As you know, I read widely but am guilty of commenting infrequently.  Today I am consciously trying to leave at least one comment with every blogger whom I read.

posted by notapoet on September 11, 2009 at 7:21 AM | link to this | reply

This was a fine summation! I just post according to my category! Some are three a day while another could only be one! sam

posted by sam444 on September 11, 2009 at 5:53 AM | link to this | reply

isiS_Eyes
Thank you for one of the most perceptive and thoughtful comments I've received in my years on Blogit.  I'm afraid that you may be correct in feeling that a large part of the decline in membership may be due to a surface appearance of a far right slant on Blogit.  As you pointed out, it is a difficult problem to solve.  At times I've been tempted to switch most of my blogs to N&P to counter the perceived imbalance.  At other times I've been tempted to leave Blogit in disgust.  But, since I'm not a quitter or a crooked poker player, I find neither of those options palatable.  Though health concerns and projects outside of Blogit limit my time here, I plan to do my small part by simply speaking my conscience and becoming more vocal in support of bloggers I respect and support so they will not join the exodus.

posted by notapoet on September 11, 2009 at 5:37 AM | link to this | reply

Very good points here.  I tend to prefer more than one blog in the Poetry category simply because many of my poems do not belong "together".  I have two journals, but one is in the Family and Parenting category simply because it's strictly about my children.

As for the far right slant:  That has not gone unnoticed.  I think we're seeing a decline in membership due to that perception.  People sign up, see the apparent imbalance, quickly stop blogging here.  It's very sad.  Perhaps it would behoove us to ask for limitations on blogs within one category.  But then they'd just use a backdoor system to post stuff in categories where they don't belong.  If that doesn't keep us on our toes, then what will?  Of course, a person posting stuff in inappropriate categories would be easy to track down... hmmmmmmm.....

posted by myrrhage_ on September 11, 2009 at 4:19 AM | link to this | reply