Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Questionable advice and blogging etiquette
There are many bloggers providing questionable advice on blogging and I figured this would be a great time to throw in my own thoughts...
New bloggers sometimes spend too much time worrying about perception and etiquette than in having a real honest conversation. Perception is reality equals nonsense. Unless you are blogging in a work context then perception should be the least of your concerns. Be credible and take a stance on something. Don't moderate yourself by only sharing tempered opinions. Folks want to hear about extremes as insight emerges from it where as middle of the road responses do not encourage new memes that others can improve upon.
Ask yourself, why is Michael Savage, Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh so wildly popular? Is it because they moderate themselves and get caught up in etiquette? When one focuses on perception more than accuracy they miss the opportunity to educate others and to encourage folks to consider thoughts that otherwise they wouldn't have been exposed to. The blogosphere is meant to be a tool to liberate us and to remove the handcuffs that etiquette forces on others.
Sure, we should attempt to be polite but politeness isn't mandatory. Society is built upon all of us getting along and I am a firm believer that peace is the way of the righteous but I also believe that if you are attack, you should fight back. Let's not get it twisted by becoming savage in the pursuit of perception management and stand up for what you believe.
Too many folks nowadays in the era of sensitivity figure out ways to allow those who simply aren't mentally fit to run with the big dogs. We need to encourage survival of the fittest. Kathy Sierra was attacked in the blogosphere and lots of folks came out of the woodwork to support her. At no time did they ever ask themselves whether she was guilty of convicting others in the court of public opinion. If we are supposed to believe in equality regardless of gender then we should practice what we preach. Selective enforcement over time results in discrimination which we all should avoid with passion.
In terms of creating passionate users, the best way to do so is to encourage a conversation and asking for trackback is the best way to accomplish this goal. If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch. Perception management / blogging etiquette is a mental disorder...
| | View blog reactionsNew bloggers sometimes spend too much time worrying about perception and etiquette than in having a real honest conversation. Perception is reality equals nonsense. Unless you are blogging in a work context then perception should be the least of your concerns. Be credible and take a stance on something. Don't moderate yourself by only sharing tempered opinions. Folks want to hear about extremes as insight emerges from it where as middle of the road responses do not encourage new memes that others can improve upon.
Ask yourself, why is Michael Savage, Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh so wildly popular? Is it because they moderate themselves and get caught up in etiquette? When one focuses on perception more than accuracy they miss the opportunity to educate others and to encourage folks to consider thoughts that otherwise they wouldn't have been exposed to. The blogosphere is meant to be a tool to liberate us and to remove the handcuffs that etiquette forces on others.
Sure, we should attempt to be polite but politeness isn't mandatory. Society is built upon all of us getting along and I am a firm believer that peace is the way of the righteous but I also believe that if you are attack, you should fight back. Let's not get it twisted by becoming savage in the pursuit of perception management and stand up for what you believe.
Too many folks nowadays in the era of sensitivity figure out ways to allow those who simply aren't mentally fit to run with the big dogs. We need to encourage survival of the fittest. Kathy Sierra was attacked in the blogosphere and lots of folks came out of the woodwork to support her. At no time did they ever ask themselves whether she was guilty of convicting others in the court of public opinion. If we are supposed to believe in equality regardless of gender then we should practice what we preach. Selective enforcement over time results in discrimination which we all should avoid with passion.
In terms of creating passionate users, the best way to do so is to encourage a conversation and asking for trackback is the best way to accomplish this goal. If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch. Perception management / blogging etiquette is a mental disorder...
