My 2 Cents About Blogs

Published on April 26, 2004 By JillUser In Blogging

I have seen a lot of advice given lately regarding what to/not to blog about, when to blog about it, blacklisting, etc. The way I see it, it is your web log. Write about whatever you want whenever you want. If you are going to be knowingly offensive, restrict your audience. The only "don't" is don't put another blogger's name in your title unless it is complimentary.

You might want to take advice from others if you are worried about points, but otherwise, do your own thing. Your blog is your house here on JU. You have to abide by the neighborhood bylaws but other than that, it's your call.

Now, commenting is another story. Since you are then the guest at someone else's house, you need to mind your manners. I tend to stay away from blogs of people I know set me off. It is kind of like blacklisting myself

I try to stick to the subject at hand but have been known to get caught up in defending people that I am in agreement with or people I think are being wrongly attacked. I try to be careful about it and know that the blogger has every right to delete anything I say that isn't on subject or simply rubs them the wrong way.

Well, that's my 2 cents at least. Blog on!

Comments (Page 5)

shadesofgrey

on Apr 28, 2004

shadesofgrey, you must be the exception to the rule then

clearly

dharmagrl

on Apr 28, 2004

I've had 3 articles featured, and I've been here since mid-February. My blog is more of a personal journal though, so I doubt many people would find it terribly enthralling.

shadesofgrey

on Apr 28, 2004

I've had 3 articles featured, and I've been here since mid-February. My blog is more of a personal journal though, so I doubt many people would find it terribly enthralling.

Hmm, sounds like I'm the exception to another rule--Dharma, I find your blog extremely enthralling!

Shulamite

on Apr 28, 2004

Man. It seems we all truly have a problem with pride.

This really saddens me. I hope you guys make up and apologize before this gets uglier. I'm not sure how fair it was to drag Dan into this. I'm not taking sides, I'm just saying this makes me sad.

I thought it was a good article Jill. I always enjoy your work. Thanks for letting me visit your house. You're always welcome in mine.

Dan Kaschel

on Apr 28, 2004

Well, normally I'd let this one go, but I'm not in a very good mood, and besides it was a personal insult. (Oh yeah, and KarmaGirl always ticks me off anyway...) So here I go with my "response" (aka retort). The first dozen or so quotes are from KarmaGrl:

"People don't always comment on things that they read. Don't confuse comments with interest. You would be amazed at how many people are interested in business tools. A fast $1,000 printer is interesting to a lot of people."

You would do well to remember the name of this site. Is a 1000 dollar printer interesting to the average Joe? Here's news for you: the average Joe turns off the TV if they hear a figure over $200.

"By scanning the current articles, I can't see how anyone can say that their are only "favorites" featured. I don't even recognize half the people on the featured page."

Half would be ridiculous. Even the 1 out of 3 or so is ridiculous. Actually, half seems almost insane for an arbitrary figure... how exactly did you come up with that?

"But, in the end, if you are here to be "featured" or to be in a "top" list, then you are here for the wrong reasons. This is a *free* blog site put here to allow people to post articles for *free*. It's not a democracy here. You don't have rights since you don't actually *pay* for anything. "

You get like this a lot, Karma. First of all, he wasn't making a big deal of it. I thought he was being pretty civil, actually. And second, he wasn't claiming any rights. And third... oh screw it, this entire paragraph was the mad ranting of a broken record.

"And a better question, can you point out a site that is totally unbiased?"

Yes. Where all features were run by statistics. I'm not blaming Brad for that, I'm just saying you can't claim the typical "humans are humans" excuse.

"I mean, you have Dan here, who hasn't quite figured out the hypocrisy in calling himself Buddha"

Only you think I'm being a hypocrite, and only you think I haven't figured it out. I won't expound for the sake of not saying anything I'll regret. (I can hear the words in my head... "anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law...")

"whom created a fake name"

But at least I use right grammar

"now posts "Brad is a God" type crap whenever possible"

I wasn't aware of this new tendency... actually, I thought I was being as critical of him as usual... Karma, I don't hate him, I just this he's arrogant (which he readily admits) and that he's a prick when people are emotional (which is true whether he admits or not). Unlike you, I don't feel the need to demonize my enemies.

"Do you think that the owners of this site are even going to bother reading most of your stuff after that type of behavior?"

I hate to put down Anthony R. this way, but I'm going to anyway. He's posted some really nasty stuff, but he just got featured. Brad doesn't discount writing ability because of behavior. And if you call me a poor writer... you're simply wrong, all arrogance aside.

"whom *you* see as the common blogger may not be who the common blogger is"

I propose to this forum that the common blogger is a) not a millionaire and probably doesn't even own a highly successful business, and

is more interested in the evolution of the toothpick than a printer that costs more than the downpayment they placed on their car.

"Really? Who am I? What do I do at Stardock? And, what does the second quote have to do with who I am?"

You said that you didn't recognise half the people featured, and you didn't even know who most of them were. He said he knows who you are. I hope we're connecting by now.

"Sorry, Muggaz, but are you really that dense?"

In saying this, you only proved his point of how ignorant you are of the people on this site. For one, any regular reader knows that Muggaz is anything but dense. If it came down to you and Muggaz for the prize on lack of density... well, moving on.

"And, trust me, you do not know who I am."

Driving in your original lack of comprehension.

"As someone else said, going by # of comments is a ridiculous measurement. Admins know precisely how many unique people have read a given article. General interest articles are of much greater interest than ones about one's cat or how they got drunk last night or how depressed they are or whatever."

Number of comments etc... conceded. But your idea of "general interest" is vastly different than mine, or Muggaz's, or the other various users of this site. And we're a lot closer to the "Average Joe" demography. Now, if you renamed to catch phrase to "Blogs from the Elite Joe," I'd probably still blog here. It doesn't matter to me that much what's featured and what's not. But if you have a theme, it's just good practise to stick with it.

"I'm not sure how fair it was to drag Dan into this."

I'd advise disowning this comment, since I kind of jumped headlong into it:) Sorry about that....

And that's it. Comments? Questions? Concerns? You know my URL.

~Buddha

Dan Kaschel

on Apr 28, 2004

I swear, I didn't mean it to be that long...

~Buddha

JillUser

on Apr 28, 2004

Shades, no problem about the grape juice. I have two small boys so I am used to cleaning up messes. Paper towel is over by the kitchen sink. Just blot it and I will take care of it later

What was I thinking serving grape juice anyway?

Shulamite, stop by any time and I will be sure to take you up on your invitation.

The way I see it, some people have houses that they just want to feel comfortable in and have their friends over to hang. Other people are into impressing others and want to have people come swoon over their place. I am not out to impress. I fill my house with things and people I enjoy hoping others will get enjoyment out of it too.

So far, so good both figuratively and in reality.

dharmagrl

on Apr 28, 2004

but I'm not in a very good mood,

Why not? What's wrong?

And are you done getting your venom out or should I expect you to spew some at me again? I'm not being snide, I seriously would like to know if we're going to have a repeat of a couple of weeks ago. If you're not done, I'm going to keep my distance. No offence, but last time we had a spat really upset me, Dan, and I don't care to do it again.

dharmagrl

on Apr 28, 2004

am not out to impress. I fill my house with things and people I enjoy hoping others will get enjoyment out of it too.

And that is entirely my philosopy too, Jill.

MasonM

on Apr 28, 2004

Strange how what started as a good article on the blogging here degenerated into who get's featured and who doesn't. I have never had an article featured here. Do I care? Sure. Does it matter? No.

BTW Brad, the "depressed" comment kinda stung a bit there guy.

Just kidding Brad. Just an example of how people take things personally when they aren't.

If you like blogging here, great. I'm a relative newcomer here but there are definately articles I enjoy reading, and some I don't. While everyone writes something I enjoy sooner or later (I have very eclectic tastes) the bulk of what would be interesting to a "general audience" usually comes from pretty much the same people. It makes sense they would be featured the most.

Why does such a simple, to-the-point artcle about blogging have to set off a tirade of whining?

Now that I have managed to piss off some core people here (wasn't my intention but probably the result) I'll shut up now.

JillUser

on Apr 28, 2004

Dan, I came close to deleting your huge comment lashing out. I will leave you with this warning: This is my house. Next time you want to use words like "prick" or have it out with Kharma or whoever you are in a spat with, do it in your own house because it isn't welcome here.

You are going to get a better reception if you take what's bugging you and right your own blog about it. You can reference where it started but you need to take it outside. This is a good example how we all need to mind our manners. I have gotten into personal disputes on other's blogs and have apologized because I think it is the wrong thing to do.

As you said, you are in a bad mood so I will let it slide this time or better yet, just say to yourself "It isn't worth it" and move on. Taking the high road can be quite satisfying.

Dan Kaschel

on Apr 28, 2004

And are you done getting your venom out or should I expect you to spew some at me again?

Need not worry DharmaGrl... there's a difference between a "teen angst" mood and a "guy angst" mood. The teen variety tends to target anything and anyone for any reason. The guy variety targets people they're all ready a little ticked at, and it also requires a halfway good reason. Like a personal insult.

in any case, I'm just not in a good mood because I'm sick and owe a great deal more money than I have right now, which is something we've all gone through at one time or another. I'll get over it. Thanks for your concern.

Incidentally, Brad and Karma keep talking about how personal blogs don't have widespread interest, and I keep throwing out general objections... so let me just give you the URL's of my two most recent blogs. They're good examples of blogs that have widespread interest (particularly the second), but are also purely personal. And neither of them have the further plus of a philisophical twist, which I often add.

Link
Link

~Buddha

JillUser

on Apr 28, 2004

MasonM, thanks! I have enjoyed your writing so far. Hope you make a happy home here at JU.

MasonM

on Apr 28, 2004

Thanks Jill. Even though we have some basic differences of philosphical and religious ideas, I really do enjoy reading your thoughts on various subjects. You write well, and are a pleasure to read.

Muggaz

on Apr 28, 2004

And, trust me, you do not know who I am.

Trust me, I still dont care...

I have done my job - the desired issue is at the forfront... truth will prevail!!!

BAM!!!

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