In which I prove that it is possible to write about A-level results without resorting to images of excitable blonde teenagers in skimpy tops hugging each other.
P.S. And following that, an interesting "whither blogging?" post from Sunny Hundal.
P.P.S. Is that better? Although interestingly, The Guardian put this in the paper, rather than their 'blog' (which, as m'colleague Ms P rightly observes, is no such thing).
8 comments:
Just because it is possible to write about A-level results without resorting to images of excitable blonde teenagers in skimpy tops hugging each other it doesn't mean it shouldn't be done.
Just kidding, nice article.
When I started blogging my objective was to be totally pointless and irrelevant. Not as easy as it sounds.
I know I say this every time, but try replacing the verb 'blog' with the verb 'talk' and the noun 'blog' with the word 'conversation' in that Sunny Hundal piece and see how ridiculous it sounds.
At the risk of sounding like a Cluetrain nut (and god knows the world doesn't need any more of them), blogging is really nothing more than public conversation that anyone can read and contribute to.
It's pointless speculating on whether blogging as a whole is good, bad, useful, useless, intelligent, biased, considered, stupid or anything else - it's just the same conversations that people have always had - about the same things they've always talked about.
The only difference is that those conversations are now online and findable. That has a whole load of consequences, obviously, especially for people who don't like organised political dissent, but questioning the validity of the act of blogging itself is futile.
Also: I see some CiF commenters think they're 'bloggers' because they comment on CiF. Sort them out, Tim! They aren't bloggers unless they have their own blog! And CiF still doesn't count as a blog either, because it still doesn't have a blogroll, or allow backlinks, or allow its commenters to link their names to their own blog. If CiF isn't going to co-operate with/converse with/link to other blogs on an equal footing, it's not a blog itself.
Oh god, CiF rage again.
You'll notice that the media never covers people getting their retake results, Billy. That's because it's the middle of winter...
A tough one indeed, dh. But it's impressive that so many of us manage it.
I did try to suggest that Sunny's definition of blogging might be a tad narrow, Patroclus. And I questioned CiF's blog credentials a few months back. It's like banging your RSS feed against a brick blogroll. It just ain't gonna happen.
I didn't need to "follow that link" so perhaps you'd employ me for some modest coin?
Nicely written piece.
Hee - I like the way that person in the comments says 'The 'blog is a useful format for one style of website/amateur journalism - it's not changed the world, it's not revolutionary in its format.' while conveniently overlooking the fact that if it hadn't been for blogging, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to comment online on the Guardian's article in the first place. Not changed the world, eh, Mr Squiggly Letters?
Good links, thanks Tim. I like that bit: ''In any case, those who obsessively review their own Wikipedia entries for errors might pause before accusing others of narcissism.'. Hee hee! In your face, Tom Wolfe!
Er, or 'Mrs' Squiggly Letters, obviously.
Nice one, Dinah. I shall be in touch next time I muster the resources to stage a violent assault on the dignity of the cultural status quo. How are you at throwing custard pies?
And Patroclus, the phrase "In your face, Tom Wolfe!" fills me with a distinct queasiness. For a start, his nice white suit would need drycleaning. Maybe we're getting closer to the definitive meaning of 'Brownback'.
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