Lynne Featherstone seems to be the only person who saw the GMTV interview this morning, so in an act of random "mutual blog-scratching" (have I just coined a new blog term?) i thought I would LINK to her blog entry today which illustrates why all MPs should have one. Lynne and I do not share the same politics (she's a LibDem MP) but she writes a damn good blog. Her entry today explains why she doesn't allow comments. I understand her argument, but I would urge her to think again and try it out. I admit that I don't interact in the comments as much as I would like, but there are only so many hours in the day. I suspect Lynne fears the green ink brigade, and maybe she's right. But she could always get someone to moderate the comments. Just a thought. She could also think about adding a few links on her blog - at the moment there are none. Apart from that, though, she's a model for other MPs who are thinking about blogging.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
I'll Scratch Lynn Featherstone's Blog, If...
Lynne Featherstone seems to be the only person who saw the GMTV interview this morning, so in an act of random "mutual blog-scratching" (have I just coined a new blog term?) i thought I would LINK to her blog entry today which illustrates why all MPs should have one. Lynne and I do not share the same politics (she's a LibDem MP) but she writes a damn good blog. Her entry today explains why she doesn't allow comments. I understand her argument, but I would urge her to think again and try it out. I admit that I don't interact in the comments as much as I would like, but there are only so many hours in the day. I suspect Lynne fears the green ink brigade, and maybe she's right. But she could always get someone to moderate the comments. Just a thought. She could also think about adding a few links on her blog - at the moment there are none. Apart from that, though, she's a model for other MPs who are thinking about blogging.
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16 comments:
Allowing comments makes a good blog, in my opinion anyway.
Heh...she does have a comments page. It's called Yellow Peril, or so it seems, fixated as they are with her...:)
"I would LINK to her blog entry today which illustrates why all MPs should have one"
some MPs still don't have a website...so before all MPS will start blogging, a couple of centuries will pass
Andrea, I can't believe some MPs don't have a web.
I think a blog is lifeless without comments, it's an essential element.
Iain, Bob Piper is singing your praises on his site today. He also reminds you about what you predicted would happen a few weeks ago.
Ellee Seymour,
Dennis Skinner is one of the MPs without a website (or at least I've never found it on the web!).
I think there're a couple of others.
As others have commented, a blog without comments is not a blog. The whole point is two-way communication. I think her excuses about not having time are a bit limp. Boris Johnson's blog has comments and he has lots of extra-curricular activities to keep him busy on top of his day job.
As I don't get opportunity elsewhere I'd just like to say Lynne's blog is great...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BSreL4y_UY
I posted this earlier, but you ignored it..
Part of the beauty of the blog is the way that you can interact with the owner. For all the political disagreements I have with Lynne's colleague John Hemming, he's always allowed a pretty free exchange of views on his blog and I've defended his blogging as an unfiltered form of communication between an MP and the electorate.
If you don't allow comments, then you aren't taking advantage of something of benefit to each.
To be fair, Lynne's blog is set out as a 'diary', as the title explains. That suggests that she is simply listing the events of her week, and the thoughts she has had on it. I notice with her blog that most of her opinions are linked to what has happened to her in the week, and therefore allows little debate on it.
Saying that, I personally think comments are the best way forward.
PS: Poor France
You moderate your comments Iain, perhaps Lynn doesn't have the time or energy to do this?
In fairness to Lynn she has an email on her blog and has answered an email I sent her a few months ago promptly and to the point ( not the point I was hoping for - but at least a real reply ). Perhaps its her researchers etc - but still a real response on subject.
We owe Lynn an enormous debt of gratitude for removing the utterly ghastly Barbara Roche from public life, and judging from the Guido/Rm podcast she is quite a character.
Anyway, I think that she has probably made the only sensible choice in not allowing comments, as apart from the green inkers, self-publicists, trolls etc there is the issue of to what degree she can interact with her readership, given her other responsibilities.
As to we civilian types, it is the interactivity that makes it so enjoyable. Without the reaction of people who take the time to comment, one might as well just keep the whole thing to oneself. I count myself fortunate that I have some excellent 'regulars' (I hope...) who run with a thread and create a dialogue.
Not bad looking for a Lib-Dim!
And now Stephen Pollard has decided he is too grand for comments....
It seems to be a feature of Lib Dem politics that many Lib Dems want to churn out their own opinions, but are afraid of others making comments about them, or heaven forbid, entering a debate about some point. Its annoying because superficialy they have all the appearances of being grown up and offering some sort of democratic solution, but its only those who try to engage with them that find out they are not grown up at all, and prefer a sulky silence to debate.
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