Stephen Tall comes up with three definitions of a blog in an article on blogging he has written for the Parliamentary Monitor magazine.
Blog (n.): an online journal written by publicity-hungry politicians and self-opinionated journalist manqués, commenting on current political affairs with scant regard to fact or fairness, and accountable to nobody save their small band of obsessive readers.
Blog (n.): an online journal written and/or read by anyone in the democratic world, providing them with a platform to address issues of concern to them, and which is transforming the relationship between modern citizens and the traditional governing and media elites.
Blog (n.): my space to write about whatever’s delighted or annoyed me that day, forcing me to arrange half-formed thoughts into something semi-coherent for public consumption, keeping my thinking fresh and up-to-the-mark.
Discuss.
Good set- I think for me 3 suits me best with a bit of 2. I often wonder whether a good comparison for blogs is 18th Century commonplace books where people used to note down interesting things about what they'd read, seen or thought about that day. There are some big blogs like yours which might be a little more- but most I think are commonplace books and fascinating for what they reveal.
ReplyDeleteIt could be said that the comparisons with earlier centuries would be that Iain Dale and even Guido Fawkes would be likened to Samuel Pepys.
ReplyDeleteWhereas the rest of us probably fit into the role of story tellers in the local ale house, passing on the news and gossip to hungry ears, occasionally providing the odd embellishment, perhaps for a jug of the latest brew, but always looking for a new story to tell that had never been heard before.
Oh, and they didn't need a code of conduct then, and we don't need one now.
May be you should ask some politicos for their definitions - that would be interesting
ReplyDeleteI am fairly new to this but its great, it’s given me back the discipline of writing for pleasure not for the demands of my job, it’s made me think and discuss more as I used to. Its stopped me watching soaps and yes it is a forum for democracy You better known bloggers really do keep the spin doctors and king makers on their toes Its a bit like a civil opposition party for every party I hope it grows and I so hope more women can be tempted into the foray.
It’s also a great way of getting the younger generation into seeing politics as interesting and something they can participate in. They can have a voice, which when I first put my foot into joining a political party at the tender age of 17 in a Valleys constituency in Wales, I really didn’t have – young and a woman – I was welcomed to make the tea, I wanted to make policy and change the world, PG tips and hot water just didn’t do it for me
So blog on world
I definitely fit into the 3rd category!!!
ReplyDeleteNone of these 'definitions' is adequate and none of them make sufficient reference to the interaction of blogs. Isn't the whole essence that blogs act as an exchange of views, whereas other forms of 'communication' are almost entirely one way?
ReplyDeleteI think Ianp's alehouse analogy is pretty apt. The sorts of conversations held in blogs are very similar. Sometimes irrelevant, usually irreverent, irresponsible, irrational and often entertaining.
It's the one area of modern communications which has genuinely benefitted so many. I welcome it.
#3 for me!
ReplyDeleteGlad he didn't mention blog (v) - a terrible result of the lazy (dare I say American-driven) habit of turning nouns into verbs.
I would have thought that all 3 could apply and for that matter none are mutually exclusive. The blog I visit most often is this one (and no this is not Iain in disguise) and I think I would say that there are elements of all 3 on display here.
ReplyDeleteI'm inclined to be somewhat sceptical about the second part of the second definition - my guess if that blogging etc will affect/influence the relationships between politicians and citizens rather than transform them.
all three apply of course
ReplyDeleteI would love to discuss this, Iain. Any time you're ready.
ReplyDeleteSo long as Tessa Jowell keeps her greedy New Labour paws off them, a blog will be a place to cut loose and express our unhappiness with Father state.
ReplyDeleteLong may that continue.