Blogs - What do You Think?

[Soybomb]

Thats fine by me, some people don't like blogs in their search results. Google already seperates groups from web pages, and I use them both so if they seperate them, I would just use the appropriate search for the job like I do now.

 

[Oaf357]

But when would searching blogs ever benefit?

 

[hjo3]

What's with all the questions, Oaf357? You sound like my high school English teacher when she'd try to get a bunch of apathetic students to participate in a discussion. Are you writing an article or something?

But, to answer:

> So it's kinda like reality TV to a degree? So is that why blogs have become incredibly popular recently?

I'd compare it more to something like the Bridget Jones books. It's not the fact that they're real that's so interesting...

A good blog can be really fantastic though, especially if not many ppl read it. If you have a question, or want to know why the author did something, or want to comment, you can actually e-mail the "main character." I find that really cool... I mean, wouldn't you love it if you could pull someone out of a movie and ask them why they're doing what they're doing in a particular scene?

I'll admit, it's not something that appeals to everyone, but I find it entertaining.

 

[Oaf357]

Originally posted by: hjo3
Are you writing an article or something?

Actually, yes, I will be.

Interaction is good but still you can e-mail or IM anyone at any time regardless of the web site. If it's a small time web site you'll get a response.

 

[Soybomb]

Originally posted by: Oaf357
But when would searching blogs ever benefit?

If I'm looking for other peoples input on a particular subject or issue. It would be like searching a gigantic forum. Its a way to get a unique perspective. You might find official reviews on a restaurant or movie, but sometimes you just want to see what other people think (much the same reason you'd visit a forum, mailing list, usenet, or irc).

Also have you ever just browsed the web out of boredom before with no particular goal in mind but just seeing what was out there? Blogs could provide some interesting read for those times even.

Interaction is good but still you can e-mail or IM anyone at any time regardless of the web site. If it's a small time web site you'll get a response.

I don't get why you feel they have to be competitive or exclusive mediums. They could in fact be quite complimentary. You might email someone because of a post in their blog. Also the im/email is a private conversation. Sometimes you want an open communication session. Notice for example how we're on a forum now and you're not emailing me questions. People are free to pick up and go off my points, and I can work off theirs. Its open and collaborative. That may not suit all your needs or even interest you, but for some people it does have its merits.

I hope you'll post the article when its done. Then I can give you feed back in an interactive fashion where others will be free to join in and voice their opinions of my critiques and your responses You sound quite biased against blogs so far though so I do hope it has...journalistic integrity

 

[Oaf357]

I wouldn't say I'm against blogs. I'm kinda playing devils advocate in this case. Blogs are good if they serve a unique, informative purpose. One thing I'm definitely against is useless content.

So far though, your pro-blog stance hasn't really struck a chord with me. In a sense you've proven that blogs are essentially someones personal forum. There are very few forums in the world that actually have merit, which is why so many forums fail. The same might hold true with blogs (lack of interaction leads to their death).

 

[Soybomb]

But thats the thing, your useless content may be hours of great reading for someone else. Not everyone is looking for the same thing when they surf.

How about the non-informative blog. Ever read books? You don't learn something from all of them. Some are fictional, some are biographical. Some are just all about political commentary. Would you throw all the books in the library away that are genres you aren't interested in?

So while I like the interaction, sometimes they're just a medium for a person to tell a story. You can't say thats without merit just because you don't care to read that type of thing.

Incidently the most popular forum here is nothing but people rambling and talking about nothing in general. Our forum with all the useful information contained within has about 1/17th the number of posts in Off Topic. Even if you don't participate in off topic and think it doesn't have unique and informative content, you can't say its worthless.

 

[Oaf357]

Worthless content in this case would be duplicate content. Content that can be found elsewhere from more authoritative sources.

By the way, one of the most popular TV shows was about nothing. It was the cast that made that somewhat interesting though. The OT forum is only as good as the people posting in it. As is a blog.

 

[Soybomb]

If someone is writing about their life and thoughts chances are thats not going to be duplicate content and there isn't a more authoratitive source.

Quit thinking of the internet as a academic journal or technical manual. There's going to be content here that isn't going to have a deep or high purpose, but it doesn't have to either to be worth something to someone. That person may not always be you though.

 

[Oaf357]

I don't think you understand what I'm trying here.

I totally agree that blogs have a purpose and can often be a great resource.

I'm trying to get you to prove more points by appearing to be anti-blog.

 

[Soybomb]

I don't see any other points to prove though

I'll leave the debate for now though, I'm turning my attention to nessus and the bad movie on tv for now

 

[Oaf357]

Good luck with nessus. It's truly an awesome tool.

Anyone else got anything to say about blogs?

 

[Mucman]

Oaf357, interesting question, and an interesting location for posting

I do not visit "blog" sites that are personal diaries. I do however see how they appeal to blog makers... I just recently went to
Toronto for a wedding and found myself writing every night about my adventures in my forum. I sort of like the fact that I can
just send people that thread instead of having to tell the same stories 50 times.

If you click on the link in my sig, I am sort of making my own website. It won't be a blog though... it will be more of a portal with
lots of RSS feeds. I will also have a sub-section that will be blog-like, but it will be a month by month type thing.

My main motivation for my site is to learn web-design and web standards. I'm so used to tool programming that this is a new
thing for me, and I am having fun doing it... I definitely would not have gotten the same reward out if it if I used a "just add
water" premade blog.

Hmm... I don't think I really made any sense there, nor did I really answer any of your questios... probably time for some more
coffee

 

[Oaf357]

Blogs Explained

Article written. Thanks to everyone involved in the discussion. Feel free to comment on the article if you'd like.

 

[Mucman]

3rd paragraph "No one has to know more than how the use their favorite web browser to setup and contribute" Should
be "No one has to know more than how to use their favorite web browser to setup and contribute "

You've definitely captured many of the popular opinions about blogs. I personally don't really care if people have them, because
it's not like they are forcing traffic. I didn't know that search engines filter out blogs though. I guess that's a good thing because
you are right that there is a lot of duplicate or bad information out there on these blogs.

Perhaps your next article should be the rise of RSS

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Oaf357
Blogs Explained

Article written. Thanks to everyone involved in the discussion. Feel free to comment on the article if you'd like.

Read your page, nice and clear and good analysis.

However once the so called Blog will develop into what you hope for, it will not be a Blog any more.

As an example:

If one asks: Will the Horse stay as a mean of transportation?

You can not say: ?Yes but it will be developing into a Car?. Once it developed into a Car it is not a Horse anymore.

Quote: ?One can only hope the fad wears away into factual, meaningful, worthwhile mountains of content that would be available to the world.?

Once the above takes place, it is not any more: ?a web page made up of usually short, frequently updated posts that are arranged chronologically?

In other words, something else might evolve out of the transitional Blog phenomenon but it isn?t going to be a Blog.

 

[JackMDS]

oops!

 

[Soybomb]

Cool to read, thanks for posting it. Now for the criticism

Someone might not even have to know how to write HTML and could easily start a blog. Someone might not know a single thing about web page design and can start a blog. The fact that a language had to be learned to create a personal home page kept their numbers under control to a certain extent. No one has to know more than how the use their favorite web browser to setup and contribute to a weblog in some cases. This has made them popular but this has also given blogs a bad rap because anyone, even the thirteen year old down the street, can have a blog.

At this point someone doesn't have to know html to write a webpage either. They can also fire up a browser and use its integrated tools to easily whip up a home page. Ease of setup for both is about on the same track. Also to you and I what the 13 year old has to say isn't too importantn, but other people use the net. To another 13 year old reading it might be pretty cool and interesting, far more interesting than some dry stuffy thing I'd have to say about politics for example.

Another reason blogs have gotten a bad name is because of the excessive ranting and raving and unsupported opinions that can often be found in them. Ranting about your experience with the cashier at your local grocery store could benefit people frequenting that store but rarely benefits anyone but the person writing the rant as a form of stress relief.

Actually, from the recreational reading stand point, people going off on whats frustrating them is classic comedy material. About half the comments people have left for me have in response to a brief rant on telemarketers. Ever read jonyguru or windoggs stories about customers/coworkers in off topic for example? Simple rants, and while theraputic to them, often hilarious reading for others.

 

[Oaf357]

Soybomb,

Thanks for the criticism put you're still missing the point of that comment (I knew you would tee up on it when I wrote it). Most tools you refer to offer to show you HTML as well as your WYSIWYG view, so eventually you'll look at HTML. Also, how do you get that page on your hard drive to your web site? FTP or SSH, definitely not as easy as clicking, "Submit".

Actually, from the recreational reading stand point, people going off on whats frustrating them is classic comedy material. About half the comments people have left for me have in response to a brief rant on telemarketers. Ever read jonyguru or windoggs stories about customers/coworkers in off topic for example? Simple rants, and while theraputic to them, often hilarious reading for others.

I usually don't scour the web looking for something to do. The Internet is more of a tool for me than a toy. Sorry, I don't agree with you on that point and reading rants for comedic value is not my idea of fun.

I appreciate the critique.

Mucman,

Thanks for pointing that out to me. It's now fixed.

JackMDS,

Ah, but blogs can stay the same and still provide gobs of meaningful content. The horse didn't become the car, the buggy did. The blog won't become the content, the writer will put it there.

 

[basara318]

Personally i think its a great way for you and your friends to keep in touch. i have friends who moved to different countries and my blog is a way for them to see whats going on in my life. you dont have to read it and it certainly is more valuable than SPAM.