What to do, what to do
The broader journalism world is grappling with the same issue we are on abusive comments at blogs. Robert Scoble wrote a few days ago that he was sick and tired of being hammered with negative and rude comments on his blog. He said, "I'm not having fun anymore. It's time to take some time away from the blog."
Now Poynter Institute has asked journalists how they deal with it personally -- given our ability to attract mean-spirited comments -- and what the right thing is to do about them. Comment here or there.
I deal with it by trying to stay on point and disregarding the personal attacks. Sometimes it works; sometimes a margarita works better. Meanwhile, our registration system is coming. That probably won't be enough, but as a first step, it will help.
Comments (9)
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The bloggers need to lighten up and just be happy someone is even reading their blogs.
This nugget earlier this week OF COURSE went unnoticed (or purposely ignored) by those whose job it appears to hype blogs (this paper included):
"Cambridge-based Forrester Research reported yesterday that fewer than 2 percent of Americans who go online read blogs once a week or more.
Strip out the few dozen influential blogs and most of the estimated 5 million U.S. blogs probably enjoy very few readers.
Even among tech-savvy pioneers - those with laptops and WiFi networks in their homes - just 4 percent say they read blogs."
I am so sick of the over-coverage of blogs. Where on Earth is the press scrutiny of this hype?!?!
Here is the story
http://business.bostonherald.com/technologyNews/view.bg?articleid=96366
Of course, the spin on this from the bloggers who undoubtably benefit from blogs being seen as popular/successful will be saying "it's got potential for real growth!"
Posted on August 5, 2005 4:06 PM
I know what you think of our blogs, Jim, and honestly, I'm glad you keep reading this one. I know what the page views of this blog and of all our blogs are and we're happy with their readership. Still, you might enjoy reading this from Editor & Publisher:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/shoptalk_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001009362
Posted on August 5, 2005 5:29 PM
Jim -- Yes, the hype is about possibilities. I liken it to the introduction of the mutual fund, a vehicle that took a tremendously important function out of the hands of entrenched monopolies and put it squarely in the middle of the public arena. There were plenty of snorts and sneers such as yours at the outset -- sooffing at the idea that Joe Lunchbucket would be able to invest ("in his pajamas," presumably.) Today, the introduction of the mutual fund is widely considered the watershed financial event of our times. The best part of my day is spending time with people who have knowledge, experience, and talent that adds to mine. Why are you so threatened by the erection of a scaffolding capable of extending that experience exponentially using online publishing?
Posted on August 6, 2005 8:25 AM
I enjoy the blogs, its the only tool middle of the road are righties have a way to express ourselfs.
Posted on August 7, 2005 7:55 AM
Mr Sun,
I'm not threatened by the blogs. I find the endless unearned hype about them simply annoying and find it unfortunate that the News & Record has invested so much effort into something so when the rest of their website is so lacking.
I think it's great if regular people want to start a blog. I think it's admirable that the News & Record wants to create a public dialogue.
BUT -- and here is the rub -- I think the N&R's blogs so far are pointless. They are more of the same lame stuff that appears in the newspaper written by the same boring, politicaly correct people that shovel us the drab MSM news.
I have said many times I hope they succeed in the overall mission -- I just don't see it happening through blogs from Journalists (capital J intended) who are so uptight, stuffy and out of touch with reality.
Posted on August 7, 2005 6:43 PM
Yet, Jim, you keep coming back to these lame, boring, politically correct, drab, uptight, stuffy, out of touch with reality blogs. How is that?
Posted on August 7, 2005 7:40 PM
I come back because I am slightly interested in making my point(s) to J.R. and to Lex.
I don't visit any of the other blogs.
AND, I'm NOT the person that they should want to reach out to. I am not the person who they want to expand their audience.
Even though they are boring (I can't say I come here to be entertained), these two blogs do offer something unique. I can't think of a time ever in the past a reader could actually make a point and the editor would talk back to a reader like this.
Overall, the blogs here -- so far -- are pointless in expanding the audience of the newspaper and creating a real community dialogue, which I think is the point.
Posted on August 8, 2005 8:33 AM
Jim - You say it's "more of the same lame stuff ... same boring, politically correct people," and yet you're only reading these two blogs?
This is the trouble with being in this business. Journalists can make every conceivable effort to have a diversity of content and a diversity of voices, and some people are still going to harp on the perceived nogoodnik and gripe about him or her.
Posted on August 8, 2005 9:18 AM
What I really want is the ability to automatically "windowshade" the comments of all the individuals that are in my "skip" list, so they don't get in the way anymore.
Clickable - JR's E and P link ("Don't fall for the hype behind inflated blog numbers...") for Jim W.
Posted on August 9, 2005 12:58 AM