Deadpoet’s Cave

In the 2nd Jan 2006 issue of The New Paper, reporter Ian Tan gives his “brutally honest” opinion about overrated technology stories. The article, Don’t believe the hype, includes a brief but predictably misguided diatribe about blogs, which I have reproduced below.

Blogs

Blogging is old news.

Individuals have been creating homepages for over a decade now. Blogs are no different, just prettier and easier to use.

But some people keep on harping on about blogs, and worse, treat prominent bloggers like wise gurus, hanging on to their every word or antic.

Blogs are a great way to share ideas, digital content and complaints, but they could fade away like all Internet fads.

Technically speaking, the oldest blogs in the world would be newspaper columnists who have been dishing out opinions for centuries.

The difference is that we actually get paid for our trouble.

First Grace, now Ian.

Where shall I begin? Let’s go in reverse chronological.

The difference is that we actually get paid for our trouble.

In a few short months, reporters have gone from arguing the moral, ethical and intellectual high ground to ‘we get paid, you don’t'? So that must mean that we bloggers must be as intelligent and eloquent as reporters.

Technically speaking, the oldest blogs in the world would be newspaper columnists who have been dishing out opinions for centuries.

Technically speaking, the oldest bloggers in the world would be newspaper columnists who have been dishing out opinions for centuries. Spot the difference.

Blogs are a great way to share ideas, digital content and complaints, but they could fade away like all Internet fads.

As with all articles downplaying blogs and their owners, there must be some concession to the usefulness of blogs. And of course, there’s a but.

But you see, blogs could very well stay. Signs are that they will be here to stay in one form or another. To understand the full potential of blogs and all their Web 2.0 buddies, you have to understand syndication. Reporters evidently don’t.

Blogs must be some great fad though. They’ve been around… oh… four years or more? Definitely not your average pet rock.

But some people keep on harping on about blogs, and worse, treat prominent bloggers like wise gurus, hanging on to their every word or antic.

Who are these unmentionable some people? Perhaps they are reporters who keep on harping on about why blogs are old news? Maybe they are newspapers that splash bloggers’ names and faces on their front pages in the hope of selling more copies? Or newspaper companies who hire bloggers to write for their paper?

Individuals have been creating homepages for over a decade now. Blogs are no different, just prettier and easier to use.

That’s stating the obvious. That’s why so many people start blogging! Not only is it easy, it’s another e: Empowering.

Blogging is old news.

And newspapers are even older news. In more ways than one.

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