Is the Blogosphere One Big Bitch Fest?
posted by Helen at 7:35 PM
Sunday, March 25, 2007
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27 Comments:
I think it depends on what you read. Certainly a lot of us post about things we see in the media that make us less than happy. The Gun Blogosphere I think tends to be more bitchy than others, because being under constant attack by the media and certain politicians tends to make you feel that way after a while :)
But spend time reading Captain's Quarters, The Belmont Club, or In From the Cold, and many many other blogs too numerous to name, and one can hardly walk away with the sense the blogosphere is just about people bitching. People blogging about things they have actual expertise in provides for much better material than one can ever hope to get from the main stream media.
I would hope that the blogosphere is, in the bitchier times, a healthy outlet for venting...if it becomes only that it's tiresome to read.
It's a little like driving your car and being cut off in traffic...sometimes you honk, sometimes you give them the finger, sometimes you just roll your eyes, sometimes you wish you could shoot flames from your eyes, and sometimes you just turn the radio up loud and sing some Motown and calm yourself...or you do all of the above in the span of a minute and a half.
I answered "yes" but I think it's more complex than yes or no. Clearly there are a lot of dissatisfied people in the world. Yes, I'm one of them, because I'm REALLY tired of other people trying to tell me what I can or can't do. The rules of society are way to complex and should be simplified greatly. I believe that would lead to much more happiness, at least for rational people. As for the busy-bodies who want to prescribe everything from food to toilet habits, well, they are useless. They have too much free time on their hands. It's time they got a job. Cleaning toilets perhaps?
IMHO most activity on the web takes one of three forms:
1)I agree with you! You are a genius!
2)I don't agree with you but you make a good argument.
3)I disagree with you! You moron! Let me tell you why...
Of these three categories, I think it is reasonable to assume that the post you are least likely to make is the first. The web/blog post is by nature analogous to raising an objection in a personal conversation. If you agree with someone you generally nod, say amen, or otherwise make affirmative but brief comments. If they hold a view different from yours but one that is not an outright assault on your ethics, dignity, or world view, you are more inclined to acknowledge the merit of their position in a similarly brief fashion. However, in the last case, where you disagree strongly with the other party's stated views, you have a debate. In our emasculated, post-modern, politically correct world, debating someone is often considered arrogant or worse bigoted, especially if you happen to believe in such outdated notions as right and wrong, or personal accountability for one's actions.
In conclusion then, the answer to your poll is - Yes. Most internet commentary is bitchy by today's standards, but I would choose option 3 or 4 on the poll. I would need additional information on your point of view to make a final judgement between those two.
I do believe that much of the internet is a bitchfest. I have my own blogs that bitch about the treatment our family has received at the hands of the Pechanga Tribe of Temecula. They have disenrolled over 25% of the tribe in order to increase their per capita payments. In our case, Pechanga's own hired expert proved we were Pechanga. They paid him, then IGNORED his findings and disenrolled 130 of us.
http://blog.myspace.com/paulinahunterofpechanga
Only NBC found it newsworthy and it was one of their HOTTEST investigative reports....
When I first started blogging two years ago, it was tempting to focus a lot on the same political issues that everyone seems to be focused on. But that's just "kindergarten soccer": you know, where all the kids all try to kick the soccer ball in one big mob instead of spreading out and covering the field.
So many bloggers focus on whatever is the big political issue of the day. This naturally leads to a focus on high level politicians who, in my opinion, are overrated in terms of their importance to the sum total of everything going on in the world.
I put most of my efforts into a very limited area of investing that almost no one covers. I routinely "turn over rocks" that have never been turned over in any sort of online commentary. I believe it's much more productive and effective (not to mention less stressful) to stay away from the noise. And I believe the future of blogging will be in the niches rather than the large generalized areas.
I voted "You say that like it's a BAD thing!" without thinking too much about it other than the choice was funny.
But upon further reflection, that's really true. At the very least, it's valuable to see the depths people can sink to - in my case, seeing the extreme left. I was truly shocked - and still am. Then again, maybe I was just naive and led a sheltered life.
Jim C.
zgystardst -at- yahoo /dot/ com
I agree with Bell Peschel. It's all about the attitude you bring to the internet. That's probably also the attitude you bring to life. If you see life as a bitter pill to swallow, the internet will be just one more place to vent.
I chose "This poll sucks! You're an idiot!", but only because I rarely get that option.
Now I feel bad because you're actually a nice lady.
It is a feast of narcissism. Some bitching, some ranting but most of the blogging is narcisstic.
Note the Time magazine person of the year...you. And a mirror to admire yourself. If that is not the ultimate in narcissism then...
I like the informative or newsier blogs best, the ones like Instapundit that point the reader to interesting items. Maybe a lot of posts on some blogs are "vents", but the bitchfests really come in the comment section, and because I'm not "in" or one of the regulars, I find the comments generally tedious and/or moronic.
Except here, of course.
Dr. Helen,
You've touched on this subject in prior excellent posts, and it's given me time to think about it. I'm not sure whether it's anonymity that gives people permission to act poorly or the feeling they can act without suffering any consequences.
These may seem like the same thing but I don't think they are. For instance, I've worked for lawyers and judges in my life. There are people who act like perfect ladies and gentlemen toward the judge or the lawyer, but have no problem verbally abusing the secretaries and support staff. I've seen the same thing happen with doctors and their receptionists, and with restaurant owners and busboys.
In each of these instances, the abuser wasn't anonymous but s/he felt they could get away with acting in an abysmal fashion toward the little folks. I suspect the same people who act this way in their everyday lives also act that way on the internet. In addition, there may be other people who act out on the internet for the same reason - because they think they can do it without consequences. At the most basic level, it's about personal frustration and self-control.
Who reads print media anymore? All they do is bitch about bloggers?
I answered yes ...
A) The internet seems to be a place of bad manners. Why? Well, I really have no firm idea ... lot's of opinions, but nothing firm.
B) The blogs allow discussion of ideas that would not normally fit into the mainstream press.
c) Very few bloggers or blog-commneters are skilled in writing. This leaves us open to saying things in ways which give a false impression of real feelings. Miscommunication is quite common.
I'm with WP. I hit the "idiot" one too. Some are relentlessly bitchy like this one (which is on my "weapons grade crazy" list), but very few are actually that stridently bitchy about anything.
The best of course know how to bitch about something and make it funny and entertaining rather than akin to a Clockwork Orange Droogy reprogramming session.
I agree with jc's statement of miscommunication. But one does not have to be "skilled" in writing to have an opinion anymore than a degree in journalism gives one a balanced and open point of view, or capability of reporting the facts as they are, without some sort of agenda. Blogs are a relatively new place to let anyone speak. Good, bad, or indifferent.
I voted no, though. For there is a taste of all emotions on the web blogs. Common and non sense.
There is a lot of humor conveyed across the blogs - the liberal position on most things, for instance. Sean Penn's latest, the idiots in Portland.
On second thought, I don't know of anyone who could have watched that video without some sort of feeling gnawing at them in the back of their mind that something is wrong here. I did love the Al Queda masks and hoodies effect. I am sure that won over even more wingers. Hopefully, all that participated in that are visiting their dentists today, getting their teeth fixed.
I think it depends what you are wanting to read. Over all though, I think you can get a better and more honest perspective about issues in general then through the media or personal superficial contacts. Peopel open up a lot more on the net because it seems safer to do so.
Just one question: Why do you continue to read this trash like Allure, Cosmo, etc?
Because reading trash is fun? I love those horrid trashy British tabloids because the utter shamelessness amuses me, especially when you compare it to the snobbery in the broadsheets.
Anyway.
Reading blog comments over the past few years has pretty firmly convinced me that we need to bring back rhetoric and debate classes in schools.
I picked "You say that like it's a bad thing!", but only because that was the closest choice to how I feel. My true feelings are somewhere between there an "Yes".
I think it's great that the blogosphere gives us all an effective way to have our voices heard by such a large audience. If bitching is what you do best (and let's face it, that's true for a lot of people), I say let 'er rip!
Personally, I bitch when I blog every now and then, but I try to keep it on the lighter side and usually end up writing on things that amuse me or a conversation I've recently had with a friend.
Although I do read "bitchy" blogs, I tend to favor those that are positive and/or interesting instead over negativity. The choice is pretty easy for me. If the blog seems to be authored by a person I would like to have a cup of coffee with, I'll read it. If not, I don't.
Many blogs seem that way, because blogs are quintessentially opinion and/or personal style pieces. Other people's opinions that don't match velocities with your own are either bitchy, stupid, or 'redikeless'
Some of the blogs on the left strike me as digital Nuremberg rallies. Maybe bitchy as well.
If you think the blogosphere is a bitchfest, you should follow the email wars in the recent LA Times meltdown (patterico.com)! It's quite delicious--I'm wondering who's going to be first to appear on a talk show and start crying.
Patricia
Any magazine that would have a horoscope on their front page would be off-limits for me.
Bitches;
stop bitchin, n bloggin,stop wastin ur time. Get out of the puter u lonely souls.{GO FISH}have fun. The fish dont complain like u dudes. Hook em n cook em.
End of story.
luv ya
lil fishy:)
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