TechWire writes: For dull, repetitive reportage, stick with the blogs. Somewhat ironic considering that’s the second post on that blog made decrying the Irish blogging scene as “crap” or “dull”. You have to ask though – what is TechWire (and by extension, Damien Mulley and TwentyMajor) expecting from blogging? There are a lot of blogs … Continue reading “H is for ipocrisy”
TechWire writes:
For dull, repetitive reportage, stick with the blogs.
Somewhat ironic considering that’s the second post on that blog made decrying the Irish blogging scene as “crap” or “dull”.
You have to ask though – what is TechWire (and by extension, Damien Mulley and TwentyMajor) expecting from blogging?
There are a lot of blogs I simply don’t read. It’s not because I disagree with their opinions – I’d rather read something opinionated and disagreeable and respond to it directly. But, as I said, there’s a lot I don’t read. But considering that one of those blogs I don’t read is TwentyMajor, which has been a multiple-winner of the Irish Blog Awards, what the hell do I know about what makes a good blog. (and if you must know, I just didn’t find it that funny – there’s only so many times in this world that swearing is funny and I tired of tall tales and bad puns). But these are the A-listers so what the fuck do I know about what makes a good blog.
More than anything, we promote figures like Scoble or Calacanis to prominence by following them. We create their egos. And yes, there’s the Irish A-list scene (almost an oxymoron in itself) which we’re promoting to prominence. At the end of the day, who the fuck is TechWire? As Will Knott Joe Drumgoole commented when TechWire described the Irish blogging scene as “crap”:
This is what the net news groups used to call “flame bait”. The same tired old question can and has been asked of every information medium (new and old) and is essentially lazy journalism of the worst kind.
Bravo, Joe.
I think the A-listers, and TechWire (as the unwitting Troll) are putting unreasonable expectations out there. Most bloggers are not there to entertain, they’re writing because something needs said. The beauty of the internet is that it’s a great leveller. Anyone can talk.
Want a dissenting view on orthodox middle-class views of current affairs (US invasions, urban planning, health issues, gender issues etc)? Don’t look to Irish blogs: they largely sing off the same standard-issue hymn sheet (with one or two exceptions).
Idiocy. Go to any cross section of the blogosphere in any country and you’ll see perhaps 1% of the population tackling the really thorny issues. So, what, we want more Latte heroes? I don’t blog much about US politics because I’m inundated with that shit on the OSX-Nutters mailing list (where there seems to be an insanely high amount of discussion of US politics). The other topics only become topics when they affect someone I know. Look at the abortion topic (which steered into the “Why Iris Robinson hasn’t been removed from office” topic – which I’ve been as restrained as I can about, mainly because I’d have to Godwin myself if I went any further).
I can’t go to the newspapers for anything interesting because the coverage they give to things I’m interested is either scarce, misinformed or paid-for. No go. Blogs provide much more.
My only concern about the Irish blog scene is that with the beginnings of emancipation – where the blogs of Californian super-egos are deprecated – there are those attempting to fill the niche. Newflash: We don’t need you.
The ultimate irony has to be the TechWire blog. It’s more of a ‘whine’ than my own blog. And that’s something. Where’s the value? For gods sake, yes, let us rid the Irish Blog scene of useless blogs. Starting right there.
