Just a reminder, in case you're interested, that I'm on a panel for Blogging: A Real Conversation? next week. Despite my own admittedly flippant description of what I'll talk about, I think it should be an interesting event. Suw Charman is going to be talking about declining reverence for objectivity, and Adriana Cronin-Lucas is going to talk about breaking the marketers' toolbox so I may settle for nodding in vigorous agreeement.
I think I might ask what we mean by the notion of authority. Often we see authority as being outside ourselves and one of the ways blogging helps to change that is to support the blogger in being the author (note those syllables) of his or her own experience. By writing a blog, we take the opportunity to express our own experience and arguably acknowledge it more. Perhaps we can value blogs not simply because some popular ones become a rival external authority to mainstream media, but also because the act of writing them is a way for anyone to take some authority of their own. If that's not too fancy a philosophical point.
Anyway, if you have £60 to spare and want to come along on 28th June, I'll see you there!
UPDATE: I like the way Paul Goodison riffs on this theme.
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Comments (2)
Congrats on being part of the panel!
Your entry brought up some interesting thoughts for me. Does the very act of blogging create authority, even for ourselves? I think: probably not.
Just as creating a website or writing an article can be total and complete schlock, writing a blog in and of itself means nothing. There are many blogs I have clicked on and have had no interest in marking them as a place to return. Reasons for this may include 1) not taking the time to perfect and express your craft, 2) not delving into your SELF enough to express your unique personality and write about what you have to offer, 3) being a poor writer who isn't trying to improve, and 4) repeating yourself or not taking the time to express your thoughts in an interesting way.
But, an interesting point. That said, I think your blog does a very effective job of providing a forum for you to express your expertise. Thanks for all of the tidbits.
Best, Wendy Maynard
June 22, 2005 22:48 Permalink for comment
Hi Wendy, thanks for your comment and the kind words. I'll try and keep the tidbits flowing.
And yes, the idea of blogs as authoritative in the conventional sense would be quickly undermined if we consider some of the less awesome examples.
I was flying a slightly different kite: that as people find this outlet for their views they have more of an opportunity to publish their experience and perhaps can have a little less reliance on others. That could work regardless of what anyone else thinks of their efforts.
I don't therefore mean that blogs automatically become authoritative for us as readers; but as writers they may change our experience of the world and how we see authority.
June 22, 2005 23:02 Permalink for comment