Comment on blogs and blogging.

[randomness]

Michael Gartenberg of Jupiter Media says in http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Microsoft-Clears-Space-for-Bloggers-38606.html (a story on why Microsoft's release of MSN Spaces is no big deal):

"'Web logs as an activity require diligence and commitment and a burning desire to say something and tell it to the world. That's why it's just not a mainstream activity,' he said.

"'Most people don't create content, they consume content, and we have a word for them: consumers. Far more people want to read others' content than create their own.'"

I don't disagree with Gartenberg--either about the release of MSN Spaces essentially being a non-event, or that most people are consumers--but I never particularly thought of blogging as requiring much diligence or commitment.

I'm just somewhat surprised that blogging is characterized as something requiring anything but the ability to froth at the keyboard. Always seemed to me to be a pretty low bar.

After all, isn't there the stereotype of "some blogger in pajamas" floating around; that doesn't strike me as the image of someone particularly diligent or committed.

Comments

[syzygy.livejournal.com]

Well I think he has a point, but it applies much more to freestanding blogs. With LJ, there's much less effort necessary and with the network system more reward available.

But I think even social blogging, for many people, is more about creating than consuming. The "blogger in pyjamas" stereotype may partially come out of writers who are part of the publication structure being threatened by those who are not so restricted--and use their freedom successfully.