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February 21, 2002
Bloggers are complaining, egotistical freaks who write badly!
You know, I love John C. Dvorak. I really do. He's a great guy. He's funny. He's smart. He's an huge ass (he has one too). I was reading an article (out of sheer boredom and "Biochemawhat? I don't want to study.") I wandered onto this off the tech site I think. Anyway John Curmudgeon Dvorak says:
A recent overlooked Web trend—overlooked by the mainstream media, at least—is the proliferation of public diaries, generically referred to as Blogs....Some people need to be the center of attention. It makes them feel good about themselves to tell the world what important things they've been doing and what profound thoughts they've been having...You get to read a lot of complaining in these logs. If you think I'm a complainer, oh boy!...A lot of people want to be published writers. Blogs make it happen without the hassle of getting someone else to do it or having to write well ....Well, the great John C. has spoken and apparently all of us all are complaining, depressed social misfits with huge egos and bad writing skills. Ok, I have to agree with some of those accusations. I'll let you decide which ones.
I want to turn this back around on John C. I don't know if he does anymore but he used to host a discussion show called "Silicon Spin" on Tech TV where he would basically share his opinion with the world. He also publishes opinions in places like PC Magazine. Why? Is his opinion so different than everyone else? Why did he want to become a columnist? Is it to tell the world his "important" opinions? It's all about ego for most writers, no matter how bad or good they may be. The kettle shouldn't insult the pot for being black.
The web is, and has been since it's been "mainstream," all about ego. John mentions vanity pages. They were the most popular medium on the web a few years back. Why pick apart something that makes the web turn round? If it weren't for personal vanity, half of the really great sites on the web wouldn't be here. Yahoo basically started out as a way for one guy to list his favorite sites. Ebay was set up to sell one person's pez dispensers. IMDB was someone's hobby. All of these can be traced back to ego, vanity and looking out for number one. I think all sites can be. I know all of mine can.
Anyway, he doesn't say blogging is bad. He just insulted me a bit so I had to share my worn out, badly written opinion. What he says may true for some (or most) blogs but it's not true for them all. I can't tell you how many times I've read a blog where all the person has to say is "I had a sandwich for lunch." "Hey, I broke my nail." I also can't tell you how many I've read that were truly interesting, funny, original and wonderful pieces of art. It's not just the big names in blogging either. There are small sites all over that haven't been discovered by the masses yet. GREAT sites. People who are much better writers than Mr. Dvorack. Then there are the average blogs (like this one). I think most blogs are "average". The writers aren't Pulitzer quality but they aren't complete idiots either. These are great reads too. Average blogs can be the most interesting, in my opinion, because of their "averageness".
Besides, everyone needs a place to vent (which is what I use my blog for). It makes society a better place. If everyone had a blog and everyone could bitch about the lady who cut them off in the parking lot and the boyfriend who dumped them, everyone would be happier. I think people would be less likely to jump out of their cars and shoot each other. Some things you don't want to share with people you know but you want to share them with SOMEONE. You want to get it off your chest. You want to rant about how pissed you are and how stupid everyone else is.
It is comforting to know someone could possibly be reading your rantings and maybe they might just agree with you.
Posted by vixen at February 21, 2002 07:43 PM
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Comments
Okay, I'm sick of looking for the place where I can comment on Flay. I'm putting it here. Somebody tell me who the slutty girlfriend is. I'm unemployed and have lots of time to read details.
After we're done trashing her I'd like to go after his wardrobe. Can somebody explain the shirts?
Lustra
Since this is one of the better blogs out there (yes, it is -- believe it or not)..there would be no reason for my satire to apply to YOU. But glad you enjoyed it anyway. I do NOT have a big ass. Sheesh.