Blogging Critics

So, I discovered through my friend Faith at Frighteningly Uncommon Sense (a blog I read regularly) that Brad, over at Bradical Mindspew (a blog I don't read...I sampled it once a couple of years ago, found it rather bland and never went back...sorry) was bemoaning the state of the Kansas City blogosphere.

Apparently, he blames us for his lack of inspiration and creativity.

Here are some of his whinings, er, I'm sorry, I meant to say constructive criticisms:

1. People Who Seem to Have a Site Solely to Make Friends

"...That is kind of how I feel a lot of the KC blogosphere is these days. It’s weird to me, and I feel like a lot of blog postings and inside jokes would be better suited on Myspace or Facebook..."

What the fuck do you care? Don't like 'em, don't read 'em. Didn't know there was a municipal ordinance restricting people who wanted to make friends to just 2 channels of communication.

2. Boring, Uninteresting Information Treated Like It’s Amazing

"...When it comes to these types of posts, you should ask yourself two questions: 1) Will anyone care about this? and 2) Will I, the writer of this post, care to read about this a year from now? If none of those can be answered with a “yes”, please refrain from posting about that topic It’s just a lose/lose situation."

Again, a completely arbitrary publishing standard. In an environment where everyone is able to self-publish to the entire planet, for free, there are no standards. Nor should there be. Write whatever the fuck you want to write about. If someone wants to read it, they will. If they don't, they won't. No harm, no foul.

3. Pointless Quiz Results That Pass as Posts

"...I wish I could say that only 99% of these posts are a waste of time, but I can’t say that in good faith. The statistic is 100%...Let’s face it, if someone posts those quiz results, they’re only doing it to take up space on the blog in hopes that someone will read it and their hit count will be increased."

Who the fuck are you to determine what constitutes "A Post"? For the third time, this is a free medium. People can post whatever they like. Stop fucking reading things you don't like.

4. Looooong Posts That Could Really Be Summed Up in a Sentence
Okay, that's totally me and you are absolutely right. I am one verbose sonofabitch. I suggest you stop reading me too as I am consistently lame and long winded. Hell, I don't like 80% of what I write. I suck donkey balls. You should take me off your blog roll. You should make a post on your blog suggesting that other blogs take me off their blog rolls. I'll even join in the crusade and make a post on my own blog suggesting that other blogs take me off their blog rolls. See? I just used ten sentences to say what could have been said in one.

The point is, the "blogosphere" is full of "Serious Bloggers" looking to forge a blazing, cliche-filled trail through the Earth-Shattering New Medium and thus make a Name for themselves. Most of them use Wordpress and have a vanity .com domain name.

These bloggers love to tell other bloggers "what blogging is all about". They don't go to local "blogger meet ups" to toss back a few drinks and have some laughs, because that would be lame and nerdy. They are too serious and professional for that.

No, they attend National Blogging Conferences and Seminars where Serious Blogging Topics are debated in Panel Discussions, Symposiums and Working Groups. Great Decisions are made and communicated through Press Releases. They like to talk about Standards and Codes of Conduct and Best Practices.

In other words, they are all part of a huge, self-important, pretentious circle jerk.

Look, blogging is about whatever the fuck you want it to be. It is probably the most wide open, unregulated, mass media channel the world has ever seen.

For absolutely no cost whatsoever to you, you can start a blog, write whatever the hell you want, whenever you want, about whatever you want, and make it instantly available to anyone, anywhere in the world with an internet connection and a desire to read what you have written, without any cost to them.

No editors. No publishers. No censors. No middlemen. No boundries.

Just writers and readers, the way God intended.

Nothing like this has ever existed. It's revolutionary. Literally!

So don't listen to anybody (especially me) who tries to tell you what you should or shouldn't be blogging about, what topics are interesting or boring, or "what blogging is all about".

Opinions are like assholes. Everbody has one and they all stink. Except mine. Mine smells like roses and single malt scotch. But I digress.

Write what you want, read what you want. Who gives a flying fuck?

Enjoy!