Author’s Note: Technagora is going off-topic once again today, this time for a good purpose. I need to address my concern about some bad practices that I see currently plaguing the blogosphere.
I’ve grown frustrated with the increasingly mind-numbing pastime of reading blogs. Everyday, my Google reader is overflowing with blogposts, most of which I have no choice but to “mark as read.” What is often touted as the modern-day equivalent of relaxing with the morning paper has devolved into a repetitive process: select a feed, scan more headlines than my brain can realistically process, clear out the feed until the reader is satisfactorily emptier than it was when I started (I never even zero it out anymore). However, I’ve noticed that a “Quantity-over-Quality” pandemic seems to have infected the blogs I read. I see too many short, insubstantial, forgettable posts, and too few analytical, organized write-ups. My concern is the very large number of posts which have unoriginal content, little informational value, and are over-reliant on hyperlinks. Many bloggers are guilty of either 1) saying the same damn thing as twenty other bloggers, (frequent “hat-tipping”) 2) extensively using blockquotes to simulate a point-counterpoint-style response to another blogger, or 3) abusing the blockquote by copy+pasting another article, and capping it off with a pithy closing remark. Also, link lists are a particularly grating format of blogpost that I must also address.
I see a lot of posts that take an issue or current event and offer the author’s commentary, and often the same arguments that all the other bloggers have already written. Whether or not the author is doing this intentionally (or knowingly), the result is that I end up reading almost the same post in four or five different feeds. This is where the “hat tip” is most often utilized. When you see “hat-tip,” it means one of two things: either the individual receiving the tip has notified the author of blog-worthy news that few other bloggers have heard yet, or the author has pulled a story from another blog and is attepmting to put their own “spin” on it. Writing about a hot topic requires a fresh angle, or an analysis of a certain aspect that’s been overlooked. Regurgitating standard arguments just doesn’t cut it.
Another tedious post format is the simulated point-by-point counterargument. This format includes a long blockquote, usually written by an “intellectual adversary,” broken into pieces by the author’s interjected arguments. The author’s arguments are typically littered with links pointing to either documented evidence supporting their claim, or more likely posts they’ve previously written on the subject. Again, a lot of repeated material, and seemingly no thought given to constructing a compelling, well-organized argument. An essay response to an article, or an op-ed piece is not written this way – blog posts should not be, either. This is just plain and simple bad form.
One of the lazier kinds of posts I’ve seen is the long-blockquote/quick-closer formula. These posts take the form of “So-and-so over at (Hyperlinked blog name) has this to say about (some current event): [Long blockquote followed by author's short and unconvincing analysis, an appeal to please 'read the whole thing,' or a clever closer].” These posts are, let’s be honest, completely redundant and unnecessary. There’s no real content to them. If it weren’t for the fact that every damn blogger uses this format all the time to link to a usually well-known blog, I would be much more forgiving. However, if I cared about what so-and-so had to say, I would read his blog. Already-prominent bloggers don’t need free advertising; save the linking for up-and-comers.
Finally, I’ve got a bone to pick with link orgies. You know, when the author compiles a list of “interesting” or “relevant” things they’ve read that morning. I have friends and bloggers whom I respect who use this format – I’ve even tried it myself – but it just doesn’t do it for me. These virtual feed-readers-within-feed-readers could be of value if the author includes short and concise summaries, or even humorous remarks, regarding said links; most often, they’re literally a list of hyperlinks. The author is essentially increasing the already unmanageable number of stories delivered to my reader! The nerve!!!
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Blogging an amusing picture, chart, or other graphic is great! Some of the funniest pictures I’ve seen have been on blogs. Videos should ideally be short, preferably with a summary (more than just “Trust me, it’s a hoot”). Finally, if you simply MUST do the list of links, please include a concise, yet compelling description for the page you’re linking – don’t just tell me what it is, tell me why I would want to read it.
I confess, I’ve been guilty of all of the above offenses at Technagora. I’m still a novice in the blogosphere, and in fact, I originally started blogging because I hoped that it would improve my writing. However, I’ve realized that a lackadasical approach to blogging will only make me a worse writer. That is why I’m making a declaration tonight to end these bad blogging practices, and to hold Technagora to a higher standard. Things will be changing around here. No more echoing other bloggers, no more abuses of blockquotes. No more heavy reliance on hyperlinks. No more posts that lack content (or at least base entertainment value). My weekly post-count may decline, but I’d rather expend my efforts each month writing a couple of good pieces that I can be proud of, rather than be prolific each week with a few listless, passing commentaries.
Before wrapping up this post, I’d like to give credit to some good bloggers whom I recommend:
Tyler Cowen and Megan McArdle are both very good writers and analysts, (though both are guilty of employing the quantity-over-quality approach, with too many short/link-y/inconsequential posts), Gene Healy, Tim Harford, PolicyBeta, Will Wilkinson, and my current favorite, Agoraphilia. I’ve noticed that the blogs I love the most tend to post the least. When the authors do post, they don’t just rehash the same old material that all the other bloggers have been writing about. Rather, they write engaging, analytical, substantive pieces that provide the authors’ reasoned insights into an issue, and I know exactly what to take away from the post. I wish I could say the same for the rest of my reader feeds.
