Why Blogging Matters

In the last few days, I have been thinking about the so called blog revolution. What is its purpose and raison d'etre and does it really matter? Worse, do people care?

The last bit is an elusive rhetorical question to which I won't attempt to rationalize. People don't care about a lot of things. Gauging and studying people's behaviour is a forever changing dynamic. We still don't know what is the psychological profile and preferences of a supermarket shopper with any authority. People are, well, weird.

'Blog' is such an ugly word. It's a name given to an alien in an Ed Wood film. Or on The Simpsons - Kodos, Kang and Blog together again! And yes, there are many, many, many awful, irrelevant and not-so well presented blogs in the blogosphere. It's filled with nonsense and stupidities.

Yet, there are many excellent ones too. And this is where we should focus our energies when we think of blogging. Focusing on the negatives is all too a modern fad. Besides, are there not both great and pathetic journalists out there? Good and bad newspapers? Authors? Blogging is no different.

More importantly, and subjectively, blogging is mutually inclusive and directly compatible with the principles of democracy. It gives a voice to many who have no outlet to express their inner thoughts and ideas. Why should it be restricted to an oligarchy of aristocratic journalists? How many times have we heard about how many journalists "were at the right place at the right time" or were just plain "lucky" with their new jobs?

Let me expand. The last time newspapers expanded in Canada and hired on a big scale was way back in the 80s. For example, all those sports writers who were hired are not retiring soon. So...what to do with people who love to write but have no shot at job security. See where I'm going with this?

This does not to demean the art of journalism in any way. In itself, may bloggers would not cut it as journalists or writers for that matter. Journalists are trained professionals and blogging on this front could never realistically challenge it. Blogging is not a replacement or substitute for journalism. However, many journalists and other accomplished people now blog also.

Blogging is a compliment to journalism. Together they search for "truth" - however one may define this. Where journalism fails (given the sad state of media) blogging can take over. People will allow their perceptions to reinforce their beliefs at the expense of truth everywhere. But blogging is the latest step toward truly democratic environment. One can get information in real time from several different perspectives almost instantly now.

Blogging is the latest step towards a democratic civilization. Traditional media can ignore this but expect to see both print and blog merge in some form one day.

Blogging is also a vehicle by which creative minds can finally express themselves without being at the mercy of a publishing house or corporation. Let freedom reign.

Note: Dedicated to the Parti-Quebecois and L'Office de la Langue Francaise (who would try and silence this blog for being written in English. Too much English on the internet!) and their reactionary ethno-tribal nationalism that hinges on the emotion and rhetoric. The truth will come out. If not already. The fiefdom you seek may still be within grasp but in it you will find the utter banality and contradiction of your existence.