Miles Writer

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Kill Your Blog?

Posted in October 21st, 2008

So suggests Paul Boutin in this article for Wired magazine.

The choice quote: “Twitter — which limits each text-only post to 140 characters — is to 2008 what the blogosphere was to 2004.”

11 users commented in " Kill Your Blog? "

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Neve Black said,

in October 22nd, 2008 at 6:58 am

Interesting article from the writer that lives in the once cutting edge IT world of the Silicon Valley – now considered passe.

It may not be hip and vogue to blog in 2008, like it was in 2004 (insert music by Prince), however the connections I’ve made with other writers and editors has help to catapult my writing career into the what’s important, the here and now.

Blogging helps us stay in touch – keeps us wired into a stream of different thoughts. Perfectly written words should be saved for poetry readings.

Miles said,

in October 22nd, 2008 at 7:38 am

You’re right, it does have the air of Silicon Valley hipness to it, and the bemoaning of the loss of supposed purity of blogs. But that’s an age-old story, kind of like the kids who listen to music considered alternative and underground and then feel let down when those artists begin having some commercial success and more people know about them and listen to them.

Even though I just started this blog in July, I feel the same way you do; that it’s a way to stay in touch with other like-minded people that I’d otherwise not meet. Not to mention the challenge of posting interesting content every so often.

Neve Black said,

in October 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 am

Oh, f**k. I might be one of those that listened to cool and hip alternative grunge music (I lived in Seattle in the late 80’s and early 90’s) and was soured when Alice and Chains sold out. “Noooo, not Lane Staley…” Were the words on my lips as my heart sunk.

I guess those that live in glass houses…right?

Miles said,

in October 22nd, 2008 at 8:52 am

Well… I’m not that far behind. I thought the same thing with Metallica in the late 80s/early 90s. When the Black album came out, I was appalled, especially when I saw kids in Florida on Spring Break dancing (yes, DANCING) to Enter Sandman. I thought “That’s it, the world as I know it has come to an end.”

AIC was a great band, though…

Neve Black said,

in October 22nd, 2008 at 9:09 am

You know John E. is speaking today on blogging at a COSE meeting. I wonder what his thoughts will be after reading the article above.

Hmmm….

Miles said,

in October 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 am

That’s right, he is. He’ll weigh in, for sure…

andy said,

in October 23rd, 2008 at 8:55 am

People like Paul Boutin are obsessed with the next new thing. And that’s OK. Now that blogging is no longer shiny and new he’s moving on. (BTW many people thought that article was flame bait.)
Personally I think blogs will be around for awhile. They’re like your house on the net. A place to store your big stuff in a world of text messages and tweets.

Miles said,

in October 23rd, 2008 at 3:34 pm

I like the house metaphor a lot.

I guess being out in Silicon Valley kind of conditions you to look out for the next Big Thing.

andy said,

in October 24th, 2008 at 11:11 am

I like visiting your “house”.

Miles said,

in October 24th, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Well, your “house” aint so bad itself… especially the one with Italian pomegranate soda…

John Ettorre said,

in October 28th, 2008 at 11:55 am

Neve and Miles,
Funny you should mention this article. I printed it out and it was among my stack of stuff I was going to cite in my COSE panel presentation. I didn’t get time to take issue with it specifically (and I’ll post the podcast of that entire session when it’s available soon), but I was thinking specifically about this silly piece when I invited people to stop trying to simply chase trends and fads, but instead do something real and meaningful, and stick with it. And a good blog, like any quality piece of writing, is worth doing and worth reading when done well. And it doesn’t remotely matter what year you’re doing it, just that you’re doing it, and that people are reading it. I say let the insecure folks worry about whether or not something is hip, vogue, or whatever. Real writers with something to say will keep writing, and blogs are an important part of that mix. And I say this as someone who started blogging daily waaaay back in…2003. It does seem a very long time ago. But I wouldn’t trade the experience (yes, especially including the many wonderful relationships that have flowed from it) for anything.