That's very encouraging but really not true. It's like saying you just need to know how to hold a pen to be a writer... Bloggers, although not held up to the same standards as traditional writers, still need to write well. They also need to have something to say in order to be read.
I supposed the important missing word here is "well". If you want to blog "well", you need to know how to do more than type. Yes, anyone can tell us what they ate for lunch or who they had a crush on. But in many cases, good bloggers are helping readers dig deeper into interesting topics and learn more about new concepts and ideas. I hope I am one of those bloggers, as I explore the concept of The Social Age at www.thesocialage.com.
That statement is a crude way of putting... "most" people can "attempt" to have a voice. I say "most", because the poorest of us is still left out (digital divide, etc).
"Attempt" as the others have said, because its a "marketplace" where the "most" can put their ideas out there and see if anyone (by the grace of Google, etc) cares to find and then cares to consume what the "most" have "attempted" to say.
Unfortunately, this is true. I agree with Saabira, but the difference lies in the fact that bloggers are able to blog for free. They are not held up to any of the same standards that writers are. If a writer can't write then he doesn't get published, if a blogger can't blog then he still has millions of places to "publish" himself at no cost.
I agree with Susanne and Saabira. Coming up with value added content and then being able to present it in a way that resonates with your audience is easier said than done. Most of my blogs are work related and I can say I find that much more challenging than talking about watching Shaq's debut with the Phoenix Suns last night.
Agree with Susanne -- but it all depends on the reasons why one blogs. If a person is blogging for their own personal amusement, "well enough" is completely up to them. Because a blogger posts something out here in the void doesn't mean they intend to be a commercial success; blogging is merely a digital diary, an online journal at its core.
And if blogging is a digital diary at its most fundamental, isn't the premise of Hurst's comment excessively limiting? Not all of us keep journals by typing. Some of us keep recordings or doodlings or some other non-text content. Some of us are unable to type because of personal challenges, whether physical or mental. If anything, Hurst's comment hints at a continuing challenge in Microsoft's culture about accessibility. This has been a thorn in their side when competing with open source software since governments must provide access to all citizens, not merely those who are physically/mentally qualified to use a proprietary software. Shouldn't blogging also be open to every one, regardless of a user's physical/mental limitations, if blogging in the most basic sense is a diary or journaling endeavor?
It does not take much to blog. There are probably millions of blogs out there where the writer just knows how to type.
To be successful and relevant in blogs takes much more than just being able to type.
At first look, most disagree with the idea that "You just need to know how to type to blog". Those who think that may be reframing the question to mean well or successfully. People blog for many different reasons. To do well takes much more than just being able to type.
How would one become better at writing/blogging without practicing the craft?
That's my 2 cents worth... Probably not worth much more ;)
if you are talking about blogging for you and no one else this is like saying 'you just need to know how to write to keep a diary', but honestly, who does that? technically blogging is available to anyone who can type, but the blogosphere thrives on blogs with thoughts, insight, creativity, information and debate. don't just type, please contribute!
I disagreed, but now I'm going to contradict myself. Everyone should and could write -- even if it's just for themselves and their own self-development and -analysis. So anyone should and could blog.
I'd add to Susanne's comment and add the phrase "for others" to her use of the word "well." Blogging doesn't have to be done for an audience, and perhaps there are some better blogs that are done assuming no one is reading them versus that there are readers.
Comments | 12 Total
February 21, 2008 at 7:55am
Saabira ChaudhuriThat's very encouraging but really not true. It's like saying you just need to know how to hold a pen to be a writer... Bloggers, although not held up to the same standards as traditional writers, still need to write well. They also need to have something to say in order to be read.
February 21, 2008 at 8:55am
Susanne GoldsteinI supposed the important missing word here is "well". If you want to blog "well", you need to know how to do more than type. Yes, anyone can tell us what they ate for lunch or who they had a crush on. But in many cases, good bloggers are helping readers dig deeper into interesting topics and learn more about new concepts and ideas. I hope I am one of those bloggers, as I explore the concept of The Social Age at www.thesocialage.com.
February 21, 2008 at 9:30am
m eThat statement is a crude way of putting... "most" people can "attempt" to have a voice. I say "most", because the poorest of us is still left out (digital divide, etc).
"Attempt" as the others have said, because its a "marketplace" where the "most" can put their ideas out there and see if anyone (by the grace of Google, etc) cares to find and then cares to consume what the "most" have "attempted" to say.
However, there are some that have found a way to "scrape", i.e. lift the complete content of someone else's post and put their name on it as author (not the traditional link that gives credit to the actual author)
Compare this "blog"
http://chiggles.bligblog.com/2008/02/12/a-positive-media-storywowabc-new...
to the original
http://mrobvious.wordpress.com
Mahalo...
February 21, 2008 at 9:57am
Gene Luif this guy is the AI researcher @ MS Live Labs, then now I see why MS is where it's at right now. /ohSnap!
February 21, 2008 at 10:35am
Tyler AdamsUnfortunately, this is true. I agree with Saabira, but the difference lies in the fact that bloggers are able to blog for free. They are not held up to any of the same standards that writers are. If a writer can't write then he doesn't get published, if a blogger can't blog then he still has millions of places to "publish" himself at no cost.
February 21, 2008 at 10:56am
Shawn GrahamI agree with Susanne and Saabira. Coming up with value added content and then being able to present it in a way that resonates with your audience is easier said than done. Most of my blogs are work related and I can say I find that much more challenging than talking about watching Shaq's debut with the Phoenix Suns last night.
February 21, 2008 at 12:08pm
Rayne TechAgree with Susanne -- but it all depends on the reasons why one blogs. If a person is blogging for their own personal amusement, "well enough" is completely up to them. Because a blogger posts something out here in the void doesn't mean they intend to be a commercial success; blogging is merely a digital diary, an online journal at its core.
And if blogging is a digital diary at its most fundamental, isn't the premise of Hurst's comment excessively limiting? Not all of us keep journals by typing. Some of us keep recordings or doodlings or some other non-text content. Some of us are unable to type because of personal challenges, whether physical or mental. If anything, Hurst's comment hints at a continuing challenge in Microsoft's culture about accessibility. This has been a thorn in their side when competing with open source software since governments must provide access to all citizens, not merely those who are physically/mentally qualified to use a proprietary software. Shouldn't blogging also be open to every one, regardless of a user's physical/mental limitations, if blogging in the most basic sense is a diary or journaling endeavor?
February 21, 2008 at 2:57pm
David DamoreIt does not take much to blog. There are probably millions of blogs out there where the writer just knows how to type.
To be successful and relevant in blogs takes much more than just being able to type.
At first look, most disagree with the idea that "You just need to know how to type to blog". Those who think that may be reframing the question to mean well or successfully. People blog for many different reasons. To do well takes much more than just being able to type.
How would one become better at writing/blogging without practicing the craft?
That's my 2 cents worth... Probably not worth much more ;)
February 21, 2008 at 4:24pm
Erika Schneiderif you are talking about blogging for you and no one else this is like saying 'you just need to know how to write to keep a diary', but honestly, who does that? technically blogging is available to anyone who can type, but the blogosphere thrives on blogs with thoughts, insight, creativity, information and debate. don't just type, please contribute!
February 21, 2008 at 9:03pm
Heath RowI disagreed, but now I'm going to contradict myself. Everyone should and could write -- even if it's just for themselves and their own self-development and -analysis. So anyone should and could blog.
I'd add to Susanne's comment and add the phrase "for others" to her use of the word "well." Blogging doesn't have to be done for an audience, and perhaps there are some better blogs that are done assuming no one is reading them versus that there are readers.
Self awareness can be self limiting.
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