the benefits of blogging
Brayden
Tyler Cowen and Seth Roberts discuss the positive and negative consequences of blogging. Tyler argues that blogging is a form of self-experimentation and then asks his readers to comment on the effects of blogging in their own lives. One comment (by mk) added a disturbing jolt to the conversation:
I really enjoy the fact that blog posts tend to be terse.
I think there are not enough penalties for being verbose or poorly-organized.
Most books strike me as unnecessary. Powerpoint, maybe with a 20-page supporting paper, would do a better job in most cases, I think.
He’s joking, right? Truly we are witnessing the most decrepit form of interpersonal communication if the effect of blogging is to make us appreciate less the merits of books and to extol the virtues of Powerpoint. The comment is so absurd that it must be parody.
I have found the opposite to be true. One of the more positive effects that blogging has had on my life has been to make me more aware of a broader variety of knowledge, some of which is only available through books. Blogging has made me read more and better books than I would have otherwise. I’ve wanted to be involved in conversations that were previously hidden from view. Blogs are a bit like college seminars – you can learn something from being there but you don’t reap all of the benefits unless you’re doing your readings. You don’t have to read every book that passes through your RSS feed, but you sure would like to if you had all the time in the world.
Heaven help us if the natural evolution of blogging is to turn all of us into walking Powerpoint presentations. I’m glad I don’t feel cursed in this way.
Maybe blogging will create a dual structure of independent minded producers and a servile caste of consumers of other people’s cultural production. The producers will read all of the books and articles and the lowers will read the producer’s distillations of them. Wait a second…that already exists. It’s called grad school! Dammit.
Omar
February 12, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I agree…blogging helps me stay current with politics and such, and has me doing “daily” reading that I didn’t previously do…which has lead me to reading more books than ever before. Blogging makes reading, and thinking, a good habit.
David Schleicher
February 12, 2007 at 11:32 pm
As a first time blogger, it’s quite difficult to write what you want when life throws things at you(other things to do). But i’m glad that i’m beginning this journey and i hope that others will read my blog.
mauthor
February 13, 2007 at 4:21 am
If mk is not joking he has not sat through enough Powerpoint presentations.
Doug H.
February 13, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Yeah, the worst book I have ever read isn’t nearly as bad as the worst PowerPoint presentation I’ve suffered through.
fling93
February 13, 2007 at 11:18 pm