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October 27, 2003Wonders Never CeaseDear Editor-- The lead editorial in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette today-- The editorial adds its comments to the Easterbrook situation and confesses to being addicted to Andrew Sullivan's blog. And of course, as old media types are apt to do, you again denigrate the blogosphere. THE PROBLEM here isn’t just Gregg Easterbrook’s making a jerk of himself in print; it’s the blogosphere itself. The supposed allure of a blog is that the writers go off completely unedited. It’s just raw, highly opinionated, highly emotional, probably highly caffeinated schlock. Oh, sure, some of it’s interesting schlock. (We’re addicted to Andrew Sullivan’s blog.) But too often the result is a twisted rant from even a polished, literate writer like Gregg Easterbrook. It’s not writing, it’s angry typing. Reading some of this stuff, you can practically hear the author pounding his fingers bloody on the keys. The moral here is an old one, but it may be new to the denizens of this Brave New CyberWorld: There’s a difference between being honest and passionate and just blowing off steam. That way lies talk radio. Well, Mr. Greenberg, et al, I am so very, very happy to know that you actually are aware of the blogosphere. I was beginning to think in Arkansas that only a few of us were aware of its presence. I have been a fan of your columns for several years now and have even adopted your term "gentle reader." On the other hand, I hoped you would be more careful about making gross generalizations. Sure there are a number of ranters out there, but there are also many, many more thoughtful and insightful writers that put a lot of effort into their pieces and editing themselves (see my process discussed here). Further, I would recommend a number of articles from Editor and Publisher regarding various ways you might employ blogs in concert with your online presence. Or perhaps you should visit with Jeff Jarvis is "formerly a TV critic for TV Guide and People, creator of Entertainment Weekly, Sunday Editor of the NY Daily News, and a columnist on the San Francisco Examiner. He is now president & creative director of Advance.net." In any event, we thank you for noticing we're out here. Perhaps, the paper could turn its attention to some of us 'Arkan-bloggers' in a print article some time in the future. Best Regards, Adam H. Res Ipsa Loquitur linked with We Beg To Differ Comments
Good job! And to think I used to consider him one of the more intelligent columnists. Wow, something just blew up & rattled the windows here. Maybe it was Paul's ego exploding. Heh. Posted by: rita at October 27, 2003 03:33 PMThat's usually what I think about Krugman when he writes. With Dowd, I imagine her sitting back and smirking at how she was so clever as to making up a new nickname. Posted by: TheYeti at October 28, 2003 03:37 PMThey're scared. Posted by: Juliette at November 3, 2003 09:35 PMPost a comment
 
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