Whats the deal with Blogs?

heelntoe · 2nd August 2006, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by avkurian

Personally, I feel blogs are a shift in how news/information is now made available in the open. No more corporate jargon through press releases, and no more Ministry of Information and Protocol telling the press how and what to call someone or something.

As with all public expression, blogging is a huge responsibility, and as has been seen in the US, can even shake Governments. True, most of the bloggers out there can be compared to boogers, but like in any group, there are the outstanding ones that make the whole concept worthwhile.

Blogging could be our 'newspapers' of the future. Many of our generation have given up on print-media, preferring to read news online from multiple sources. The blog will bring you news from the ground, or from multiple sources, in your language and not in press-speak, and that will negate the need for the organised media as we know it. As said by Thomas L. Friedman, 'anyone with a camera mobile phone, a voice recording device, and access to the Internet can now take on the role of a journalist'.

I think its a great revolution, but as with all things, will have to endure the brickbats before getting to the boquets.

while i do agree with you on that. the problem with blogs about news or things like that is that you are reading someones opinion not "just" the news.that might be ok if you share the same view but like stararmour , i also have my own views on certain things that disagree with most everyones views so i keep them to myself

GTS · 11th August 2006, 08:43

Different peeps blog for different reasons. Some for the 'heck' of it. Some think it is the 'in thing'. Some use the blogs to 'ventilate' and maintain an electronic diary. Others seek opinions and experiences. Some hand out advice. Some find it as a medium to get introduced (what with so many blogger marriages). Whatever it is, it is a harmless hobby that doesnt require a paisa to be spent!

Anonymity is a warm blanket (atleast initially), so folks find it easy to interact with a total stranger who has had the same bad/good experience as the
blogger as opposed to sharing experiences/feeling in real life where the possibilities of real life friends/colleagues judging you is very very high and real.

Blogs are a very good way to keep in touch with one's 'real self'. Atleast, I see it that way. No one is going to crucify me for what I wrote and years down the line when I read my jottings, maybe I might laugh my head off (or is it the arse?).

An online forum is like living in an apartment complex/condo....you have to follow certain rules....having your own blog-space is like living in an independent bungalow

Some like instant interaction and may opt for 'chatting', others prefer forums where one can give/receive/exchange ideas and suggestions. Not everyone would want to seek advice or dole out advice.

Usually blog readers are the lazy ones who dont find the time to blog themselves, but like blogs in general. Then there are folks who read blogs just to have a peek into another person's life, almost a voyeuristic pleasure.

During my school days pen-palship was the norm, now, the blogs. Communication is paramount in today's world and without proper communication life would be pure muck and misery.

Blogs are just another vehicle/medium/way to communicate, reach out. Blogs have been around for a few years, but it is continuously evolving...the weblogs, audioblogs and the videoblogs. Mediblogs are pretty famous in the US, but not many docs do the blogging here in India. (Guess only dimwits like me do!

Who knows, till another convenient doohickey like listening to a person's thoughts becomes feasible, blogs are here to stay!

Samurai · 11th August 2006, 09:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTS

Blogs are a very good way to keep in touch with one's 'real self'. Atleast, I see it that way. No one is going to crucify me for what I wrote and years down the line when I read my jottings, maybe I might laugh my head off (or is it the arse?).

Actually that is not as simple as you think. You may laugh your head off or bang your head to the wall.

When I first started posting in Internet 13 years back, I was 24 and working. The stuff I wrote then, are still available if I google for them. Fortunately, I didn't post anything bad or crazy despite my youth. Those days nobody thought these posts can be digged up later, there were no search engines then. Therefore, lots of peopel wrote quite irresponsibly, with no care in the world. This is not like print media publications where several editors would proof read your writings.

As people get older, the situations change, even opinions can change. At 40s you may cringe at the thoughts you wrote in the 20s. Often you start off as an anonymous blogger, but soon you may become wellknown/notorious based on your posts. We often say things in the forums/blogs that we may never discuss with friends, family or colleagues. Once your ID become known, lots of people in your circle may have access to your thoughts. Later your teenage kids will get to read your thoughts as a teenager. But the question is would you be standing by your posts in couple of decades, believe me your blogs/posts will outlast you. Forget the world at large, your kids and decendents will get to read your thoughts. Therefore, if you blog or post in Internet, be responsible.

GTS · 11th August 2006, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

Actually that is not as simple as you think. You may laugh your head off or bang your head to the wall.....if you blog or post in Internet, be responsible.

You said it...people who have access to the puter should at ALL times behave responsible.

To quote Lord Macaulay: The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Technocrat · 11th August 2006, 10:20

@GTS: Your post itself qualifies as a blog in itself :-)

@Samurai: I agree.

It reminds ofa blogger who had blogged bad about a leading Educational Insitution which resulted in his leaving the job at one of the biggest IT Giant company in the world.

sharathjeppu · 11th August 2006, 10:20

I like Blogs. Infact there are some very good writers. And in many instances, I catch on lots of news on Blogs as they are often not published on mainsteam News Channels. Some of the best debates on issues like Reservations, the IIPM issue, the Dubey Murder, etc. were much better covered in the Blogs than any newspaper or TV Channel...

Some of the Blogs that I find interesting and regularly readup are (I use bloglines to read blogs with RSS feeds)

http://indiauncut.blogspot.com/
http://warfornews.blogspot.com/
http://gauravsabnis.blogspot.com/
http://greatbong.net/
http://youthcurry.blogspot.com/
http://aashraya.blogspot.com/
http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/
http://www.boingboing.net/

My list of Tech Sites/Blogs with RSS feeds ...
http://www.gizmodo.com/
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/
http://www.engadget.com/
http://www.extremetech.com/
http://www.dpreview.com/

Cheers
Sharath

GTS · 11th August 2006, 12:35

[quote=Technocrat]@GTS: Your post itself qualifies as a blog in itself :-)

Samurai, does that mean it is as boring as hell?

rareone · 11th August 2006, 12:43

Hi Tbhpians

One of my friend "Sparsh Sharma" does free lancing for Times of India - New Bombay Plus paper. You can read his Bindaas Bol section in yesterday's paper.

He need few people who can comment on next weeks topic of Blocking Blogs Sites" for Bindaas Bol.

Any people who are related to Blogs can call him and add your comments.

It would be of great help thanx.

Call him and ya he knows me by my real name thats "Dhiraj"

Sparsh Sharma
9821008255

pingmepal · 11th August 2006, 12:58

Hmmmm... Blogs..... some may make you yawn but some are good.

As all of you in this thread expressed your own feelings or ideas. All these can get in to your own blogs if you have any. It is a channel to express your thoughts or ideas or something interesting came in to your view (read internet). In fact a journalist/columns or a writer/novelist also bloggers in a specific channel of media. They also expressing their opinions or bringing out information which they came across. But only the channel is different and freedom to place it. Ofcourse you are not paid a single penny by blogging unless you want to sell your thoughts. Some times hidden talent comes out. I hear about lot bloggers who stopped their creative writing in their college days and never purued further. In any field including our common interest of automobile........ there are good drivers / bad drivers. so is in bloggers community.

It is now your decision to YAWN or FROWN after reading this........(thinking that this is a blog) LOL

MalluDude · 11th August 2006, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by paharino1

IT guys have WAY too much time on their hands

Ouch pal....that hurt.

speedofreak · 11th August 2006, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalluDude

Ouch pal....that hurt.

nope dude....this is Plain truth .......gosh Subha se baihtaan huun ...no kaam

Guess? · 11th August 2006, 19:56

Baghdad Burning: http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

condor · 11th August 2006, 20:54

I'm not much of a blog-reader - forget being a blogger. Didnt have the inclination to it, so didnt read blogs much, and now dont know of any good blogs. May be it's just that I hardly find the time to search for stuff to fill up my time

May be it's because of my 'fear' that I will find more in-consequential stuff there, just like I find in what people talk about when they are together.

Try observing what people are talking around the lunch table - every one is quoting something from somewhere as if he is the only person who knows abt the points. He quotes from some report, as if no one else has read it - worse, as if it was his own original observation!

A perfect time to do such an observation is the day after a cricket match ..

I'd rather be listening to or reading some intelligent conversations on stuff that I am interested in ..

11th August 2006, 08:43	#17
GTS BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 69 Thanked: 6 Times	Different peeps blog for different reasons. Some for the 'heck' of it. Some think it is the 'in thing'. Some use the blogs to 'ventilate' and maintain an electronic diary. Others seek opinions and experiences. Some hand out advice. Some find it as a medium to get introduced (what with so many blogger marriages). Whatever it is, it is a harmless hobby that doesnt require a paisa to be spent! Anonymity is a warm blanket (atleast initially), so folks find it easy to interact with a total stranger who has had the same bad/good experience as the blogger as opposed to sharing experiences/feeling in real life where the possibilities of real life friends/colleagues judging you is very very high and real. Blogs are a very good way to keep in touch with one's 'real self'. Atleast, I see it that way. No one is going to crucify me for what I wrote and years down the line when I read my jottings, maybe I might laugh my head off (or is it the arse?). An online forum is like living in an apartment complex/condo....you have to follow certain rules....having your own blog-space is like living in an independent bungalow Some like instant interaction and may opt for 'chatting', others prefer forums where one can give/receive/exchange ideas and suggestions. Not everyone would want to seek advice or dole out advice. Usually blog readers are the lazy ones who dont find the time to blog themselves, but like blogs in general. Then there are folks who read blogs just to have a peek into another person's life, almost a voyeuristic pleasure. During my school days pen-palship was the norm, now, the blogs. Communication is paramount in today's world and without proper communication life would be pure muck and misery. Blogs are just another vehicle/medium/way to communicate, reach out. Blogs have been around for a few years, but it is continuously evolving...the weblogs, audioblogs and the videoblogs. Mediblogs are pretty famous in the US, but not many docs do the blogging here in India. (Guess only dimwits like me do! Who knows, till another convenient doohickey like listening to a person's thoughts becomes feasible, blogs are here to stay!
	() Thanks

11th August 2006, 10:20	#20
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,815 Thanked: 2,702 Times	@GTS: Your post itself qualifies as a blog in itself :-) @Samurai: I agree. It reminds ofa blogger who had blogged bad about a leading Educational Insitution which resulted in his leaving the job at one of the biggest IT Giant company in the world.
	() Thanks

11th August 2006, 10:20	#21
sharathjeppu BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 159 Thanked: 4 Times	I like Blogs. Infact there are some very good writers. And in many instances, I catch on lots of news on Blogs as they are often not published on mainsteam News Channels. Some of the best debates on issues like Reservations, the IIPM issue, the Dubey Murder, etc. were much better covered in the Blogs than any newspaper or TV Channel... Some of the Blogs that I find interesting and regularly readup are (I use bloglines to read blogs with RSS feeds) http://indiauncut.blogspot.com/ http://warfornews.blogspot.com/ http://gauravsabnis.blogspot.com/ http://greatbong.net/ http://youthcurry.blogspot.com/ http://aashraya.blogspot.com/ http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/ http://www.boingboing.net/ My list of Tech Sites/Blogs with RSS feeds ... http://www.gizmodo.com/ http://www.kk.org/cooltools/ http://www.engadget.com/ http://www.extremetech.com/ http://www.dpreview.com/ Cheers Sharath
	() Thanks

11th August 2006, 12:35	#22
GTS BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 69 Thanked: 6 Times	[quote=Technocrat]@GTS: Your post itself qualifies as a blog in itself :-) Samurai, does that mean it is as boring as hell?
	() Thanks

11th August 2006, 12:43	#23
rareone BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 256 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	Hi Tbhpians One of my friend "Sparsh Sharma" does free lancing for Times of India - New Bombay Plus paper. You can read his Bindaas Bol section in yesterday's paper. He need few people who can comment on next weeks topic of Blocking Blogs Sites" for Bindaas Bol. Any people who are related to Blogs can call him and add your comments. It would be of great help thanx. Call him and ya he knows me by my real name thats "Dhiraj" Sparsh Sharma 9821008255
	() Thanks

11th August 2006, 12:58	#24
pingmepal BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 48 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	Hmmmm... Blogs..... some may make you yawn but some are good. As all of you in this thread expressed your own feelings or ideas. All these can get in to your own blogs if you have any. It is a channel to express your thoughts or ideas or something interesting came in to your view (read internet). In fact a journalist/columns or a writer/novelist also bloggers in a specific channel of media. They also expressing their opinions or bringing out information which they came across. But only the channel is different and freedom to place it. Ofcourse you are not paid a single penny by blogging unless you want to sell your thoughts. Some times hidden talent comes out. I hear about lot bloggers who stopped their creative writing in their college days and never purued further. In any field including our common interest of automobile........ there are good drivers / bad drivers. so is in bloggers community. It is now your decision to YAWN or FROWN after reading this........(thinking that this is a blog) LOL
	() Thanks

11th August 2006, 19:56	#27
Guess? BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 148 Thanked: 60 Times	Baghdad Burning: http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
	() Thanks

11th August 2006, 20:54	#28
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 16,048 Thanked: 16,387 Times View My Garage	I'm not much of a blog-reader - forget being a blogger. Didnt have the inclination to it, so didnt read blogs much, and now dont know of any good blogs. May be it's just that I hardly find the time to search for stuff to fill up my time May be it's because of my 'fear' that I will find more in-consequential stuff there, just like I find in what people talk about when they are together. Try observing what people are talking around the lunch table - every one is quoting something from somewhere as if he is the only person who knows abt the points. He quotes from some report, as if no one else has read it - worse, as if it was his own original observation! A perfect time to do such an observation is the day after a cricket match .. I'd rather be listening to or reading some intelligent conversations on stuff that I am interested in .. Last edited by condor : 11th August 2006 at 20:55.
	() Thanks