Jessica Cutler, of Washingtonienne fame, thinks blogs are “the most democratic thing ever,” and she’s right. You don’t have to have a journalism degree to publish your own blog, and you don’t have to buy a newspaper or magazine to read them. You don’t even have to have your own computer and Internet connection. Just waltz in to your local library and read the blogs that interest you. Blogging gives everyone a chance to be an author, no matter who you are or where you live.
You don’t have to be a particularly gifted author, either. The very nature of blogging allows writers to suspend the rules of composition, and to attract attention, bloggers often put good manners aside, hurl insults, make accusations, and stir up controversy. If they happen to be wrong in what they say, it’s okay. It’s tough to get a libel charge leveled against a blogger, and besides, the offended party can simply set up his or her own blog and return the insults.
Is this a model of democracy that Americans should celebrate and export around the world? Or is this merely the yammerings of an unruly mob who have exploited the freedoms that democracy should protect?
J.
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5 comments:
I personally dislike blogging and bloggers. I usually find that people ragging on politicians or just making fun of random people are annoying and not good writers. I can't take a person seriously when they type using bad grammar, punctuation, and/or spelling; all of which bloggers usually do.
As a Communications major I highly believe in blogs. I think blogs allow people throughout the world to connect even if they are states, countries, or continents away. I also believe blogging upholds democracy in the U.S. The blogger does not need an education therefore anyone who has an opinion can post. Blogging helps the United States to have more of a direct democracy. Everyone throughout the world should be able to blog because everyone has an opinion.
I honestly do not see any problem with the amount of blogs there are on the internet. To me, blogging is on the same level as simply talking to someone; its not always taken seriously and no one should be held accountable for what they write. Similar to when you are talking with someone, take with what you read on a blog with a huge grain of sand. People should be given the opportunity to express themselves, and blogging is a good means of doing so, especially because you do not have to read blogs if you don't want to.
- Andy Rouhafzai
Blogging is not a threat to society, instead it is an easy, convenient method of communication available in many places. Sometimes blogs can lead to negative results, but it is up to the internet user to determine the validity of the source. Anyone can post anything online, just because it's there doesn't make it true. We should be free to write anything we want in a blog but remember that we are also free to not believe in what we read.
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