Zzzzz, it’s boring
Techwire asks ‘Are Irish blogs just crap?’.
The answer is no, but the Irish blogging scene is crap. To me it all just feels a little dead at the moment.
There’s not enough conflict. And by that I don’t mean fighting, although those are always good, but there seems to be a unformity of opinion on matters social, political, moral and everything else.
How can you stimulate debate and argument when everybody’s too fucking busy telling everyone else how great they are?
It’s as boring as fuck and while I fully understand the community aspects of it, or at least people’s desires to make a community out of it, there’s no rule which says you can’t disagree with somebody about something. I’m sure everyone has friends whose views differ from theirs. It might be something as simple as supporting a rival football team or something religious or social, such as anti-abortion or pro-choice. You can argue with them, can’t you? It doesn’t mean you hate them.
There are those that try and debate but I’ve seen them dismissed or banned from leaving more comments on certain blogs, simply because they’ve challenged what has been written. Yet censorship of that kind elsewhere would be derided with gusto, and rightly so.
So why won’t people argue on Irish blogs anymore? There was a time when you could find a good scrap every day of the week, now people are meeting up and having pints and posting photos of themselves having pints.
Which is all well and good and lovely in real life but it’s crap for blogging.
July 26th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
been there, tried that, got a bollocking.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Dunno M, there’s always someone disagreeing on mine about something or other. it’s interesting to read all the different view points from the different commentators.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I agree with you Twenty. You’re great.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I looked at this exact issue myself after Rosie and Flirty went at it.
http://skinflicks.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-wars-postscript.html
But that all petered out in the face of tremejuss pressure from the Irish blogosphere at large for everyone to just kiss and make up and go back to linking to cool Youtube videos, talking about their sex fantasies and having a go at Bertie.
I had a bit of a spat with another blogger recently when I challenged them to provide a bit of support for a truly preposterous and arrogant assertion they had made in a post.
The result was I got booted off the punter’s blog and banned from it for asking the question!
I prefer to encourage dissent, argument, discussion and disputation on my own blog, as I feel that it’s only through disagreement that we all get to learn stuff. If you only ever listen to people blathering about their cats, or cool photos, and if no one’s ever allowed to question or disagree, then what is the point of blogging, really?
Perhaps I should go ask Bock the Robber. I understand that he has the secret to successful blogging.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Bloggers are cunts. It’s that simple.
Especially the ones with rounded foreheads.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
“There’s not enough conflict. And by that I don’t mean fighting, although those are always good, but there seems to be a unformity of opinion on matters social, political, moral and everything else.”
Er excuse me what about me? I feel fucking well insulted now.
Miss Cat, I knew ye loved me..I just knew it! See ye Monday….
July 26th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
The nicely, nicely approach seems to work great for those want to be seen as nice. And don’t they seem to love it? Open discussion is just to scary for those people. Wussies.. :)
July 26th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Have you managed that song yet nonny ?
July 26th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Nope Morgor, I went to HMV, Tower Records and I mailed the man himself but no joy, it must not be called “If I get an encore” on any of his albums, I’d love the Cords as well but no luck there either.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
http://skinflicks.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-wars-postscript.html
Hmmm, completely missed that post when it happened for some reason – same kinda stuff all right.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Blogging is so big now people don’t have to put up with what they don’t like, they can move onto another one they do fancy.
Blogging is fast paced, people are posting daily, twice a day, it takes me 2 or 3 days to form an opinion on soup or toothpaste for fuck sake.
Another reason is as always, money. Blogging means cash for a lot of folk and the whole bloggy world is obsessed with keeping everyone visiting and clicking and LOLing and all the rest.
But the main reason why you don’t get any debate here, is maybe because you’re just always fucking right…”maybe”
July 26th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Nope Morgor
I’m hurt and offended
July 26th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
It’s not about conflict for the sake of it, it’s about not being afraid to, on the one hand, say exactly what you feel about a subject when you write a post, and on the other, leaving a comment when you think someone’s talking bollocks while staying at least a bit respectful.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Ahhhhh Maggot I am so sorry, please accept my humble appologies?
July 26th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I may be being over-sensitive Nonny – you are of course forgiven.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Why are you “unwell”?
July 26th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Rosie and Flirty went at it? you make it sound like a sexy catfight, Skinner.
Twenty, you could always try starting something instead of wondering why no-one else does?
July 26th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Ahh fuck Wreckler is opinion is a load of bollix, he’s about as useful now as an inflatable dartboard.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I could but I can’t be arsed.
Anyway, it was more a comment at the general state of things than a call to arms. It just strikes me there’s a big difference between blogs now and the way they used to be. And that probably sounds a little ‘Oh, I remember when it was all fields round here’, but that’s just my feeling on it.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
fair enough.
wanna go for a pint?
July 26th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Only if there’s someone to take photos.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
If it was a sexy catfight, Rosie, then I definitely want to see the photos.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Hmmm. Someone told me he left a dissenting comment on a certain popular blog and was told if he didn’t like it he didn’t have to read. Which is bizarre, so given that that happened, you’re right.
I think the problem is the way in which argument is managed – there’s too much flaming. If the content of your argument is ‘you’re fucking stupid’ and it descends into drivel, then it makes sense people are going to react badly, and you get a messy dog fight. I mean, I know it works for you, Twenty but still…
There’s an emotional committment to getting into arguments like you’re talking about – do I want to spend a day rehashing abortion arguments, explaining why I think animals’ emotional rights are more or less as important as humans’, watching the same things go round in circles, offending people who happen to have an emotional involvement, ugh. Sometimes, sometimes there’s just not enough energy.
I got into a row about an emotional subject because I said what I thought, and made a personal reference, and ended up being told that if I wanted a friendship to continue, we couldn’t speak about the topic – and also that I was tearing the (group)blog apart by discussing it. I’m left with a bad taste after that incident. Maybe there need to be some standards to follow. Less of the anonymous flaming and kneejerk reactions. It’s hard when everyone’s reduced to a handle – face to face we’d be more tactful, online you just say what you think without any gauging of who you’re talking to – for better or worse?
I think Ms Cat manages it all very well – often her opinions are on the extreme end of the scale to mine, so I feel there’s no point blundering in and going ‘oh you’re so insane, that’s wrong, that’s wrong’ because her opinion works for her, mine for me. Yet other people do wade in and she chairs it all skillfully and masterfully, especially given the strength of her own viewpoints ;)
But the whole personal argument thing is just BORING. Enough of the moronic abuse. Then people might enjoy a bit of debate again. Excepting on here, of course, again.
And as nonny points out, ther’s nonny, she’s out there fighting the good fight for you :)
July 26th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
i’m sure Annie would happily oblige, Twenty.
and Skinner, dig up and out of your hole, not deeper into it.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
You’ve got to hand it to Nonny. She is certainly a blogger not afraid to enter the fray.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
It’s hard when everyone’s reduced to a handle – face to face we’d be more tactful, online you just say what you think without any gauging of who you’re talking to – for better or worse?.
True, but even bearing that in mind there’s very little argument these days.
And even on here when people have disagreed they’ve taken it too far and ended up just being irritating, like we had with Brian and the Wexford thing.
July 26th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
What hole would that be, Rosie?
July 26th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Ach, the Brian thing. See, that gives argument a bad name. Like, I think your pov on that issue is terrifying, but loads of people agree with you, so I think it’s great to discuss it. But then the brians come along and just mess it up with their moronics. No argument is less boring than that.
Same with the other day about Gaeilgoirs (sp!). What’s the point in coming in and just going ‘you’re crap, your blog is crap’ – in that case, I’d say, don’t read.
July 26th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Go on Twenty, post something contraversial (not obnoxious, now, just contraversial) and we’ll all have a heated debate.
Well, not me, I have to go bake stuff. But the rest of you. Though no one’s ever in on a saturday.
I plan to blog about hating people later, if I’ve time. Just in case that makes you feel better :)
July 26th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
It’s more difficult to do controversial nowadays. People just go ‘There’s that cunt Twenty mouthing again’.
In the olden days (heh, sorry) I could post some stuff which people didn’t always know whether to take seriously or not. That was fun.
July 26th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Perhaps it’s time for a new masked blogger persona. Perhaps as a lady this time!
July 26th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Busty Minor, perhaps.
July 26th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Hmm, too many perhapses there. What’s that song, that goes ‘perhaps, perhaps, perhaps!’?
July 26th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I think one of the best traits about the Irish blogosphere is the lack of flame wars and nasty comments. There’s enough shit in life already, I don’t need to look for more online/
July 26th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
This is probably going to be one of the most talked about posts next week which to be honest is disappointing. We’ll see a load of “analysis” blog posts on it. “Twenty said .. in the comments Y said … on X’s blog they joined in and said .. then …” and eventually someone might actually add some unique viewpoint on top of all the clones of this post. No actual opinion, just boring reportage. That’s the job of the current media.
It just goes to show how weak the blogging community is at the moment that a single post controls their own output so easily over the space of a few days or weeks. It seems odd that back in the day or whatever, a smaller amount of people created more varied topics and could argue well instead of what we have now with people picking something worthy to argue or disagree about but do it in such a juvenile and personal manner that it just makes you lose hope. I think someone ought to write a guide on how to do this.
Less cheerleaders, more quarterbacks please.
July 26th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Well Twenty on a serious note everybody hates me!! (I don’t mean that in a sad, it’s cause I am son of the devil kinda way either – I don’t give a shit cause when I rule the world YOU’LL be the first to go)
People just think I am argumentative or looking for a fight when that is not the case at all. I just disagree with some peoples opinions. Plus it’s not even like somebody (except Sam and sometimes Miss Cat) will offer constuctive critizims, most of the time I get, from the top people,
You are a cunt
You are a cretain
International women of mystery (In a sarcastic tone please)
You are self rigeous
It’s not your fault you have that opinion it’s because your so young (I think they mean I am on a journey to enlightenment)
Everything we say offends your way of life
You are offensive
Fuck off you cunt
You are old fashioned
You are a liar
Fuck off we were happier without you
Don’t feed the trolls (Me)
Why darling the list is endless. And you know what, would you like to know my most controverial stances, ahem, Drugs are bad (unless their is a medical nessesity), I respect my mother, children are paramount and last but by no means least people who fail their driving test should have to be acompanied by a qualified driver. Gas isn’t it? So why would anybody want to disagree with you dear?
July 26th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Damien – I think a highlight for many commenters are the mud-slinging matches, people openly say, ooh I love a fight on the blog and like nothing more when you are slating another persons character. Most of it is initiated by sarcasm and digresses from there, they wait for an opportunity to abuse and then take off. The value of blogging is freedom of speech you don’t want to infringe on that so if you offer a guide or a blogging etiquette as it were what would the consequences of not conforming be?
July 26th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
You forgot to add patronising to your list, Nonny!
And often it’s not what you say but how you say it.
I think one of the best traits about the Irish blogosphere is the lack of flame wars and nasty comments. There’s enough shit in life already, I don’t need to look for more online/
I’m not talking about flame wars. I’m just saying that practically everybody agrees with everybody else. Either the Irish blogosphere is the most sensible and level-headed in the world, where we can all see the one true way in life, or something’s missing. I’m not interested in flaming insults or anything else but there’s still room for healthy, and sometimes a bit unhealthy, debate.
July 26th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Jesus, its all women in here today. I’d like to disagree with your point major, but I only started reading blogs a year ago, so maybe its my fault..
July 26th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
You forgot to add patronising to your list, Nonny!
See, see what I mean
July 26th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
What’s wrong with Irish blogs at the moment is that everyone seems to be a self appointed critic. Jayzus!! If I see another fecking blog post about Dark Knight I am really going to murder someone.
July 26th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Somebody somewhere is having an argument about a toffee crisp.
July 26th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I might start a blog myself but I have no fucking idea what it would be about and then I’d have to do it every day and commit. Commitment is an issue for me.
July 26th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
That’s what you should blog about, Holemaster. I’d read it. Seriously, I was gutted when dearloverblog’s blog ended so suddenly and sadly.
The life and times of a commitment-phobe Irish male and his quest for love, boobs and meaning.
Fuck all this argument and current affairs worthiness. I wish for a net soap opera.
And you don’t have to post every day. A few times a week? Ask Damien.
As an aside, did anyone see the news today, about the woman let in the refugee camp for three years by accident? Separated from her children and husband needlessly, by some beaureaucratic mistake?
July 26th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
“The life and times of a commitment-phobe Irish male and his quest for love, boobs and meaning.”
I think I’m actually over the relationship commitment thing. I’m a husband waiting to happen – that’s it! That’s the blog name. Twenty’s going to puke his guts up.
Ah I think any old shite really might be interesting
And yeah that visa thing is probably down to some lazy arsehole who stuck a file in the wrong the drawer while talking on their mobile. Disgraceful.
July 26th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Liberalism. That’s why people seem to always agree. Schools, TV, movies and politicians have brainwashed people to conform in order to better control them. To remedy this situation, a day of amnesty should be set aside each week where decent people can legally shot a Liberal, a politican or a TV news anchor. Within a year normalcy will have returned.
July 26th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Now you’re just agreeing with Twenty, LL.
Shooting people has wider ranging effects than just getting rid of them.
July 26th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Holemaster, I have a VERY nice single friend… start writing your blog and I’ll direct her to it.
July 26th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Ha! it’ll last all of one day.
Day 1: I’m searching for a nice cheerful happy funny girl who wants to spend the rest of her life being arrested for being too sexy.
Day 2: Found her!
July 26th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I’m telling you, my friend fits that bill. You can’t use your old line on your the person you’re doing a new line with though, that’s tacky.
July 26th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Holemaster, I have a VERY nice single friend
If he doesn’t want her …..
July 26th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Does she look like Debbie Harrie in the link ?
July 26th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
“You can’t use your old line on your the person you’re doing a new line with though, that’s tacky.”
Flippin knew you’d say that Jo. I have a wealth of lines I’ve never used. I’d only use bespoke (don’t you just hate that word) lines of course. If she can push a wheelchair and hold a feeding tube, then I’m sorted.
And feck off Maggot, get your own.
July 26th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Off to a party around the corner now with loads of loose single women who have all just been dumped by bastards.
July 26th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
And feck off Maggot, get your own.
There’s a Kilo of hocolate in it for you Jo – your choice.
July 26th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I see your chocolate and raise you a pashley princess bike.
http://www.pashley.co.uk/gallery/classic-bicycles/1/41.html
Right NOW I’m going….
July 26th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
That is the randomest thing I’ve seen today. Or any day :)
Sorry, maggot, you can keep your hocolate. And who are you calling a ‘ho?
Hmm, Holemaster, are you forty eight? Or fifty two? Perhaps you should mail me your vital statistics.
July 27th, 2008 at 12:21 am
6 my little ponies for your wee girl Jo!
July 27th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Present for – I’m not trying to buy her, just bribe you.
July 27th, 2008 at 12:29 am
no, no, I quite understand. No internet baby-trading here, thank god :)
July 27th, 2008 at 12:29 am
I don’t really give a shit about debating through blogging. All I care about is going on and on about my personal life. Obviously.
Well, there was Skinner’s legendary “Abortion: The Compromise” post (title of which still makes me giggle), when I just HAD to make my one thought on abortion clear all of a sudden, but I wasn’t about to start debating with whoever it was who stated that “nearly everybody is anti-abortion”. It just seemed like a boring waste of time to me. Unlike going on and on about my personal life, which is, of course, fascinating. So, back to me.
July 27th, 2008 at 12:36 am
And a big stuffed Thomas the Tank Engine for your son !
July 27th, 2008 at 12:45 am
This was really exciting
Twenty20 Cup finals day
July 27th, 2008 at 12:52 am
I’d fling some insults at you so we could have a good skirmish, but who can understand those bloody Oirish when the speak anyway?
THATS what all the pints are for. Its so they can have a conversation where everyone has the same chance at understanding one another. Everything makes sense when your pissed
July 27th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Right!
I am not often on these sites; however, they were always good for taking the piss out of a “boggie.” Now, everyone is a friendly twat.
July 27th, 2008 at 1:55 am
If history has taught us anything (and it hasn’t) it’s that unless you cravenly agree with a blog author (and their erstwhile friends)eventually, you are wasting your time, and theirs.
However there is arguing and there is Cocksacker and Gluaistean, which is not so much arguing as virtual tourettes..
July 27th, 2008 at 2:55 am
You guys should try healthcare related blogs-honestly-people nearly virtually try to KILL each other, so exciting! Co-location, risk equalisation, A&E waiting times, nurses 35 hour week AND payrise, GP prices, vaccination, the list is endless and everyone’s at each other’s throats….everyone has an opinion and an anecdote based on little logic but lotsa hate. Makes for awesome “debates”.
I feel like the guy in Fight Club going there sometimes though….
July 27th, 2008 at 10:39 am
If history has taught us anything (and it hasn’t) it’s that unless you cravenly agree with a blog author (and their erstwhile friends)eventually, you are wasting your time, and theirs.
Yeah, and if you don’t agree you can always sulk off and write a blog about how crappy blogs are, can’t you?
Like you say there are ways and means of arguing but you descend into personal too easily then get offended when you get called on it.
July 27th, 2008 at 10:56 am
I really don’t get where you think I “disappear” I have always written about blogs, and I have always taken periods away from blogging, because of work, family, absolute boredom, the same as anyone else.
It’s you that perceives that I am being personal, but trust me, I don’t make it personal, and I don’t take it personally.
These are blogs twenty, not some fucking crusade that we have to do full-time.
And like I said before, I made a, in my mind valid point about something, was called every asshole under the sun, compared to gluaistean of all people, and yet it is me who is getting personal. I don’t think so.
The reason I don’t comment often on your blog, is, apart from a few lately, they have been rubbish, mere bookmarked headings for people to comment on. Should I come to your page and just comment “Not good enough twenty” of course not, this is your page you can do what you want. but it’s not some pseudo-hang out for me where I feel the need to catch up with people. That’s not to say that’s a bad thing, it’s just not my thing.
I’m sorry that me pointing out that your “feminist” friend was a bit liberal with consistency of thought, but hey, don’t take it personally.
July 27th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Ohhh….my…head hurty.
A hooley of a party last night that went on to the wee hours. The promise of recently dumped loose women was a ruse to make sure I went though. A great party nevertheless, much tasty food, drink and merriment.
Jo, a lady friend of mine thinks those Pashley bikes rock. Now she’s 32 and very ahead of the possie. So that means I assume all women secretly want them.
I’ll give you a hint Jo, I’m between 34 and 37 and of course I only look 30.
July 27th, 2008 at 11:03 am
But your point wasn’t valid, that’s the thing. You might have thought it was but to me it was just an excuse for you to have a dig, no more, no less. You won’t convince me otherwise, it was a cheap shot and you got pulled on it.
Just looking at your link and the ‘dog/catriarchy’ blog there says it all, as far as I’m concered. But it’s not personal, of course.
And I don’t take it personally. It’s a blog, a persona, if you don’t like it then that’s entirely your prerogative.
July 27th, 2008 at 11:16 am
ok, so you think my point wasn’t valid, and I accept that. I accepted it then, and I even offered to buy a copy of your book, and offered apologies all round.
I am always willing to agree to disagree twenty, I think that’s what blogs should be about. As for the catriarchy thing, I think it’s satirical, you think it’s personal.
Let’s agree to disagree.
July 27th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Buy a copy of the book if you want to, not because you think you have to.
And satirical would be right if it were about a genre or an overall theme rather than one person.
But we can certainly agree to disagree.
July 27th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
[...] TwentyMajor takes up the argument that Irish blogs are crap because there’s a lack of argument but that’s only natural. It’s in the Irish psyche to be self defeating, to use of a forum of debate for something other than debate. [...]
July 27th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
“Like you say there are ways and means of arguing but you descend into personal too easily then get offended when you get called on it.”
Twenty Major you are the biggest perpetrator of this, how a bolt of lightening does not strike you is beyond me.
July 27th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
No I’m not.
July 27th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Don’t have me to provide evidence.
July 27th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
‘it’s in the Irish psyche to be self-defeating, to use a forum of debate for something other than debate’ ok there’s something to argue over.
& while you’re doing that can someone let me know if anyone has bred a hen that will eat nettles & ground elder instead of baby lettuces? bastards (the hens that is).
July 27th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Don’t bother, Nonny.
July 27th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Hens are evil quislings and should be stopped…
July 27th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I love your mini sentences, Twenty. I wish I could be succinct. Babbling carries with it no authority :(
July 27th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
“Don’t bother, Nonny.”
Ahhh ha ha ha! Ahh I’m just fucken with ye, calm down.
July 27th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Calm your face down.