Zzzzz, it’s boring
Posted on | July 26, 2008 | 142 Comments
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.
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142 Responses to “Zzzzz, it’s boring”
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July 26th, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
been there, tried that, got a bollocking.
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 1:11 pm
I agree with you Twenty. You’re great.
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 1:22 pm
Bloggers are cunts. It’s that simple.
Especially the ones with rounded foreheads.
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 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 @ 1:25 pm
Have you managed that song yet nonny ?
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 1:36 pm
Nope Morgor
I’m hurt and offended
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 2:04 pm
Ahhhhh Maggot I am so sorry, please accept my humble appologies?
July 26th, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
I may be being over-sensitive Nonny – you are of course forgiven.
July 26th, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Why are you “unwell”?
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 2:35 pm
fair enough.
wanna go for a pint?
July 26th, 2008 @ 2:36 pm
Only if there’s someone to take photos.
July 26th, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
If it was a sexy catfight, Rosie, then I definitely want to see the photos.
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 3:07 pm
What hole would that be, Rosie?
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 3:14 pm
Perhaps it’s time for a new masked blogger persona. Perhaps as a lady this time!
July 26th, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
Busty Minor, perhaps.
July 26th, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
Hmm, too many perhapses there. What’s that song, that goes ‘perhaps, perhaps, perhaps!’?
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 4:02 pm
You forgot to add patronising to your list, Nonny!
See, see what I mean
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 4:50 pm
Somebody somewhere is having an argument about a toffee crisp.
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 8:34 pm
Holemaster, I have a VERY nice single friend
If he doesn’t want her …..
July 26th, 2008 @ 8:41 pm
Does she look like Debbie Harrie in the link ?
July 26th, 2008 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 12:21 am
6 my little ponies for your wee girl Jo!
July 27th, 2008 @ 12:22 am
Present for – I’m not trying to buy her, just bribe you.
July 27th, 2008 @ 12:29 am
no, no, I quite understand. No internet baby-trading here, thank god :)
July 27th, 2008 @ 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 @ 12:36 am
And a big stuffed Thomas the Tank Engine for your son !
July 27th, 2008 @ 12:45 am
This was really exciting
Twenty20 Cup finals day
July 27th, 2008 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 2:42 pm
No I’m not.
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:02 pm
Don’t have me to provide evidence.
July 27th, 2008 @ 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 @ 3:04 pm
Don’t bother, Nonny.
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
Hens are evil quislings and should be stopped…
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:11 pm
I love your mini sentences, Twenty. I wish I could be succinct. Babbling carries with it no authority :(
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
“Don’t bother, Nonny.”
Ahhh ha ha ha! Ahh I’m just fucken with ye, calm down.
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Calm your face down.
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
Sister maggot, put something over the lettuce, chicken wire or them clear plastice funnels. The latter will make the lettuce grow better.
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
Grow the lettuces up high! I’m currently growing some in pots on a table, it’s working great.
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
Calm your face down.
ha ha If I ever see you again I’m gonna get you in a headlock and stick my fingers in your eyes.
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
Try it, fliddy.
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
Something that sounded like an old Beetle with wings just skimmed my rooftop. Jesus.
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
If I ever see you again? So Nonny and Twenty, you’ve met before? Clandestinely? Is all this calm your face down talk sexual tension in action?
July 27th, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
No, we have never met.
July 27th, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
Fuck it, I’ll start a fight. Who wants a go?
July 27th, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
That’s what you think, Twenty.
Let’s just hope boiled Bastardface doesn’t appear on the menu any time soon.
July 27th, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
heh, I don’t think there’s a cauldron big enough.
July 27th, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
Thanks N & J will split the replacements between the 2 techniques as a failsafe, we have a hen who climbs trees… maybe try sawing up those big coke bottles rather than giving them to maggot to put on the fire…
VK you are right, hens would sell their grannies & probably eat them as well
July 27th, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
Yeah, but the eggs, the fresh sunshine eggs…
July 27th, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
sister and her hens – Grubs are used to her screeching “Fuckers” and charging out house with brush to chase them – think Miss Betsey Trotwood and donkeys in David Copperfield.
July 27th, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
Hold on Jo – aren’t you a veggie ?
July 27th, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
No, I be a human bean.
Not a vegan one though.
July 27th, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
ah ha Gimme, you are so funny. Maybe you should get a job as one of them comedian types.
July 27th, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Did I miss something, since when is there meant to be debate, I thought it was all just light entertainment – hence the number of cat blogs – should it be “my cat is nicer than your cat” blogs?
July 27th, 2008 @ 7:13 pm
No, it should be catfight blogs. My cat’ll scratch your cat’s eyes out and scrimple its ears to stumpy stubs with a wiffle of its razor sharp claws. I can haz disembowling cat-fu, you tabby bastard.
I’m with Annie R, actually. Blogs should be all about MEEEE.
July 27th, 2008 @ 8:29 pm
Angryman
“Imagine every day is a holiday. Do one little thing that stimulates this holiday mood each day, then watch your worries fade away.”
“Remain on the lookout for things that make you laugh – and, if you see nothing worth laughing at, pretend you see it. Then laugh.”
July 27th, 2008 @ 9:08 pm
there seems to be a unformity of opinion on matters social, political, moral and everything else
I generally disagree with Medbh, often disagree with Bock and occasionally disagree with FMC.
And I hate your puns.
Smell my poo.
July 27th, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
You love me though.
And you only disagree with me because I let you, morgor the arguous.
July 27th, 2008 @ 9:31 pm
And I hate your puns.
That’s what makes everything worthwhile for me.
July 27th, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
Ha, you sick bastard.
July 27th, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
That’s what makes everything worthwhile for me.
heh.
you only disagree with me because I let you
My main thing i would disagree with you on is spiritual type stuff, like when you mentioned “sensing a presence” once.
Apart from that, it’s all good. (ya loon :) )
July 27th, 2008 @ 10:10 pm
Ach, I just meant there might have been someone (or something) lurking behind the hedge. I think you might have taken me a bit seriously on that one.
July 27th, 2008 @ 10:29 pm
Sounds as if this blog is turning into a lonely hearts meeting ground.
July 27th, 2008 @ 11:05 pm
Nope, our hearts are not lonely, and we’ve met already :P
We’re just waiting for Twenty to post his next post so we can argue with him.
July 27th, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
[...] this tendency for collaboration which brings me to to the next change of directions, sponsored by Twenty Major and Adrian [...]
July 27th, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
Ha, you sick bastard.
is that friend of yours taken yet ?
July 27th, 2008 @ 11:55 pm
we can all have a big war over this one perhaps?
I don’t really argue with anyone or anything in my posts cos they’re disconnected from any real sense of community.
I’m surprised no one complains about my almost completely off topic comments everywhere.
July 28th, 2008 @ 1:21 am
For the record, JC Skinner got booted off for using the name of a murdered boy to score a cheap point.
July 28th, 2008 @ 1:22 am
Hmm…I’m a bit late posting here, but if anyone is trying to argue that blogs are on the way out and is looking for a precedent, they can click on my name and draw their own conclusions.
July 28th, 2008 @ 1:29 am
For the record, JC Skinner got booted off for using the name of a murdered boy to score a cheap point.
hahaha
July 28th, 2008 @ 1:46 am
“For the record, JC Skinner got booted off for using the name of a murdered boy to score a cheap point.”
I think it is appalling that anyone could consider doing such a thing as that. I mean, they are bound to be be found out, for example by forgetting to delete the website link that they used on an earlier posting.
July 28th, 2008 @ 9:59 am
I stumbled across blogging through this site, after seeing it mentioned in a newspaper. I jumped in straight away without a second thought, and started posting comments. A few weeks later, I had a blog of my own, Then another. Then another.
Truth is, I don’t really care all that much about any of them. I write them under a variety of persona which all have very little in common with my real self. If any of them were gone tomorrow, I’d just set up another one, or jack it in altogether.
I’m sure there’s others out there who take it more seriously than I do, but at the same time there must be others who think of it in the same way. For us, it’s a way to waste time, nothing more, nothing less.
But the best thing about blogging in my opinion is that absolutely anyone can do it, -the good, the bad, and the totally illiterate. I think I’d prefer for it to stay that way than to conform to an identity, or ‘grow up’.
If blogging has a future, it’s entirely down to attracting new fresh talent, but a lot of people who might be good at it are put off by the commitment that’s necessary to set up a blog. I try (along with 3 other regular commenters here) to encourage people who don’t blog to give it a go. Click on my name if you want to try it out, and read the FUQs (Frequently Un-asked Questions)
Blogging doesn’t deserve the reverence it gets from bloggers. It’s basically just MySpace for the generation that’s too old for MySpace. Stop taking it seriously.
July 28th, 2008 @ 10:02 am
I read the whole post Twenty, and most of the comments and I have nothing constructive to add. Personally, I don’t get angry enough about things and when I do I’m not well informed enough to feel that I can contribute. There are people far more qualified to add to the debate.
I’m probably a cheerleader. Just without the pompoms.
July 28th, 2008 @ 10:04 am
I’m sure they’d suit you, Darragh. With the ra-ra skirt too.
July 28th, 2008 @ 10:23 am
Well I do have great legs :P
July 28th, 2008 @ 10:50 am
To each his own.
If you’re so bored by it then you’ll have to find something else to interest you. I, for one, am having a great time. I love reading positive stories and generally only subscribe to the more fun, entertaining and uplifting blogs. If I want to be angry and depressed I’ll talk to my family.
Maybe people in the Irish blogosphere are just happy at the moment and are enjoying their Summer. Maybe they’ve nothing to moan about and would rather share their happy stories instead. There’s no point injecting conflict just for the sake of it.
July 28th, 2008 @ 10:54 am
Who said anything about conflict just for the sake of it?
July 28th, 2008 @ 10:59 am
conflict just for the sake of it?
Come over here and say that, you cunt!
July 28th, 2008 @ 11:06 am
lol @ Monkey Balls.
@Twenty True true, you didn’t say ‘just for the sake of it’ but you seem to lament the lack of conflict and debate. What would you have us do? Abandon our joy-joys and start rowing about football and abortion. It’s just not that interesting. The community spirit, the pints and the Tweet-ups are far more exciting as far as I can see.
One thing – you say some people have been kicked off some blogs for challenging the writing. That’s definitely something to get angry about. Censorship of those who disagree with you is cheap and archaic. Does it really happen that often?
July 28th, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
I’m not suggesting people shouldn’t enjoy it, just that for it to thrive properly debate and argument are necessary. As I said in the post just because you disagree with somebody doesn’t make it personal, your point of view just differs.
As for the comment moderating, it happens frequently enough. Not just in Irish blogs but all over. I know of one subject specific blog with a very stringent point of view that actively deletes comments that challenge the blog’s authors (it’s not an Irish blog). That way they keep the whole tone of the blog the same, the rest of the commentators are all basically singing from the same hymn sheet.
Damien linked to an article today – http://www.qwghlm.co.uk/blog/2008/07/02/why-ive-stopped-reading-boingboing – about a guy who details the kind of censorship in place on Boing Boing, one of the biggest blogs in the world.
And there are just people who don’t like to be challenged over what they write.
July 28th, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
I sychophantically agree.
July 28th, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
Whats a ‘blog’?
July 28th, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
Damien said:
“No actual opinion, just boring reportage. That’s the job of the current media.”
Doubt that, mate. Whatever its shortcomings, you can’t tell me that the Daily Mail and The Irish Times are anywhere near each other in terms of opinions. Or the Sindo. Or the Sun. Or The Phoenix.
Twenty, for what it’s worth, I think that the reason there are few differences/fights anymore is that it’s damn easy to slag off and appear all rebellious when you’re disconnected from stuff. As soon as lads/lasses meet up, have a pint, maybe do a deal or two, all of a sudden, “we’re all in this together”, eh? And “we’re all getting on, sure the main thing is to get the kitchen re-wired”.
Ireland is a small (friendly) place, even for bloggers.
July 28th, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
I think there’s a lot of truth to that, Adrian.
July 28th, 2008 @ 5:26 pm
@Adrian
Apart from investigative journalism (rare) and opinion pieces in the newspapers it’s a case of X said this, Y disagreed and said that. Right, balance reached, let’s wrap it up. You read the headline and know what the start, begining and end is going to be. Tuppenceworth’s Paper Round showed how much content in newspapers is the exact same.
I’d like to see more opinion from people in the media. There are so many journalists that in print are boring people yet when you meet them in person they’re witty, brilliant and have a lot to say but for whatever reason they can’t get their personality into their pieces.
July 28th, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Damien,
I’ve never heard of an editor turning away a piece that was witty or brilliant. If anything, editors are crying out for new columnists who are exactly that. But there are very few consistently good writers around.
I agree that there is very little investigative journalism around. That’s a different story, I guess. I do think that your FOI requests are valuable though.
To come back to diversity of thought, would you ever see anyone making the kind of argument that Kevin Myers made on Africa a fortnight ago, online? It was reprehensible, but undeniably representative. Where’s that reflected in blogs?
July 28th, 2008 @ 6:20 pm
[...] have to ask though – what is TechWire (and by extension, Damien Mulley and TwentyMajor) expecting from [...]
July 28th, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
@Adrian
But yeah, that’s for columinsts not journalists who as I said are just reporting on matters and have had all their personality beaten or edited out. There’s space for pure “just the facts, none of the soul” but I do think that there should be more columnists. Way way more. Wouldn’t you love to see a political reporter saying “well what Fianna Fáil aren’t telling you in this story is that …” or “of course this is the same Minister that.”
You’ll get that in blogs.
For Myers, how about JC Skinner on Abortion? Not as talented as Myers but representative of the opinion of many. And unlike Myers he engaged in the comments with people too.
There are more extreme views of Myers too like Hibernia Girl and the Irish Savant or whatever he’s called.
Do searches for various topics that a newspaper covers and you’ll probably find independent thoughts on them in a search on IrishBlogs.ie
July 28th, 2008 @ 10:50 pm
*Signs up for ‘How to rant better than Kevin Myers’ evening class down at Ringsend VEC*
July 28th, 2008 @ 11:16 pm
[...] Thanks for visiting!I find myself in the all too familiar territory of agreeing entirely with something Twenty Major has said… the Irish blogging scene does feel a little dead at the moment. It’s like we’re [...]
July 29th, 2008 @ 9:43 am
Damien, you say:
Wouldn’t you love to see a political reporter saying “well what Fianna Fáil aren’t telling you in this story is that …” or “of course this is the same Minister that.”
In fairness, that’s what the likes of Fionnan Sheehan (pol editor of the Indo) does at least once or twice a week — often in front page news stories (I don’t have the links but check it out). Any further editorialising and he’d be accused of going tabloid (he often is, anyway).
Ultimately, though, being a columnist can be easy: manufacturing opinion is definitely easy. Finding something out is hard and takes much more skill. It often takes gut-turning plamas, revolting sycophancy or cold cruelty. We had a guy a couple of years ago who was our crime reporter and the lengths he used to go to were truly incredible. But he got new information and found things out. And it was his information which columnists then relied on to sit back over a cappucino and opine upon. (Of course, there’s definitely a place for that.)
Okay, I take your point on the availability of opinion diversity on Irish blogs. They’re just way harder to find and seem to pop up far more randomly in disparate places i.e. not reliably in one place.
July 29th, 2008 @ 11:10 am
Bring back Dubloon, that’s what I say.
July 29th, 2008 @ 11:34 am
heh, there’s a blast from the past.
July 29th, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
If Joe cut the legs off the hens they wound’t be able to go after the lettuces. And if they use their beaks to drag themselves veg-ward you could call some friends round and have bets to see which one wins. Thats the way I sorted my lot and now I have a house on Ibiza and all the baby lettuces I can eat.
July 29th, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
And I don’t have to give girls called ‘Jo’ an E but I live in Ibiza now and its the accepted way to get confusing sex on this island. They aren’t as interested in perfect baby lettuces for some reason. I’ll never understand the fuckers. Women, that is- not lettuces. I know all about them.
July 29th, 2008 @ 11:10 pm
I suspect one of the reasons is that people have learned that blogging isn’t quite the open plan all equal access public space they thought it was. It’s more like a public square where some of long standing have acquired mega phones and stand on tall plinths while newbies are for the most part just saying their piece on the sidelines.
If the newbie say something that finds favour with the great and the good they’re hailed, praised and linked to. If on the other hand the noob draws on their bad side the megaphone and plinth are used it to drown them out, moderate out their comments on the qt etc. If the newbie doesn’t disappear from the square the exalted can always just make up stories about how they’re being stalked, harassed and wait for their cheerleaders to turn into a lynch mob. It’s the web 2.0 way!
If the Irish blogging scene is a community, then it’s that town in Footloose where everyone stays on the right side of John Lithgow’s preacher character. And I’m no Kevin Bacon, not even a bad Chris Penn on my good days.