The Dark Side Of Blogs

Hey Jim, your writing is growing even shaper and more crisp. Good stuff.

Hi Jim,

Love this entry. I’m a blogger on http://www.B-Eye-Network.com, a well-known industry publication for Data Integration and Data Warehousing. One thing I like to do, is when I post a rant, I tell people: “this is a rant…”, but most of my postings are in fact slighted. There’s a reason, controversial blogging entries bring in readers – and people actually comment on those more than those “news entries”.

On the other hand, blogging just news entries can become a problem – too many “news repeaters” spring up with no opinion, only the title gets’ readers. Who’s to say that the news entries aren’t slighted as well?

My blog entries are full of my opinion, but I try to show respect to my readers and the market place at large by discussing both pro’s and con’s of issues over time. I also “listen” to my readers by blogging based on their comments.

Keep up the great work!

Cheers,
Dan Linstedt

Great post Jim! As usual, you are a fantastic writer and communicator. Thanks for the always useful tips and heads up.

TL

Nice one Jim. This post is spot on.

It really is “buyer beware” when reading blogs. But actually, although blogs are much more immediate than web sites I think web sites are also something to beware of.

Jim, I am not a big fan of blogs in general…don’t have the time to read them all and sort out the “junk.” Your topic today caught my eye for just that reason. If I started a blog today, “being discerning about what you read and listen to” would be one of my first “rants.” I DO feel passionate about it.

I want to encourage everyone to take your words to heart…and then to apply it not just to blogs, or websites, but also to newsletters and newspapers and radio and TV news.

We are so often bombarded by news that has, intentionally or otherwise, been slanted to create a sense of urgency or excitement or outrage that we must work…hard…to filter out the garbage to find the truth.

Of course, others don’t have to listen to me (or you) but I passionately hope at least one person will as a result of your blog. Thank you!

Very astute, as usual. Any medium that allows posting in anonymity opens itself to the kind of thing you talk about here.

If anyone doubts this, they only have to scan the public bulletin boards and forums relating to the stock market or network marketing companies.

Insiders try to pump up the company of choice, while competitors and the disgruntled freely share their own viewpoints as “fact”.

So, as you say, people should take information found on the net, not with a grain of salt, but with a whole handful.

Jim, good post, but you could say the same thing about forums or websites in general (or books or any other media, for that metter). People can write whatever they want, true or not.

Hi Jim,

I believe that your comments apply to the mainstream media as much as to blogs. The sheer scale of lies and misinformation perpetrated within mainstream media would make many a blogger blush. Government spin and outright lies are even less palatable.

Let’s face it with today’s technology you cannot believe the images shown on television or on your computer screen. You cannot even believe what you hear as one can add or remove recorded words at the touch of a button.

There is a constant need to filter out the garbage. I try to corroborate what I read by cross checking various sources across the world. With time one get a feel for which website, journalist or blogger gives you reasonably good quality information.

And even then I use a pinch of salt.

Keep up the good work.

Hi Jim,

As always, a “right-on-the-money” post!

I think the problem has gotten worse, especially
in recent months, across the entire “blogosphere”.
No doubt, this situation is due to the explosive
rate at which blogs are being created lately, as
well as the new purposes they are being created for.

As others have commented, this is not unique to
blogs, but can also be found on websites, forums,
etc., but it’s blogs that are getting the main
attention as of late, so of course it “seems” that
the problem is worse in that arena.

Bottom line is, whether it’s a blog, a website, a forum, or any other area of the internet, taking what is read as “fact” is, at best, foolhardy, and at worst, dangerous.

As one of the comments above states, “people
should take information found on the net, not with
a grain of salt, but with a whole handful.”

Lately, I find myself using TWO handfuls of salt more oftern than I used to feel the need for.

Of course, one of the VERY few times that I can put the salt away, it being unnecessary, is when visiting the “I Gotta Tell You” blog.

And for that, dear Jim, I sincerely thank you!

Keep doing the great work that you’ve been doing,
please.

All of us, your faithful readers, depend on it!

Best regards,

Ken Germann

Another great article Jim, thanks, which I have reposted to my blog.

Of course this applies to everything; standard websites, all forms of media (speaking as a former journo myself), as well as blogs, but I do think people tend to forget the need to discern.

Jim, I’m a fan, but I wish you’d be more specific in your ‘dark side’ post. Are your hackles up about AOL or about some blog that has defamed you or others?

Ok… specifics of what I’m talking about:

1. people who blatantly manipulate others because they have a plan to sell something later.

2. people who have a social agenda they don’t reveal, but twist the facts to make people see things a certain way (when in reality it’s not the case)

3. people who get all hyped up about a political subject and twist the facts so people get a distorted view

4. people who mess with people’s minds because their defenses go down when they think they are reading “news” when in actuality they are not

5. people who blatantly lie, but do it in such a way that people who don’t check the facts will fall victim to the lie, including:

a. product promotion
b. political information
c. making comments on blogs

6. people who use anonymity to cover their tracks when they lie… or manipulate others… because the usual social controls on them in the “real” world don’t exist online.

That’s all I can think of off the top of my head… I’ll let you know if I think of more.

Jim

… ps… it’s not one in particular, it’s the whole “system” that people need to be aware of.

I can handle some idiot making comments about me… that’s not the point here… the point is people don’t understand the social dynamics going on here that make for a dangerous combination when paired up with unscrupulous or ignorant marketers, business people, political pundits, religious zealots and the like.

If this were posted on a blog, we might have a democratic discussion and exchange ideas on the pros and cons of internet communications and blogs specifically. Because this information is disseminated via email, the opinion expressed is not subject to a dialogue. If one were truly a demagogue, which medium would they choose?
I really do disagree with your tone in this post, excuse me, message. Are you not doing exactly what you accuse bloggers of doing?

You say, “Even if they strive to be impartial and only report the
“news,” blog publishers are human beings who want you to
think they’re smart, agree with them, and accept their point
of view, even if they don’t realize it consciously.”

Where is the balance? Are all bloggers evil gossip mongers in your “opinion”?

Many blogs are set up for the development of on-line relationships with people who have never met you. The interaction that has resulted has helped to develop an amazing community in short time that would not have been possible with out blogging. I think I understand what you are trying to say, but you cast a very broad and negative generalization on all blogging. It makes me wonder, if you’d like to be the “hall monitor”.

As always, I really enjoy the dialogue,

Well “D” — you get an A+ today

You cut to the heart of the message… there is no solution… only personal responsibility on the part of the sender and receiver of the information.

For the sender:
1. do your best to present the facts as you see them.
2. be honest
3. server the public as best you can

For the receiver:
1. get to know the source of information before taking it as “truth”
2. understand that “truth” is a relative term
3. always “trust but verify” even if the source is known and trusted

Jim

Hi Jim,

Great post, I love the way you bring across your information. Everything flows so naturally.

But, I do believe that evryone does something in life for a return, some do it with a willing heart and other do it because they have to.

This move by AOL, is eventually for the long term gain, it also shows that blogs are becoming more and more important.

Some people don’t even have a clue when they visit a blog or a website. The process is the same each is trying to make a profit, some only prey on the weak, while others do help.

I do believe that no matter whether it’s the net or in the real world, we should always be very cautious as to the decisions we make.

By the way, great blog you got going.

Alex Marlin

This is one article that I just ahev to disagree with you on Jim. Posted my views here.
http://marketingslave.com/2005/10/12/do-blogs-have-a-dark-side/

I was just having a discussion last night with my boyfriend about the power of internet anonymity… He was irritated at the rude comments on a forum in his industry – he’s never done the forum thing – and didn’t understand why some people were so unpleasant.

Why? Beause they believe they can be, they feel powerful behind their little screens, and no one will ever knock on their door an call them out on it.

With the internet marketing area, there are lots of bloggers – I decided to fill a need by starting an internet marketing blog directory and ping service. But as part of the approval process, I review each blog looking for actual *content* – not just “reviews” of products and affiliate links.

It’s another instance of being “published” and seeing yourself, or having others see you, as an expert. Blogging allows instant author/publisher, even reporter, status. Readers must be intelligent and make their own decisions about a writer – any writer’s – words.

And I’ll second the comments above about media – all media – needs to be reviewed just as closely when forming our own opinions.

Dear Jim,

I hope this blog post helps someone somewhere, it’s a look at what we don’t know what future holds and this gives some of us a hard time! Hope you enjoy.

The great unknown!

This has to deal with the fact that you are never sure of what is around the corner and how that paralazes you as it does all with a mental health disorder. How most people are just able to roll with the punches and let what-ever happens, happen and deal with it accordinly. Yet you can never seem to get any rest beacause you are unsure of your next move will be and this drives you litterly nuts. When will I get back to work? How much will I make? Will it be enough? What will I wear? How long will lunch break be? Will my boss be a jerk? Can I handle it?

How am I gonna pay the rent? What if they take my disability away? Question after question and are there any concret answers to these? We all know that a normal person would just take them in stride and roll with the punches, but you have General Anxiety Disorder and you worry and worry and you just can’t get any sleep at night! What you don’t know kills you and you aren’t sure how you are going to deal with it, how does anyone for that matter? We all know that we all face troubles and trials and the normal person just takes them in stride and moves on but how? They are catastrofice to you! I mean I can’t breath! What am I going to do? How will I MAKE IT? WHAT’S NEXT? HOW MANY? WHAT DIRECTION? WHERE? WHEN? WHY?

I mean just when you think you have something figured out BANG! The great unknow happens, the thing that you least exspect and that which you feared greatly and now it has happened, Rember Job from the bible, “THAT WHICH I FEARED HAS COME TO PASS!” IT ALL START’S WITH A THOUGHT, SO WHEN YOU GET THAT NEGITIVE THOUGHT, STOP RIGHT THEIR AND SEE IF THIS IS ACTULLY WHAT YOU WANT, IF NOT THEN INSERT THAT POSTIVE AFFRIMATION OF HOW YOU WOULD WANT THINGS TO BE, THIS MY FRIEND IS A START IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!

What should you do now? This sets you up for another though qeustion, one that sends you into a tail spin, one that you can’t handle and you feel like you are gonna to snap in two. Just when it seems like nothing else can go wrong it does and there you are up stream without a orr. What are you gonna do now? God only knows and this is true, as you sure and the hell don’t and don’t hold your breath as you may never figure it out! So much for being a grown up and you thought it was gonna be so much fun! Little did you know there was going to be all these decisions to make!

Needless to say that if you have a GAD it makes the great unseen and unkown much harder to accept than it is on

“NORMAL”

people. Yes it causes you undue stress and you just can’t seem to get over the hump in your worst times and even in your good times you still sometimes have it rough. Yet we must interject something here the great unkown effects all of us in some way or another and we all deal with it in our own way. Some choose to drink or go to the bar and get wasted and some choose to roll a joint, while others choose to yell at there children or wife!

So let me state here you don’t have to be biologically unhappy for the great unkown to hit you and you would be surprized at how many people it does affect and what it does to those people are longer than a list as big as my arm. I was simply letting you know how at times the great unkown can and will affect someone who is biologically unhappy. This is in no way the only way we all react and there are times when the decsions don’t effect me at all and I can just keep on trucking with the best of them. So if the decision makeing process is getting you down that’s ok it does others too, just try to relax and think with a clear mind and take your time and make a decision that you can be sure is the correct answer for you and know that the great unkown causes problem for us all at times and remember that you aren’t any differemt than anyone else for some it will be easy and some will be hard it just verys with the terittory. So the next time you are confronted with a problem know that you are

“NORMAL”

and that should make you smile, because you are no different than the guy next door. He has to deal with the great unknon at times and he will deal with it in his own way, and who knows If that way is the best or worst way! One thing you can rest assured is that we all don’t like the great unknown and if given a chance we would all avoid it if possible, so you my friend are normal!

The only time that you may need to seek professional help, is when you just can’t seem to funtion or when the situtation you just can’t handle it and you want to take your own life! STOP RIGHT THERE AND PICK UP THE PHONE AND MAKE THE CALL, DO IT NOW YOU WILL THANK ME TOMORROW!

With Much Love & Compassion,
Arthur Buchanan

As always Jim you started people talking. Thats a good thing though we need to talk about it so we can hear what others have to say right? But thats what blogging for too right?
As a blogger myself I know what I write is my thoughts, feelings fears and my readers know that I tend to be very honest in what I have to say.

There isn’t anything these days that someone doesn’t come along and find a way **** it up for the rest of us. Nothing is sacred anymore. We can’t do anything with either the goverment telling us NO, the public frowning on what you want to do, in fact in someways no one wants us to think for ourselves.
That is why blogs are so good, you are seeing what Real people say, feel, think without having to worry about someone putting a label on it telling us its bad for us. The best way to look at anything that is offering information is with a jaded eye.

Come on people start thinking for yourself! Look at your values, your own thoughts, do you want to believe what is being said? Or don’t you? Its all left up the that people looking at the screen right now, do you believe what I have said or no?

Blogging will always be someone opinion, we all know that opinions are like a**holes, we all have one.
You know where to find me.

Hi Jim
I just want to say I really enjoy your humour. You have such a sense of fun in everything you do! I love receiving your comments and creations, sadly I live on the other side of the world in sunny South Africa. So your meetings are not just a hop skip and a jump away.
Keep up with your incredable sense of humour.
Greatings
Deborah

Great Message Jim!

You have been doing this a long time and people have come to trust you. Not everyone plays by the same rules as yourself and others. People need to question other sources more and not be lambs led to slaughter.

It seems that the people are more and more becoming mindless drones and taking everything at face value. We need to question peoples sources more. Figure out what really are their intentions.You don’t have to be a plummer to see and know what crap is!