After just reading the latest issue of TIME, I came to Joel Stein's column about comments at the end of articles. His premise is that by giving the comments as much (or more room)than the original article, one can actually change peoples' views about a well-balanced and non-biased article into negativity towards the article, and the writer, themselves. He bases this premise on personal observation, minor research (which he readily admits--tongue in proverbial cheek) and one article by a researcher on media communications.
I have often found myself ploughing through an article, on-line, only to come to the comments list, hoping for further insight into the issues raised--or issues not raised. More often than not, however, the comments, after two or three at the top, de-evolve into shouting matches, wherein people's i.q., sexual preference; physical make-up and /or personal hygiene becomes the fodder. I have seen absolutely sane discussions dissolve into the crudest name-calling contests imaginable, and I substitute teach kids in middle-school! (Why does it matter that someone got two comments on Yahoo, while a competing writer got three? What does one's breath quality have to do with anything online? Who cares if one sleeps with robots, or reads THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER for a hobby?)
A comment, after an article--whether the article was published in the NEW YORK TIMES, or on THE HUFFINGTON POST--should address issues raised in the article before it. It should ask questions that haven't been answered--or bring up points that were neglected by the original article's writer. Comments should be sane, and sanely represented. If someone is using the comment board to post racial, sexual, ageist, homophobic or bigoted slurs of any kind, they should be somehow "rated", if not barred, by the editors of these boards--starred as the crap they are--irrelevent and uninteresting. Giving them equal time and equal space,(often more space than the original article), does validate what Mr. Stein was upset about--and also contributes to the dumbing down of the planet.
I have commented, on occasion, when particular articles have angered me, or moved me to tears. When beloved heroes have passed. When a special event touches us all, as a nation, or as global citizens--but I have commented where it would add to the conversation. Negativity has its place in the order of the Universe, as does everything that exists, but it seems, extended name-calling, and pointing out the foibles of an individual who has commented before you (and who is unknown to the rest of the readers), is just plain absurd. Whether there is endless space available or not, I know, for myself, it shuts me down,(and off) as a reader. It rarely changes my mind about the article--nor the writer of the original article. However, it does cut me off from fair exchange of original ideas with other readers. It turns me off to the entire process: I begin to search elsewhere.
My hopes have always been that the Internet is the first, real democracy on the planet. Everyone has an equal voice--if they can make their way into virtual space. With the advent of increasingly affordable technology and shared techno-support--even countries who are the farthest behind in technology can give rise to their culture, their needs, their dreams. One doesn't have to be a President nor a Pope, to offer insight to the rest of the world. Soon, everyone, everywhere, will have this power. However, as with all power, the wisdom with which we use it will determine how it benefits the whole.
Comments are a perfect proving ground. If one doesn't feel ready to have one's own blog, or web-page, or even publish an article (or an entire e-book), a comment board is somewhere to cut one's teeth. Offering one's opinions to the world can be daunting. Learning to increase one's personal sense of power to help change the pattern of the world can be started through the use of simple comments. However, name calling, obscenity for the sake of being a wise-guy, crudity or just plain raunch has no good points--for anyone. Using precious space, polluting public arenas, or typing verbal garbage, reduces one to an angry five year old having a tantrum: something ugly and out of control. Stein said, that for him, finding comments at the end of his published articles, was, at first, like having a signed yearbook all over again--but this time around, girls were signing it...for a while. Then, it degenerated and wasn't quite so interesting.
I welcome comments. Not for simple praise (or blame), but for insight into what people think/feel/come away with,after reading what I write. I am working on this blog to offer solace to all the loners and artists and teachers and independent ones out there, who maybe don't find their stories in the popular press. I want to hear your adventures, too. I hope you do leave some comments--and continue coming back, to see what transpires--however fast or slowly. This is a blog about one person's life--just one human on Earth. It is a history that, before now, might have been squelched. It is a record of hope in dark times. It could only be offered at this point in our evolution.(Because of the Internet's access and because of you, as accessible audience.) So, comments are an important ingredient in the exchange.
Recently, a friend was writing an article for a national newspaper. She mentioned that numerous famous and "almost anonymous" bloggers were addressing similar issues she was taking on, in their blog posts. Whether she numbered me among the "almost anonymous" bloggers or not, the description stung. For every writer who has published, mainstream, in solo books or anthologies or in magazines with any sort of distribution or even in other sorts of periodicals, worldwide, to be numbered among the "anonymous bloggers" stings. We are all toiling to communicate beyond ourselves--believing in an unseen audience. Comments often are the only way we know anyone is listening--or reading. We may not be "famous"--at least not by today's definition of YouTube million-hit fame--but we are out here. We are touching readers; we are making people think, argue and discuss issues. Comments keep us in a constant reality-check. They have the power to count.
(In some sort of irony, my friend's article didn't get published. But my "anonymous blog" keeps moving on out into the world. Hmmmm.)
I have often found myself ploughing through an article, on-line, only to come to the comments list, hoping for further insight into the issues raised--or issues not raised. More often than not, however, the comments, after two or three at the top, de-evolve into shouting matches, wherein people's i.q., sexual preference; physical make-up and /or personal hygiene becomes the fodder. I have seen absolutely sane discussions dissolve into the crudest name-calling contests imaginable, and I substitute teach kids in middle-school! (Why does it matter that someone got two comments on Yahoo, while a competing writer got three? What does one's breath quality have to do with anything online? Who cares if one sleeps with robots, or reads THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER for a hobby?)
A comment, after an article--whether the article was published in the NEW YORK TIMES, or on THE HUFFINGTON POST--should address issues raised in the article before it. It should ask questions that haven't been answered--or bring up points that were neglected by the original article's writer. Comments should be sane, and sanely represented. If someone is using the comment board to post racial, sexual, ageist, homophobic or bigoted slurs of any kind, they should be somehow "rated", if not barred, by the editors of these boards--starred as the crap they are--irrelevent and uninteresting. Giving them equal time and equal space,(often more space than the original article), does validate what Mr. Stein was upset about--and also contributes to the dumbing down of the planet.
I have commented, on occasion, when particular articles have angered me, or moved me to tears. When beloved heroes have passed. When a special event touches us all, as a nation, or as global citizens--but I have commented where it would add to the conversation. Negativity has its place in the order of the Universe, as does everything that exists, but it seems, extended name-calling, and pointing out the foibles of an individual who has commented before you (and who is unknown to the rest of the readers), is just plain absurd. Whether there is endless space available or not, I know, for myself, it shuts me down,(and off) as a reader. It rarely changes my mind about the article--nor the writer of the original article. However, it does cut me off from fair exchange of original ideas with other readers. It turns me off to the entire process: I begin to search elsewhere.
My hopes have always been that the Internet is the first, real democracy on the planet. Everyone has an equal voice--if they can make their way into virtual space. With the advent of increasingly affordable technology and shared techno-support--even countries who are the farthest behind in technology can give rise to their culture, their needs, their dreams. One doesn't have to be a President nor a Pope, to offer insight to the rest of the world. Soon, everyone, everywhere, will have this power. However, as with all power, the wisdom with which we use it will determine how it benefits the whole.
Comments are a perfect proving ground. If one doesn't feel ready to have one's own blog, or web-page, or even publish an article (or an entire e-book), a comment board is somewhere to cut one's teeth. Offering one's opinions to the world can be daunting. Learning to increase one's personal sense of power to help change the pattern of the world can be started through the use of simple comments. However, name calling, obscenity for the sake of being a wise-guy, crudity or just plain raunch has no good points--for anyone. Using precious space, polluting public arenas, or typing verbal garbage, reduces one to an angry five year old having a tantrum: something ugly and out of control. Stein said, that for him, finding comments at the end of his published articles, was, at first, like having a signed yearbook all over again--but this time around, girls were signing it...for a while. Then, it degenerated and wasn't quite so interesting.
I welcome comments. Not for simple praise (or blame), but for insight into what people think/feel/come away with,after reading what I write. I am working on this blog to offer solace to all the loners and artists and teachers and independent ones out there, who maybe don't find their stories in the popular press. I want to hear your adventures, too. I hope you do leave some comments--and continue coming back, to see what transpires--however fast or slowly. This is a blog about one person's life--just one human on Earth. It is a history that, before now, might have been squelched. It is a record of hope in dark times. It could only be offered at this point in our evolution.(Because of the Internet's access and because of you, as accessible audience.) So, comments are an important ingredient in the exchange.
Recently, a friend was writing an article for a national newspaper. She mentioned that numerous famous and "almost anonymous" bloggers were addressing similar issues she was taking on, in their blog posts. Whether she numbered me among the "almost anonymous" bloggers or not, the description stung. For every writer who has published, mainstream, in solo books or anthologies or in magazines with any sort of distribution or even in other sorts of periodicals, worldwide, to be numbered among the "anonymous bloggers" stings. We are all toiling to communicate beyond ourselves--believing in an unseen audience. Comments often are the only way we know anyone is listening--or reading. We may not be "famous"--at least not by today's definition of YouTube million-hit fame--but we are out here. We are touching readers; we are making people think, argue and discuss issues. Comments keep us in a constant reality-check. They have the power to count.
(In some sort of irony, my friend's article didn't get published. But my "anonymous blog" keeps moving on out into the world. Hmmmm.)
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