Do We Hail Blogging Only When It Suits Us?
In his recent post about the Dunkin Donuts ad, Naseem states:
“seriously, when malkin and her army of gonads start having enough power to sway corporations, that’s when you know we’re in big trouble.”
Now, this phrase raises a number of interesting questions. isn’t this the whole point of alternative media, especially blogging? is the power of blogging always a good thing?
We have always talked about blogging as an integral part of the new media and how blogging has become a new form of citizen journalism, and as bloggers we have always wanted to have that kind of influence not only over the general public but over traditional media as well, and then that actually happens. do we have the right as bloggers to condemn it?
I respect Nas and his views, but isn’t there a bit of hypocrisy in that statement? what gives us the right to loath another blogger just for having the kind of power that he/she has, regardless of their political agenda. do we (as bloggers) hail blogging only when it works for us?
Just some thoughts to ponder about.
ArabianMonkey on Sat, 31st May 2008 10:44 am
Good topic.
Blogging and citizen journalism is really about the wisdom of the crowd - be that in agreement or opposition of something you believe in. And blogging is certainly not a stand alone source of information, since there are other good, reliable, commendable sources out there, and that is something we should not negate. Yes, there is a decline in the quality of good journalism, but not all of it.
I believe that his DD scarf joke and blogger influence has very little to do with that wisdom. What happened here is that someone’s voice got to the company and the people in that company failed to look beyond that most probably. They just freaked, saying to themselves (in that sterile boardroom shut off from common sense) that they better pull the ad. They acted out of ignorance, fear and paranoia, sadly! They probably did not do another focus group test, nor did they bother going on to the other sources of information whether blogs or legacy media or individual experts or the dude on the street, fashionistas, etc and learn more so that they make a calculated decision.
But that’s just the assumption I made from reading and watching the various POVs out there on this stupid scarf story!
Nas on Sat, 31st May 2008 1:19 pm
first of all, malkin as a blogger is not what should be given credit here. she is a pundit who gets air time on cable shows like fox, and that’s where she draws her power; not from blogging.
second of all, there is such a thing as positive blogging that begs to be haild, and negative blogging that begs to be condemned.
If I use my blog to direct an angry mob at your house in an attempt to burn you alive based on, say, your ethnic background, then I am using my blog’s power to illicit hatred and racism.
If I use my blog to direct a group of people to an event that, say, supports the environment, then I would be using my blog’s power to illicit a sense of social responsibility and positivity.
Hence the key word when it comes to a blog’s relationship to power: responsibility.
Bakkouz on Sat, 31st May 2008 2:03 pm
ArabianMonkey:
That is true, I agree with you, it only shows how little good judgment the company has, though it has to be said that especially these days corporations in the states need to be extra careful about what message their transmitting to the general public. I’m not saying this to defend DD or anything, its just how it is, sadly.
Nas:
Take it easy my friend, no need to get on the offensive like that, ‘m just discussing a point here, its nothing personal, please don’t send the mob to burn my house down.
Now, If we were to be neutral here, we should look at it from an abstract point of view, its not about having positive or negative influence, influence is influence no matter what direction it takes, the matter of the fact is that it achieved something regardless of the fact that we did not like the outcome. which is what I’m talking about, I’m not concerned about Malkin as a TV personality rather as a blogger, since you yourself in your post addressed the issue as her being a prominent blogger.
Nas on Sat, 31st May 2008 4:39 pm
what are u talking about? im not getting personal or going on the offensive. im just giving you examples to highlight my argument. dont take it the wrong way.
of course outcome matters. that was the point of the post i wrote. if it was just about influence i would be agreeing with you, that in the name of new media she or anyone should be commended for the extent to which they were able to use new media tools to influence.
however, outcome matters. process matters.
blogging is a powerful tool: what you do that tool, with that instrument..how you wield it…to what purpose…THAT matters.
Hani Obaid on Sat, 31st May 2008 11:31 pm
It doesn’t seem to me like Nas’s statement is criticizing the power of blogging in general. Mutual civility is nice, but beyond that there’s no reason to refrain from criticizing another point of view simply because the person we disagree with is a fellow blogger.
Batir Wardam on Sun, 1st Jun 2008 12:14 am
Wow, a Circassian and karaki stand-off at its best. Take it easy guys both of you overreacted.
Samer Marzouq on Sun, 1st Jun 2008 11:30 am
Well, blogs are a credible type media cause it’s being generated by normal people, not by governments and media establishments that have certain agenda, in a way blogs show the ideology of people, it reveals the agenda of normal people.
If people in the west not only believed that we are terrorists but also joined their governments and traditional media in promoting it, then we are in a serious problem.
Imagine if AlQadea-like-minded people dominated the bloging scene in the Arab world, do you believe there will be a chance for both worlds to communicate and understand each other? It will give an indication that normal Arab people aspire to kill every person in the west.
It goes for the west with the existence of people like Malkin.
And by the way both of you are great bloggers, I’d rather look at it as a peaceful debate, right Batir?
Tololy on Sun, 1st Jun 2008 1:00 pm
After Batir’s comment I don’t know whose side to take, really. I am Karaki-Circassian, guess I’ll patch this ‘difference’ up.
I think Bakkouz raised a valid point, we can’t suggest to want to stop people expressing their opinions and lobbying for their causes through their blogs, whatever these causes may be. The way I see it, it is more expressive of the failure of the “counterargument” than the success of any given argument. Therefore, we should get our act together and react on a parallel level instead of whining about it. Maybe that’ll teach “us” something.
Tololy’s Box » Blog Archive » Lighten Up, Donut! on Sun, 1st Jun 2008 1:16 pm
[...] reading the discussion between Bakkouz and Nas, I found this hilariously doctored [...]
Nas on Sun, 1st Jun 2008 1:36 pm
lol what the heck is this? im not fighting anyone or anything, i’m simply providing my argument, even though bakkouz’s criticism has absolutely nothing to do with the original content of my post.
we, in the arab world, have an incredibly ill understanding of free speech, especially relative to the media. the western world is still grappling with these issues but suffice to say within the confines of the concept we know as free speech is the quintessential social contract we call responsible speech. to use free speech to illicit hatred upon a certain group of people is considered hate speech, and irresponsible.
that’s my argument.
in any case, there’s no need to refer to this as some sort of conflict or some ridiculous karaki-Circassian thing. i love bakkouz and his argument is valid, i’m merely providing my own.
Bakkouz on Sun, 1st Jun 2008 1:40 pm
I love you too Nas
Tololy on Sun, 1st Jun 2008 2:20 pm
Too much love, it’s choking me. Group hug.
za3tar on Mon, 2nd Jun 2008 9:45 am
I fail to see the “fight” that people are referring to.
Anyway, i agree with Nas on this one. First of all, Malkin is a right wing pundit on Fox news .. she is given air time and the support of an organization .. this is not exactly citizen journalism .. after all, people saw this thing on tv .. and tv is always right, isn’t it ?
Additionally, outcomes do matter! i think that Nas’s example is quite descriptive in this case.
Batir Wardam on Sun, 8th Jun 2008 9:44 am
I never learn my lesson. Whenever I get involved between two persons they always get Ok together and I end up with a black face (this is a social arabic term that does not imply any racism). Better keep my own business. :unsure:
almir on Mon, 9th Mar 2009 5:48 am
i don’t necessarily see a fight between you and nas but its just everyone is entitled to their own opinion and not many individuals can agree upon certain circumstances such as (1 plus 1 equals 2) while someone might say its really 3 (when it clearly equals 2)
Accme on Mon, 9th Mar 2009 5:41 pm
I think blogging is also a new form of typical journalism, so all the rules and regulations also apply. Web is different from the paper and TV media but it also having its attequetts.