"Get it?"

It's not the blogs I hate, it's their fans

Say "blog" in casual conversation, and it still evokes the spectre of shreiky, pompous demagogues and self-absorbed pedants.

It's a misleading image, but to be sure, the demagogues and pedants are still out there, fouling up the place. You might be one of them. Here's a simple quiz: Do you only blog about other bloggers? Do you engage in public blog-fights with other bloggers, leaving stinging retorts on each other's pages? Have you ever complained that people who don't agree with you "just don't get it?"

Have you ever proved your point by arguing that people with differing views - the non-it-getters - suffer from mental illness? Is every post you write followed by dozens or hundreds of comments from fellow it-getters wishing to burnish their credentials?

Put it like this: If a reasonable third party were to read your blog, would they come away feeling better about being human, or worse? You might disagree with me here, but as a rule of thumb, blogs that make me despair for the species are not good blogs.

UPDATE: Jay Rosen comments, "Who are they, these enthusiasts who claim that blogs will replace old media?" and Ivor responds.

Comment Policy

This policy was adapted from the International Law Society Blog and modified for use here.

A non-exclusive list:

1. Comments are expected to reflect different points of view. Critiques of others' positions are to be expected, but those critiques should be of the argument, not the person. No insults. It is unacceptable to call into question a poster's/commenter's value or intelligence.

2. This blog allows anonymous/pseudonymous comments. Do not abuse that privilege in the form of sock-puppetry, impersonation, astroturfing, etc.

3. This blog is not an ad agency. It's fine for commenters to note that they have said something useful or related on their blog or in their book. However, comments should not simply plug unrelated blog posts, books, and so on.

4. Comments should be related to the blog entry to which they're posted, or to a subsequent comment on that entry. Of course, some amount of topic-shifting is normal in any discussion. However, completely-off-topic comments are not appropriate.

5. Comments are expected to be intelligible. That means keeping some internet-chat acronyms to a minimum; writing in plain English; proofreading; spell checking. Of course, perfection is not required, and we also understand that some commenters may not speak English well. In general, we just ask that commenters strive to make their comments readily intelligible.

6. Violations of intellectual property laws will not be tolerated. Violations of other laws, including defamation and slander, will not be tolerated.

7. While I am a strong supporter of freedom of speach, please strive to avoid blatantly offensive language/content or language/content that could be reasonably construed as such. My desire is to keep this forum as open and welcoming as possible to people of all nationalities, races, ethnic groups, sexes, sexual orientations, social statuses, ideologies, religions, and faiths. Keep this in mind when considering whether your choice of wording might be deemed patently offensive. Comments that I believe patently/blatantly violate a standard of respect for the views and beliefs of others, and/or could be reasonably percieved as obscene by other contributors, are not welcome.

8. These policies will be enforced by me. Enforcement may include some combination of warning offenders, requesting an edit, deleting offending comments/posts, and where necessary banning commenters' IP addresses.

9. These policies may be added to or modified as necessary. I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Introduction

Welcome to my new (second) blog!

My first blog was Sisyphean Musings, which has been taken over by a splogger. I published Sisyphean Musings for more than a year, from 5 January 2005 to 21 May 2006. I deleted the blog for several reasons, but mostly because I wanted to take a break and start over when I was ready.

So, I guess I'm ready.

I do want to reaffirm my goals for my blogging. These are standards that I want to hold myself to and that you, my reader, should expect from me.

I will always try to:

1. Refrain from posting a link to any material I have not read thoroughly and carefully. Just because I link to something does not mean I endorse it.

2. Make sure that I explain concepts presented in source material that undergird my analyses to my readers.

3. Attempt to be fair in my representations of all political factions, or when being sarcastic, to make that known.

4. Update entries as new material becomes available.

5. Welcome comments that will help to fact-check the material I have linked to.

6. Correct my errors and omissions promptly.

7. Reply to correspondence and comments promptly and politely. I will, however, ignore, ridicule, delete or IP-ban anonymous commenters as I see fit.

8. Strive for the best writing and analysis that I am capable of producing--understanding that some days will be better than others.

9. Avoid flaming other bloggers and responding to flamebait.

The best part of blogging for me has been the people I have met (and intend to meet). For example, soon after starting Sisyphean Musings I worked with Bob Cox to arrange the first ever Milblog session at BlogNashville on 7 May 2005. I was a panelist with Robin Burke, Steve Shippert, Bill Roggio and Don Sensing. There I met Andi, of Andi's World. Andi organized the first Milblog conference on 22 April 2006 and is planning the 2d annual Milblog conference on 5 May 2007.

I also met Dr. Andy Cline (among many others) at BlogNashville. I spent a lot of time talking with Andy and he even credited me with contributing to his revision of the illocutionary act of speech-act theory. He changed his formula from CF(p)^r -> PE to F^r(p) / C ->PE.

I recently met Dr. Jay Rosen when he accepted an invitation to guest lecture at the United States Military Academy's Mass Media and American Politics course. Although I can take credit for initiating this, MAJ Joseph Scrocca at the Department of Social Sciences made it happen.

There are many bloggers I enjoy reading as well as blog readers I enjoy hearing from in the comments section. I am looking forward to future conversations with them and meeting them someday when our paths cross.