I don’t pretend to be a writer in the league of Conrado de Quiros, nor do I purport to be an accomplished blogger of long standing in the Pinoy blogosphere. However, I cannot but help notice a problem among a number of bloggers. Blogging is a free means of expressing oneself freely — yes, it is a right, not a privilege — however, many bloggers do not seem to realize that freedom comes hand-in-hand with responsibility. So, after much bloghopping, I have come to realize that quite a few bloggers out there just say what they want, publish anything they feel like publishing, without regard for journalistic ethic or, worse, without considering the consequences.
What pushed me to write about this are an article and the accompanying comments at Yugatech.com. The comments that have come out behooved me to write about what, in my own opinion, blogging ethics might ideally be.
First off, the idea or the presumption of a linguistically level playing field. In other words, how can one argue with people who do not even have a grasp of the language in use? Honestly. And I’m not even nitpicking on grammar or spelling here. How is it possible to carry on a meaningful discussion with someone who mistakenly assumes the meaning of a certain concept? For example, talking about the bourgeoise, the upper echelons of society. I was carrying on a debate with someone about the participation of the bourgeoisie in the Edsa revolution, and I’d assumed that this person had a working knowledge of what this word meant. After much pointless interchange, I realized that our discussion was going nowhere because this person had no idea what ‘bourgeoise’ meant!
Another one: sarcasm. Sarcasm has no place in any meaningful intellectual interchange. Why? Because it has no other purpose but to hurt the other party. Also, it implies that the one who’s being sarcastic has no better thing to say anymore. Nothing more to contribute in any real sense. So in that case, why participate in a discussion at all? If you can’t hold your own intelligently, it would be better to concede and be gracious about it. Being sarcastic just aggravates a potentially volatile argument. Remember: the purpose of engaging in debates, discussions, intellectual arguments is to arrive at a resolution. Otherwise, why do it all? Unless you just got to be sophomoric about things….
The problem with some bloggers is — especially those who do not come from any journalism background — they think they can post anything they feel like doing so. The freedom and right of blogging does not give license to anyone to just type away without careful thought. As bloggers, I believe that we have a responsibility and a commitment to produce quality content, in whatever genre in which we find ourselves. This should naturally apply to commenting as well.
Further, I believe that, should one seriously consider blogging in a way that approaches journalism, one must strive to improve linguistically. Informed language, after all, delivers one’s message clearly and effectively, without danger of misunderstanding or, worse, being labeled as stupid.
1:50 am on 7 Apr 2007
I’ll Drink to That!
Meetup ulet?
2:29 am on 7 Apr 2007
Davao Blog - Writting workshop. ?
hehehe.
10:49 am on 7 Apr 2007
@Jun — a blog-writing workshop is a good idea!
@hoop — Nomimashou! hehe
11:19 am on 7 Apr 2007
read and commented, and wouldn’t you know it. I happen to agree with ya!
8:29 pm on 7 Apr 2007
@ericzoo — read your comment at yuga’s blog. what you wrote was very sensible, if i may say so. it escapes me how some people can’t see certain things. oh well, like i said, we’re not out to convince anyone anyway.
10:54 am on 9 Apr 2007
It’s the size of the fight in the dog, as they say.
12:22 pm on 9 Apr 2007
@Bulletproofvest — hehehe! true, true
10:56 am on 19 Apr 2007
blogging became such a hit with the masses because it allows people to say anything, everything they want. it is a means to express one’s self freely, without interference from other people. we all need that, once in a while. the absence of interference, and judgment.
“The problem with some bloggers is — especially those who do not come from any journalism background — they think they can post anything they feel like doing so. The freedom and right of blogging does not give license to anyone to just type away without careful thought. As bloggers, I believe that we have a responsibility and a commitment to produce quality content, in whatever genre in which we find ourselves. This should naturally apply to commenting as well.”
they can, and no one can do anything about it. it is always the reader’s choice to continue reading the content or label it as trash. only few are good writers. does that mean that only few should blog? if yes, then the essence of blogging is lost, which is to share thoughts and experiences about the things that matter to an individual, no matter how ill-written they may be.
also, i am guilty of sarcasm. i am a very sarcastic person, and i often use it when i write. “[sarcasm]…has no other purpose but to hurt the other party”. i disagree. i believe that sarcasm can get a point across well, if used properly. and sarcasm is not only used to aggravate, and it is not only used during arguments. sarcasm, humor, dry wit—they also belong in the same group.
peace, man! ^_^ i found your article a very intellectually stimulating read, hence the long comment.
5:57 pm on 19 Apr 2007
hello liz!
sorry, i didn’t mean to imply that only people who can write well should blog. i think i may have over-emphasized the ‘writing well’ idea…. i agree with you now: blogging, as a free means of expression, doesn’t have to follow journalistic rules. i was simply stating what i impose upon myself.
but i disagree with you on sarcasm. i wouldn’t put it up there along with wit or humor. those two have positivity built-in. sarcasm doesn’t. yeah sarcasm does help you get your point across, but it will also cause negative feelings, which would be better avoided. but, but, it’s all really up to the writer. my own rule of thumb is, if i can avoid being sarcastic (esp. in an argument) i will. but that’s me.
12:24 pm on 21 Apr 2007
i would put forward that sarcasm and irony are valuable tools for the serious opinion blogger. even if mlq3 holds blogging to be something like opinion dissemination (and perhaps persuasion) by pamphleteering, i lean more to the idea that blogging is like speechmaking in hyde park with all the ranting and raving. the idea is that the blogosphere is less a place where ideas are shared, but a battlefield where opposing opinions can contend freely.
my only regret is that a lot of people who take offense are willing to strike another for the offense (i would suppose that such an attitude is one contributing factor for journalist shootings?). too bad that the ideas in the speech of that guy andrew shepherd in the movie “the american president” isn’t always kept in mind.
i agree with you, though, with the need for some sense of decorum.
12:49 pm on 21 Apr 2007
@jester-in-exile — yeah, i can relate to what you’re saying, actually. that’s why i don’t strike other people needlessly. some of my writer friends think that i lack the balls because i don’t bring fire and brimstone down on people i want to criticize… first of all, that’s not my style; second, why be so hurtful when you can be more effective (IMO) by being more compassionate?
say, what did that andrew shepherd character say in that movie? i remember i was impressed by that speech, but i just can’t recall what it was…
9:14 pm on 21 Apr 2007
humor and wit. they are not always positive—jokes are sometimes made at the expense of another’s misery. why is slapstick comedy called comedy? Oscar Wilde had wit. why then did a lot of people dislike him during his era? Chris Rock. he’s funny and witty, but i don’t think i want to be at the end of the butt of his joke.
i guess what i’m trying to say is, sarcasm can bring a point across better if executed properly. not all sarcastic jabs generate ill-feeling. i should know, or else i would not have friends. ^_^
1:05 pm on 22 Apr 2007
@liz — point taken. you’ve put it very convincingly. ok, i’ll try sarcasm out for size..
12:03 am on 25 Apr 2007
i read blogs. i believe it’s a free expression of how you feel. you dont have to follow certain methodologies of literary writing. however, i also believe that “for charity’s sake to the readers”…i appeal to all bloggers to write something substantial and worth reading.
i have so many friends who informed me to check out their blogs only to realize that the contents of the blogs are just phrases like “wala lang”, “try lang”, “hehehehe”…it really freaks me out!