While reading New Orleans, Louisiana, USA blogger Bayoust John David's August 9, 2007, post in Moldy City headlined "Disgusted, Trying not to be Amused. However, I will try to be tactful," I came across this paragraph in the section titled Trying to be tactful:
All bloggers have different ideas about what they want to do with their blogs, and the following certainly isn't aimed at bloggers like Karen or Ray who use their blogs as an adjunct to civic activism or to organize reconstruction related activities; they have my utmost respect. The same applies to the few "citizen journalists," like Dambala [link added] or Matt McBride [link added], who have the ability to do actual reporting. This applies to the vast majority of "citizen journalists" who are more or less in the op-ed business. Aside from stroking their own egos, such bloggers should occasionally ask themselves what their trying to accomplish with their blogs.
Later in the post, which raises many valid points worthy of consideration, the writer offers the following observation:
I understand that many local bloggers would rather concentrate on federal responsibility for the city's situation; that's certainly valid. Though I personally feel that local bloggers have a better chance of affecting local perceptions, I'd probably do more of that if I had more time, and there weren't so many other bloggers doing. Although I think that "we are not O.K." posts don't usually accomplish anything (for reasons explained, poorly, here and for other reasons that require little or no explanation), but such posts are certainly valid. However, there are times --not just days, but weeks -- when the local bloggersphere doesn't show much interest in any of the above. Look at some of the posts that get the most comments on local blogs and then read those comments (this was especially true prior to the Vitter scandal), now ask yourself what a web surfing cab driver from Detroit would think of the great New Orleans blogging community. Honestly, aren't there times when it would look like little more than a clique of salonistes out to impress each other with their pop culture references? Certainly, at least, at times.
David certainly makes timely and relevant observations about blogging in New Orleans.. However, for blogging in general, I think it's up to each blogger to decide how far and which direction he or she wants to go unless a blogger has made a time-specific commitment to a group blog. Sometimes you have to take a break, engage in something that allows you to recreate yourself and then get back in the game. Even soldiers on a battlefield needs R&R (Rest and Recreation). What do you think?
See ThinkNola.com's "List of New Orleans bloggers" to read their posts on various topics.
Note: Thanks to New Orleans' Leigh C at Liprap's Lament - The Line for pointing to Bayoust John David's thought-provoking post. See her August 10, 2007, post for her perspective on blogging.
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