http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/eai/integration/archives/the-real-purpose-of-a-blog-4214 and it kind of sickened me. As a blogger I say that my motivation has nothing to do with money and I would stop blogging before I would dare try to capitalize on my readers. Blogs like most of the Internet are being hijacked by the marketing crowd who seem to see $$$ attached to everything. Cant we have one little corner of what was once a free for all (Internet) that isn’t monetized. I don’t know how amyone else feels but I am just getting fed up with the capitalism and consumerism particularly online. I think I will start a gopher site just to be in the free zone
This also made me ask why do I blog? Well I do because I like to get my thoughts out. I like to think I am adding something to world by sharing my thoughts and experiences. Also I like to meet cool people and read their stuff. No I am not seeing it as social networking market. I really do hope someone can benefit from my rambling nonsense. I know I do from the blogs of fellow bloggers and friends.
5 comments:
I've definitely learned from your blog.
And I feel richer for knowing you. We share similar ideas on the Church and Christianity. I know I'm not alone.
(and dude, I am hoping that you and your wife come to my housewarming party on SAT, FEB 23rd.)
email me if interested.
Ooh, you should totally go to Crallspace's housewarming party; that's my birthday! And since you probably don't want to drive all the way up here to celebrate (I don't think we're throwing a party or anything anyway), you could at least go party somewhere else. Toast me, or something. :)
Re: your post. Yeah, I don't like how Tripod and other web hosts put ads on my site (pete and I have a piddly little webpage, mostly devoted to our wedding), but I don't mind if bloggers put ads on their own site. Like Dooce and her husband, who have ads (that they get to approve of) on their blogs. They aren't intrusive, and I've actually clicked on a few b/c they looked like neat products. And I don't mind b/c I know it's allowing them to stay home and spend more time with their 3-year-old daughter. But it sucks when there are ads on your site not of your own choosing.
Crallspace,
We definitely want to go to the party. Just trying to get an email to go thru. If you dont get one email me at my alt email address spiritbear928(at)yahoo(dot)com
Ninjanun, Sure I can do a toast for you if possible.
I didnt realize it was your Birthday. Have a happy birthday. Dont party too hard :)
On the note of coming up to Seattle. If I do get up there again would you and the Pete want to get together again? I think it would a lot of fun. My wife wants to meet you. I could bring her next time. I probably get there about once every 4-6 months because my dad lives there. There is also an event that Brian McLaren is going to speaka at sometime in April in Seattle that we are pondering going to.
On the monetizing note, I guess if the author has complete control of the ads its probably OK. I just have a problem with corporations trying to suck dollars out of everything and blogging shouldnt be about money. Just my take.
I will have to check out Dooce's blog. Sounds like they are doing it for a good cause.
I have no problem with people making a few bucks to take care of their families. I want to do some on the side computer work to bring in a few extra $$. My main issue is with those who already have the majority of the wealth squeezing pennies out of normal people.
Having been on the net since the mid 90s I remember what it once was. Blogs didnt exist but they would have been a great addition to the net culture of the day. Back then it wasnt about money. It was about free exchange of info. In the late 90s it got monetized and damaged though not ruined.
Anyway, new post in the works here.
OK. I checked out Dooce's blog and its not overtly Capitalist or intrusive. It appears to be like most blogs a sharing of info. Not a bunch of posts about why to buy her stuff.
Also the ads though they are there are non inrusive. The Google Ads could be annoying but I know they do pay well so indirectly it may be supporting the "man" but I have no real problem with her blog.
Its the ones that are in essence "fake" with just intentions of selling you stuff that bug me. Or the ads you cannot ignore. To be honest on Dooce's blog, the ads wouldnt have fazed me. I only noticed them because I was looking for them.
Also the shop section looks like its selling product she designed (I may be mistaken) not like she is selling Amway or something
Sorry, didn't see that you had replied to my post till just now.
sure, let us know the next time you are up and we'll try to get together. A lot depends on my school schedule, though. Would love to meet your wife.
Dooce doesn't make the stuff she has ads for on her site, but no doubt the advertisers are targeting her reader demographic, and since she gets to choose which advertisers can be on her site, it's stuff she approves of. She has really good taste, being a graphic designer, so I don't think you'll ever see any cheezy or stupid products advertised on her site.
Post a Comment