How well do you handle blogging criticism?
Much has been written about George Clooney's recent docu-film "Good Night, and Good Luck". It's a movie that brilliantly tells the story of the battle between Ed Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy. A history lesson in its own right, this picture resonates strongly with the current concerns over free speech.
A subplot in the film involves the news anchor Don Hollenbeck who stands firmly behind Murrow in his broadcasts against McCarthy. The news team regularly scans the print media to gauge the support for their campaign. Most articles are favourable but one is scathing of Hollenbeck. He doesn't receive the criticism too well and it ends in tragedy.
Criticism of newspaper articles has traditionally been the role of letters to the editor. The decision to print the letters rests with the newspaper so it can be argued that the means of right of reply is flawed and arbitrary.
The use of unmoderated comments in blogs has led to a more transparent debate. It has given more say to the reader which has inevitably led to more visible criticism. It is interesting therefore to see how bloggers deal with criticism. Many blogs are mouthpieces for opinions that would otherwise be unheard by the public - In Fact, Ah is no exception.
So how do you feel when somebody tears what you say to shreds? How do you as a blogger react to what can sometimes be very difficult to read? Embarrassed to be made to look a fool, a blogger can feel like a boxer in the corner of the ring. Bloodied egos take a battering from multiple opponents. Some shots go below the belt.
Positive criticism is fair. Unfortunately, a natural consequence of this freedom of expression is the tendency by some to go too far. Insults fly across the boggersphere and reputations are sullied. It is particularly distasteful therefore to see bloggers create blogs whose only purpose is to ridicule other bloggers. It must be very difficult for the target of this bile to read day after day posts that unnecessarily deride and belittle their reputation and character.
Think how ridiculous it would be if an "Irish Times Watch"-type paper was set up and solely wrote articles to counter what the IT printed every day.
Published by Colm.
A subplot in the film involves the news anchor Don Hollenbeck who stands firmly behind Murrow in his broadcasts against McCarthy. The news team regularly scans the print media to gauge the support for their campaign. Most articles are favourable but one is scathing of Hollenbeck. He doesn't receive the criticism too well and it ends in tragedy.
Criticism of newspaper articles has traditionally been the role of letters to the editor. The decision to print the letters rests with the newspaper so it can be argued that the means of right of reply is flawed and arbitrary.
The use of unmoderated comments in blogs has led to a more transparent debate. It has given more say to the reader which has inevitably led to more visible criticism. It is interesting therefore to see how bloggers deal with criticism. Many blogs are mouthpieces for opinions that would otherwise be unheard by the public - In Fact, Ah is no exception.
So how do you feel when somebody tears what you say to shreds? How do you as a blogger react to what can sometimes be very difficult to read? Embarrassed to be made to look a fool, a blogger can feel like a boxer in the corner of the ring. Bloodied egos take a battering from multiple opponents. Some shots go below the belt.
Positive criticism is fair. Unfortunately, a natural consequence of this freedom of expression is the tendency by some to go too far. Insults fly across the boggersphere and reputations are sullied. It is particularly distasteful therefore to see bloggers create blogs whose only purpose is to ridicule other bloggers. It must be very difficult for the target of this bile to read day after day posts that unnecessarily deride and belittle their reputation and character.
Think how ridiculous it would be if an "Irish Times Watch"-type paper was set up and solely wrote articles to counter what the IT printed every day.
Published by Colm.
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