Moribund Blogs and Work In Progress

Like most bloggers in Second Life, I have been guilty of creating more blog space that I can physically manage. Hence the slow-down with this blog and the sporadic postings elsewhere.

Over at SL Bloggers I managed to crank out two introspective (or possibly omphaloskeptic for the more pretentious among us) comments on blogging and the use of blogs.

The first, The Irony and Moribundity of the Second Life Blogger, bemoans the tendency to want to be all things to all people by setting up, and then neglecting, blogs - or as one writer labels them, "mogs" for "moribund blogs."

The second, Blog or Ad, simply observes that a fair number of blogs are simply advertising pieces for someone's latest SL venture; clothes, shoes, clubs, malls, in fact anything that people create. I'm not sure whether this is a criticism or just a legitimate form of blog.

Meanwhile, I am currently working on a profile piece on the SS Galaxy sim. This will appear in Prim Perfect magazine later this month. As I write, 2000 words are done and I'm slated to add another 1000 before submitted. So, I'm about to slip in world and track down some interviewees.

Critical Blogging - or "I am NOT an Elitist!"

My friend Seikatsu Koba commented a few days back that I was an "elitist" when it comes to blogs. I hadn't really thought that this was the case, but I suppose I can see her point. On a number of occasions I have been openly critical of the standard of writing on the Internet, and that includes blogs.

What I would rather admit to is being critical, in the same way that a music critic or a film critic is. I used to worry about being a critic because I imagined that one has to be "better" than the people you criticize. But many music critics can't sing a note, play an instrument, or download something from iTunes. And a movie critic doesn't have to have won an Oscar, written a screenplay, or brokered a deal between Lionsgate and Disney to create the cartoon version of "Saw 6."

No, all I have to do is appreciate good writing and bad writing. Or point out bad writing masquerading as good. In fact, I just need to have my "Everyman" hat on, because if something is badly written, 95% of people will see it. True they may not be able to pin-point the specifics but bad writing is like porn - I know it when I see it.

I have been a good boy really. So far I don't think I have named any names - well maybe one or two. But my criticism will, in the long run, benefit the whole blogosphere by challenging bloggers to put-up-or-shut-up.

And I don't claim to be perfect. Some of my stuff may have flaws. Tell me. Some of it may be boring. Point it out. Some of it may be wrong. Tell me what's right. But I promise that I will learn from folks who criticize me, just as I hope people can learn from my being critical of them. Nothing personal.

Oh, and as of today, I have still not been approved to join the Second Life Bloggers group. Hmm, how should I interpret that one! I'll give it a few more days - then I'll start the rant.

Playing the Blogging Game

Now I've signed up to become part of the Second Life Bloggers group in another attempt to marketing the SL(C) on SL(TM) brand. I feel a little conflicted because I tend to feel that there are more crap blogs out there than good ones. Sure, some folks may want to lump this blog in with the steaming pile of shit that clogs up the Internet, but that still doesn't make the others smell any sweeter.

Another chunk of blogging dross comes from those that turn out to be nothing more than advertising for products and services in Second Life. Fashion blogs can so easily become that way inclined, with some blogs being wholly owned and scripted by the designers themselves.

Then there are the "experimental" blogs - which are basically written by folks who cannot write but feel that if they label what they do as "avant garde," "daring" or "provocative" then they can't be judged. Oh yes they can! There is no excuse for bad writing, especially when masquerading as "poetry/" Those of you who have never read my damning article on verse should click this link to the Second Life Herald. Those of you who claim to write poetry might want to do the same before you start the flame war.

Feel free to add a comment to this post. It ups my ranking.