Not so long ago the blog as we now know it was called a weblog and was intended to, in part, act as a way for the everyman to share ideas with others. This platform of information sharing gives everyone with something to say, the means by which to say it. Conversely, blogs also give readers the opportunity to respond to the blogger. Inevitably, this open exchange of thoughts and opinions has quickly shifted from helpful to hostile.
Blogs: Too Much Information Leads to Backlash
Everyone has a blog. From Grandmas and teenagers, to Fortune 500 companies and celebrities, blogs are the easiest way to promote one's self and one's business, while maintaining accessibility and open communication. Unfortunately blogs have also become a way for some people to indulge in their self-absorption and over share personal information. From minute relationship details to minute-by-minute replays of doctor's visits, blogs quickly became personal diaries that the world could read.
Perhaps as a means of expressing their disapproval of this kind of microblogging, a small portion of readers began commenting inappropriately. Personal attacks, sometimes unrelated to the post at hand, were made toward the blogger. Bloggers were forced to disable their comments and loose contact with their readers who were genuinely interested in an open flow of communication, and blogs once again became one-sided.
What Prompts Hostile Blog Comments
In May 2008, Emily Gould penned an eight thousand-word piece that landed the cover of The New York Times magazine. The feature, entitled "Exposed", openly discussed all facets of her life, good and bad, as a result of her blogging. The story compelled many readers to leave comments, most of which were overwhelming critical. As a result of the immense negativity and hostility, The New York Times had to disable further commenting on the article to keep a handle on the situation.
Following the disabling of comments, The New York Times hosted a Q & A session with Gould in which they asked her what her expectations were after writing such a self-centered piece. Gould responded by saying, "I did expect that there would be an overwhelmingly negative response. The Internet makes it possible and, for professional bloggers, necessary — to immediately form conclusions and then immediately broadcast them."
Gould's response begs the question: if blogging gives anyone the ability to publish their thoughts in an open and all-access forum, why should the blogger expect anything less than public criticism, especially when one is writing from a completely self-involved and superficial perspective?
How to Avoid Blogging Backlash
When a blogger's posts become self-referential, it makes it difficult for readers to care about the topic being discussed. No one wants to be beat over the head with the writer's constant "I" references. Eight thousand words is a long time to discuss one's life experiences without giving something to the readers to take away in their own lives.
A blog needs to be a two-way street: the blogger gets to share ideas with the audience, while the audience gets to provide the blogger with feedback. Bloggers need to try to make their posts relevant to others. This doesn't mean that personal issues can't be blogged about, it just means that the blogger should attempt to make their posts relatable to the readership.
It seems clear that blogs are poised to be one of the biggest tools for future communication, and it is vital for them to serve their purpose without becoming a place for insults or personally attacks. On the other hand, in order a blog to be successful, the blogger must know how to walk a fine line between over sharing and writing for the greater good of his/her readers.
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