Poster by Graham Crawford, 'Dissident' Primoris
Here's the thing: A blog is, in its purest form, a Web-log.
A journal.
A diary.
So from the beginning, a 'blog'...and believe me, most being touted as such in the political arena aren't; they're 'special interest sites', another animal entirely...has been a personal record, an accounting, often a stream-of-consciousness, self-therapy thing. I know, I've had them for years, my friends have initiated and used them, I've met people as a result of them, and the best of them can be stupendous. (A longtime friend just granted me access to a new one she's started. It's a confessional, her version of self-therapy. She allows comments, but to be honest, they're not needed. Her own words are enough.)
From my way of thinking, facebook is merely a much more expansive version of a blog: you're essentially putting yourself out there, riffing on your goings-on, 'micro-journaling' about your life. Blogging in segmentis
So the idea that a 'blog' needs to have comments, and that because one doesn't, then it's a trigger for derision, is a bit...well, juvenile. No matter how elegantly done the effort is, no matter how winkingly-executed the presentation.
Added to this, can you imagine any mayor being stupid enough to actually allow comments? Have you seen the result of online 'communication' by some of our more 'adventurous' councillors on facebook and Twitter? At times it's one long, extended drop-jawed, eyes-wide, shaking-of-head experience, the Internet equivalent of a slow-motion train-wreck. And you'd like our mayor to participate in such an endeavour? Given the blood-lust currently being witnessed in this city?
You know, when things began getting 'interesting' last year, when it first began appearing as if there might be some cognitive-alignment problems at 71 Main Street West, the comments, the posters, the commentary was entertaining. If a little wince-inducing on occasion. But as I said, I wonder if we're into some other territory now. One that I can't help but suspect is beginning to reveal more about the artist than his subject.
I'm reminded of a standard quip by one of the biggest-personalitied, most talented people I've ever met, when commenting on someone for whom destiny and karma was eventually going to 'under-tip', and leave them in a smouldering heap:
"Too smart by half."
M Adrian Brassington
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I'm always interested in feedback, differing opinions, even contrarian blasts...as long as they're delivered with decorum...with panache and flair always helping.