Some people don't have comments on their blogs because they don't know how to add them. Easy to figure out whom... people who use Blogger for instance. They have difficulties adding comments functions without knowing how to edit html and the like. Others don't. If you use moveable type, you have to turn off comments. And that's interesting to me. If comments are off, it means that you do not want to engage with readers. You do not want to hear what people have to say. You do not want to be challenged. That's well and good. All of us get tired of having to defend what we're saying.
But it also means that you're part of the broadcast culture... the old paradigm. The technology that silences the many for the betterment of the few. And I can't but wonder why... would it be a disinterest or a disrespect for the reader? Or a heightened sense of self-valuing. It is an open question, because I still think that the real value of computers is in their ability to put people in touch with people. using them to isolate yourself from them (beyond the use of it as a broadcast medium) is problematic in the least.
Posted by jason at January 16, 2003 11:46 PMThen there are those of us who use blogger, have a supposedly good oho comments script, but for some reason just can't get the damn thing to work.. No if only my host would allow CGI, I could use movable type and be hip to it all.. Maybe I need to change hosts or learn more about PHP.
But then again lording my opinions and views over my audience with no fear of back-lash does have an appeal..
Posted by: Pernicious on January 17, 2003 01:31 PM"oho" script.. I meant php script..
Posted by: pernicious on January 17, 2003 01:33 PMSometimes onw blogs a lot & hardly anyone leaves comments... or anyone important to you. Why? Because sometimes no one important to you blogs. So then you give it up.
And most of the comments are facetious stabs at your ego. (even if done by people important to you) It's totally self-defeating. Sort of like doing a PhD.
And as for communication via computers... get a telephone, get on an airplane, take the train, a bus, a bike, but just go out there and meet those people if they are so damned important that you are communicating with them.
How's my mood?
Posted by: Julia on January 17, 2003 11:01 PMIt is the mood I love from you. And I think phones are worse than computers. AND I think that computers are a pale comparison to going there in person. The real always rocks, and computers keep the strands alive.
If I could, I'd have everyone write blogs on paper, and I'd visit them every day to read their reflections on paper, and we'd talk about it over tea. That's the ideal blog.
And yes, I'm travelling to Japan/Austin/Florida/Romania this year to MEET the people I was introduced to online. Can't agree more.
Posted by: jason on January 18, 2003 08:25 AM