According to a recent survey, gentlemen prefer blogs to the tune of 75 percent; roughly 25 percent of blog frequenters are female. But I want to invite all you ladies to invade the male space. What exactly is a blog? Well, it is an online journal or tabla rasa in the Internet zone where average people can post articles and comments, expostulate, and generally schmooze about topics ranging from food to politics.
It is also a retaliation against what bloggers call MSM; you know, mainstream media, such as CNN, Fox News, and the New York Times. The argument is that MSM is controlled by corporations and other insiders; the blog provides the opportunity for the little guys, or gals, to make their otherwise inaudible opinions known.
I stumbled upon this process when Googling for "Schopenhauer." It turned out Mayor Jerry Brown—formerly the Governor of California—had just started his own blog. The philosopher that he is, he had made comments about Schopenhauer, as well as about teen drag racing through Oakland, curfews for ex-convicts, and freedom-of-speech issues.
I figured I would chime in without telling my fellow bloggers that I have a regular column in MSM. Someone had already blasted Jerry for having the nerve to start a blog when he can be heard on O'Reilly's Factor and Hardball.
I did not tiptoe into the medium, as I should have, but rushed in by calling America a land of parrots since 9/11, with only one line—a salute to the flag. This drew fire, and I was called a moron by some moron in the blogosphere. How dare he? He was tarnishing the reputation of blogging, straddling a fine line, butchering his chance of being graced by my deep, insightful words again.
I felt better a day later after reading the 255 entries on this one topic and finding that the anonymous and well-known--from some guy named "Smiling Simian in Shades" to Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen, Noam Chomsky, and even Jerry himself--had all been called equally insulting names. If Jerry--who is brilliant, in my estimation--can be attacked, it was not a big deal anymore.
The next day Jerry posted a comment about political extremism, and I was ecstatic because I knew it was my chance to delve into my favorite topic: dead philosophers. Both he and I seem to enjoy this popular hobby.
When I mentioned how I am particularly a devotee of 17th century philosopher Baruch Spinoza, some guy who called himself "Bill Gates" (yeah, right) attacked Spinoza as "having been discredited long ago." Excuse me? It's one thing to fire bullets at me, but I will not stand for vitriol against my future husband—you know, in my next life.
"Bill Gates" went on to tell me to go live with the animals. Although he was referring to the furry kind, I politely replied, "No. I don't want to live with you."
Then someone named HA offered his two cents by insinuating that my carefully reasoned arguments were tedious. I asked, "Is this a mere joke as your name implies? Ha ha, HA."
Blogging is more than entertainment. It is a way to keep shelves stocked in the marketplace of ideas. It allows brave political souls to get input from their constituents about public policy. Eight million people have blogs and 3% of Americans read them daily.
Ladies, maybe you'll join the trend. Bill Gates is waiting for you.
Charlotte Laws, Ph.D. is a syndicated columnist, an elected member of the Greater Valley Glen Council and the President of the League for Earth and Animal Protection (LEAP). Her political website is http://www.CharlotteLaws.org
Whats Stopping You? We're all familiar with the cycle: We want new, but resist change. We want satisfaction, but procrastinate. We want control, but defer to circumstance. So, ...
All About Eminem The latest news and happenings in the world of Eminem. From latest releases to un-released...
Is the Time Right for You to Re-mortgage? Five reasons why you could benefit from a re-mortgage and how that 'benefit' can be turned into a real profit for your future.
Deep Fried Turkey Practice If you're intested in deep frying your Thanksgiving turkey this year, this article will help you get prepared. Learn why frying a practice turkey in October is...
Dramatically Increase Sales With The KISS Test Sales author and trainer Frank Rumbauskas explains why many salespeople fail by
over-complicating the sales process when they should just back off and let thei...
Corporate Flight Attendant Resume Writing a résumé can be one of the most daunting parts of any job search. If you are searching for work as a corporate flight attendant, your résumé must includ...
True Culprits of High Cholesterol Two of the most common causes of high cholesterol - tap water and homogenized milk -- are not what most people would expect. Learn what exacerbates high choles...
Keen To Be Lean? – Some Metabolic Musings Metabolism is the process by which your body changes food into living tissue and changes living tissue into energy and waste products. Metabolic Rate is the spe...
5 Mistakes Men Make On The First Date The number one mistake made by men on the first date is trying to buy love. The first date is not a marriage proposal; it's merely an opportunity to measure com...
Job Interview Mistakes To Avoid The interview is a critical part of the job search process and also the one where most job seekers have trouble. There is plenty of advice around on how to na...
True Inner Guidance True inner guidance will always draw you into something that you are desiring or want to be, do or have. Naturally, in drawing you TO something, you are being l...
The Power of EBay Store Newsletters eBay Stores come with a very powerful feature: store newsletters. When buyers add your store to their favourites, you can offer them the chance to join your mai...
Creativity and Rebellion: Why They Go Hand-in-Hand Creative people are often rebels who challenge the status quo. Is this healthy? Is it inevitable? This article analyzes the psychology of creative people and wh...
Diffusion & Softening of Digital Photography Images The nature of the media has changed. What worked with film doesn't
achieve the same results in the digital realm. Photographers who've
discovered this are eit...
Talking About Depression In many ways, our society has allowed many people to believe that they can not communicate their feelings to others. Sometimes, we think that no one will unders...
Tips For Getting A Low Downpayment Most people dream of the day when they can finally buy their own home. Homeownership remains one of the highest goals for many people because it includes many ...
Motivation: The Cure for Complacency There's nothing wrong with feeling content. It's something that we all strive for in life. The problem comes, as you have so well stated, when we drift from con...
Print this page