Re: Daily Dose Answers

Tim,
I think it is time you re-read the quote on your own website. All actions do have consequences, and we should act carefully considering how our actions will affect others and ourselves.

After reviewing your blogs and website, I question whether you are actually concerned about bandwidth, crass commercialism, or whether you are just trying to eek out a living, improve your own sphere of influence, and drive traffic to your blogs and radio program.

As for blogs - they are an instant publishing tool. Nothing more or less. What we choose to do with them, is up to the individual. Whether an audience chooses to read them or buy products from what they read - that is called consumer choice. In the journalism world, content is used to build audiences, influence the public, and oh- they support their existance by selling advertising.

Despite what my daughter wishes, everything is not free. You cannot get anything of value for free - even if there is no charge, there is time, energy, and effort involved in being successful - by any definition and in any venue.

Blogs did start out as a charged service and several blog services still charge for premium packages. They now see the value in providing the service to create content for their ads. Advertising on a blog or including an affliate link only works if the audience is willing to participate.

Since you yourself use Blogger, I think you realize this. So, I assume you are simply sharing your concern that free services will be yet again replaced by fee-for-service. (As for Maw Maw's concern over content - what you write is yours unless you specificially assign the rights away.)

The thing about technology is that it is useful - limited only by one's imagination on how it can be used. If it weren't, the Internet, and specifically the World Wide Web would still only be used by business and universities; we wouldn't be using velcro or any of the other products developed for the military and/or space program.

Personally, I chose to start blogging only with a very target, small audience in mind - my family and friends - who were interested in our travels and homeschooling adventures. I got very positive response, so I made them available publically. Am I sucking bandwidth needlessly? Not if others are inspired or find nuggets of useful information.

I use blogs to communicate thoughts, ideas, and share information. So does Maw Maw and most other useful blogs I read. I get a lot out of reading how others are using blogs and what they consider important to write about. As a writer, I find this valuable insight. Knowing your audience and what people are really interested in is critical to communication - as a journalist and a radio host, you should know that. But maybe I'm wrong - afterall I'm fascinated by how technology can be used to better communicate ideas and useful information. Not everyone is.

I do not wish to be rude - and normally choose not to be. But sometimes there is a time and place. Unfounded attacks against a group of people who are trying to share information and make a living (like yourself) are not welcome (my opinion).