Jessica Cutler, of Washingtonienne fame, thinks blogs are “the most democratic thing ever,” and she’s right. You don’t have to have a journalism degree to publish your own blog, and you don’t have to buy a newspaper or magazine to read them. You don’t even have to have your own computer and Internet connection. Just waltz in to your local library and read the blogs that interest you. Blogging gives everyone a chance to be an author, no matter who you are or where you live.
You don’t have to be a particularly gifted author, either. The very nature of blogging allows writers to suspend the rules of composition, and to attract attention, bloggers often put good manners aside, hurl insults, make accusations, and stir up controversy. If they happen to be wrong in what they say, it’s okay. It’s tough to get a libel charge leveled against a blogger, and besides, the offended party can simply set up his or her own blog and return the insults.
Is this a model of democracy that Americans should celebrate and export around the world? Or is this merely the yammerings of an unruly mob who have exploited the freedoms that democracy should protect?
J.
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5 comments:
I think there's not much in the world that comes with only good and not bad. It should be obvious that having a completely free from consequence form of communication/critique is going to have some hard-core flaming involved.... So what is up for debate now is whether or not blogging is a "MODEL" of democracy that should be "celebrated," and "exported." Honestly, I think the world deserves to have something like this unaffected by censors. Ironically, we're known as the most free country in the world but I don't feel as free as a citizen in the most free country in the world should. Blogging imo is a small step towards the free country (then maybe world) that I'd like to live in.
I have to say I think that the freedom of blogging is something to celebrate. I don't think it's something so wonderful that we should necessarily export it and push it on to other countries
but it is nothing to be ashamed of. There are no restrictions- no rules, nothing-which in turn, leads to insults and argument, possibly hurting someone's feelings but that is no reason to put an end to this new means of
communication and expression. Blogging is the epitome of freedom of speech. It's offensive and unruly but honest- maybe not truthful but as honest as the
person writing it could possibly be. Anyone who wants to become a part of the world of "blogging" should go into it knowing that there are no boundaries as to what a person will say.
How democratic should blogging be? I'm an advocate of thick skin, especially on the internet. Free speech is something that should be protected. I should be allowed to say what I want when I want. There was a time when various groups of people were limited and not allowed to speak. I would not have America go back on its word. I think the nation has suffered enough embarrassment, why should we take away a first amendment freedom that is used (and that we press on budding countries) because of growing anonymity on the internet? It doesn't make sense to me. People who get their feelings hurt on the internet should really toughen up. There's no reason I should care that some random person in Arkansas hates me because of whatever I think. So I don't think there should be control over what people say on the internet. People who say mean things on the internet, rather than to your face are too scared to say it to your face. They're punks�
I definitely think that blogging is a model of democracy that should be celebrated. Blogging allows for one to say exactly what they want, anyway they want, without having to adhere to writing stipulations or have fear of not being published. Some people may claim that this could be a slippery slope to the removal of all restrictions and limitations, but I believe that anything new and different is going to go through hurdles to become accepted. We are a more educated body who is able write what they want, they way they want, and educated enough to know when information is not reliable. I believe we are ready for a space where censorship does not exist and where free discussion is welcomed. Democracy is defined by a government designed for the freedom of its citizens, and I think bloggers are helping us take another step forward.
The definition of Democracy I grew up with was 'for the people, by the people and off the people'. Unfortunately I have never seen that in reality. It is an unsettling fact that people never really made use of this freedom. With the introduction of this new form of speech, 'Blogs', people have started taking advantage of their first right 'the freedom of speech'. Blogs keeps the identity of the bloggers anonymous, people feel safer to voice their opinions. Free expression of speech makes people, companies and government accountable for their actions. There is a flip side to every new technology and idea. But it is our cross to bare it when there are reasonable advantages to it. I think the concept of blogging is definitely a Model of democracy we should celebrate and export.
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