Criticism is an important part of education. Intelligent discourse is a foundation for lifelong learning. The exchange of ideas in order to attain wisdom is at the heart of the learning community. In modern days, however, punditry has replaced entertainment for intelligent discourse. It is this substitution of ranting for wisdom that stands to erode scholarly learning.
The Ozarks community can see this happening locally with the introduction of the blog, 417 Pundit. A governmental body must be held accountable for its policies and impact on the community. The same is true for private industry. Journalists and citizen-journalists are not above such accountability.
A blog devoted wholly to holding Ozarks bloggers accountable for their opinions, editorials and reporting is a fantastic idea. While the blogging community is an independent form of media, the ethical values for any public speaker must still be maintained. It is that sense of blogging independence that begs for some accountability and responsibility.
It is unfortunate that the self-proclaimed scholarly 417 Pundit, is at present nothing more than just another outlet of mediocrity, using pretension to replace intelligent discourse. I find that disturbing and an absolute waste of a perfectly wonderful idea. That is not to say that the web site is a waste of time. I would argue that it is absolutely necessary. However, the purpose of the blog and the execution of the blog are out of alignment. That is where the problem occurs.
ALIGNMENT OF PURPOSE AND EXECUTION
One of the most important processes that any business or blog must endure is that of understanding the purpose of the endeavor. A business must decide what service to provide and the clientele to be served. Whether it is called the “mission statement” or simply the “purpose” this determination defines the foundation upon which all else is built. When this purpose does not fit with the execution, then the foundation crumbles. In the case of a blog, the owner must decide the purpose of the blog, and the level of seriousness.
This alignment of purpose and execution is flawed with 417 Pundit, which jeopardizes the credibility of the site and the writer. Consider the incomplete sentence in 417 Pundit’s sub-heading “Commentary without pity. Politics, blogs, ethics, culture. We expose stupidity.” There is an incomplete sentence in the subtitle. “Politics, blogs, ethics, culture” has no subject or predicate. It is merely a string of items separate by commas.
If the person is an expert, which the words “Scholar” and “Pundits” imply, then the author’s credibility is diminished.
When discussing purpose, the blog writer proclaims himself as a scholar in the field of education. The word scholar is a powerful word bringing a particular connotation of respect, wisdom and intelligence. We would assume a scholar would approach every subject with tact, understanding and in depth analysis. The same is true for the word pundit, as it implies the person is an expert in his field.
The language used on 417 Pundit shows more anger than in-depth analysis. Compare local blogger Dr. Andy Cline, owner of Rhetorica with 417 Pundit. Dr. Cline’s purpose is clearly stated: “The Rhetorica Network offers analysis and commentary about the rhetoric, propaganda, and spin of journalism and politics, including analysis of presidential speeches and election campaigns.” With this we have a clear understanding of Dr. Cline’s purpose. This is indeed a scholarly media outline, demonstrated through his critical analysis, use of language, and seriousness with which he approaches the subjects. It takes little time to know that Dr. Cline has passion, insight, formal education and experience regarding his blog subject. His readership is also understood.
417 Pundit, on the other hand, is not a scholarly journal in any sense. The analysis is superficial and at times reverting to personal attacks. The language represents a more lay person vocabulary and not that of an academic or scholar.
Clearly the audience is not considered. Any true educator uses his or her thoughts to help bring insight, clarity and understanding to the subject. Good educators choose to educate his or her audience, rather than degrading them for comic relief or self-gratification.
ANONYMITY AND CREDIBILITY
For one reason or another some bloggers choose a certain level of anonymity. Indeed, some employees have used a personal blog as a way to criticize that person’s employer or agency policies, resulting in the termination of that employee. Some students attending high school or college may be vocal about an instructor’s decisions or the school’s policies. Students, being in an inherently subordinate position, must protect themselves from retribution from unscrupulous educators. Higher Education Instructors have academic freedom in the classroom. Both security and educator retribution are the reasons that Fat Jack chooses partial anonymity. My spouse has a job where she is periodically threatened by clients. Choosing to blog about family, including the occasional picture, warrants partial anonymity by Fat Jack. However, in order to preserve credibility, Jack is known to the local bloggers.
Anonymity for no obvious reason brings into question the blog author’s credibility. Why would an author choose anonymity? Issues of security are not at risk with 417 Pundit, considering the focused purpose. There is no criticism of an agency or employers; the criticism is narrowed to blogs in the Ozarks area. One reason for anonymity is to protect the author from criticism. Another reason for anonymity is to hide the blog author’s real intentions.
According to George Grice and John Skinner, authors of “Mastering Public Speaking,” manipulating people by hiding ones true intentions is unethical behavior. That does not mean that the 417 Pundit blog author is acting unethical. The curious anonymity of the author calls the authors intentions into question.
THE EDUCATOR
As I argued earlier, any good, ethical educator will value life long learning above other issues. Scholars, pundits, experts in their field, will use their knowledge to educator others in a responsible, productive environment. Psuedo-scholars and those seekinig attention will use tactics, gimmick and personal attacks to gain popularity. Those unfortunate traits are not the characteristics sought by scholars, academics or ethical educators.
MY SUGGESTIONS
Holding bloggers accountable for their writing – their posts – is a good and proper safeguard. Otherwise, bloggers could rant on and one, mischaracterizing others and acting unethically. To be true, this is already occurring the blogosphere. I’m sure that Dr. Cline could speak more eloquently about this issue than I. Therefore, I make the following suggestions to the author of 417 Pundit.
I welcome 417 Pundit to our blogosphere and I challenge the author to consider my argument by revamping the site. I offer my blog, Fat Jacks Erratic Rants, to be the next to undergo 417 Pundit’s scrutiny.
I argue, if you make the changes I have suggested you will develop a following. You will also be able to carve out your own special niche and contribute to a better citizen-journalist community. I’m certain you will find grammar mistakes on my blog. I am a life-long learner and look forward to discovering my faux pas.
The Ozarks community can see this happening locally with the introduction of the blog, 417 Pundit. A governmental body must be held accountable for its policies and impact on the community. The same is true for private industry. Journalists and citizen-journalists are not above such accountability.
A blog devoted wholly to holding Ozarks bloggers accountable for their opinions, editorials and reporting is a fantastic idea. While the blogging community is an independent form of media, the ethical values for any public speaker must still be maintained. It is that sense of blogging independence that begs for some accountability and responsibility.
It is unfortunate that the self-proclaimed scholarly 417 Pundit, is at present nothing more than just another outlet of mediocrity, using pretension to replace intelligent discourse. I find that disturbing and an absolute waste of a perfectly wonderful idea. That is not to say that the web site is a waste of time. I would argue that it is absolutely necessary. However, the purpose of the blog and the execution of the blog are out of alignment. That is where the problem occurs.
ALIGNMENT OF PURPOSE AND EXECUTION
One of the most important processes that any business or blog must endure is that of understanding the purpose of the endeavor. A business must decide what service to provide and the clientele to be served. Whether it is called the “mission statement” or simply the “purpose” this determination defines the foundation upon which all else is built. When this purpose does not fit with the execution, then the foundation crumbles. In the case of a blog, the owner must decide the purpose of the blog, and the level of seriousness.
This alignment of purpose and execution is flawed with 417 Pundit, which jeopardizes the credibility of the site and the writer. Consider the incomplete sentence in 417 Pundit’s sub-heading “Commentary without pity. Politics, blogs, ethics, culture. We expose stupidity.” There is an incomplete sentence in the subtitle. “Politics, blogs, ethics, culture” has no subject or predicate. It is merely a string of items separate by commas.
If the person is an expert, which the words “Scholar” and “Pundits” imply, then the author’s credibility is diminished.
When discussing purpose, the blog writer proclaims himself as a scholar in the field of education. The word scholar is a powerful word bringing a particular connotation of respect, wisdom and intelligence. We would assume a scholar would approach every subject with tact, understanding and in depth analysis. The same is true for the word pundit, as it implies the person is an expert in his field.
The language used on 417 Pundit shows more anger than in-depth analysis. Compare local blogger Dr. Andy Cline, owner of Rhetorica with 417 Pundit. Dr. Cline’s purpose is clearly stated: “The Rhetorica Network offers analysis and commentary about the rhetoric, propaganda, and spin of journalism and politics, including analysis of presidential speeches and election campaigns.” With this we have a clear understanding of Dr. Cline’s purpose. This is indeed a scholarly media outline, demonstrated through his critical analysis, use of language, and seriousness with which he approaches the subjects. It takes little time to know that Dr. Cline has passion, insight, formal education and experience regarding his blog subject. His readership is also understood.
417 Pundit, on the other hand, is not a scholarly journal in any sense. The analysis is superficial and at times reverting to personal attacks. The language represents a more lay person vocabulary and not that of an academic or scholar.
Clearly the audience is not considered. Any true educator uses his or her thoughts to help bring insight, clarity and understanding to the subject. Good educators choose to educate his or her audience, rather than degrading them for comic relief or self-gratification.
ANONYMITY AND CREDIBILITY
For one reason or another some bloggers choose a certain level of anonymity. Indeed, some employees have used a personal blog as a way to criticize that person’s employer or agency policies, resulting in the termination of that employee. Some students attending high school or college may be vocal about an instructor’s decisions or the school’s policies. Students, being in an inherently subordinate position, must protect themselves from retribution from unscrupulous educators. Higher Education Instructors have academic freedom in the classroom. Both security and educator retribution are the reasons that Fat Jack chooses partial anonymity. My spouse has a job where she is periodically threatened by clients. Choosing to blog about family, including the occasional picture, warrants partial anonymity by Fat Jack. However, in order to preserve credibility, Jack is known to the local bloggers.
Anonymity for no obvious reason brings into question the blog author’s credibility. Why would an author choose anonymity? Issues of security are not at risk with 417 Pundit, considering the focused purpose. There is no criticism of an agency or employers; the criticism is narrowed to blogs in the Ozarks area. One reason for anonymity is to protect the author from criticism. Another reason for anonymity is to hide the blog author’s real intentions.
According to George Grice and John Skinner, authors of “Mastering Public Speaking,” manipulating people by hiding ones true intentions is unethical behavior. That does not mean that the 417 Pundit blog author is acting unethical. The curious anonymity of the author calls the authors intentions into question.
THE EDUCATOR
As I argued earlier, any good, ethical educator will value life long learning above other issues. Scholars, pundits, experts in their field, will use their knowledge to educator others in a responsible, productive environment. Psuedo-scholars and those seekinig attention will use tactics, gimmick and personal attacks to gain popularity. Those unfortunate traits are not the characteristics sought by scholars, academics or ethical educators.
MY SUGGESTIONS
Holding bloggers accountable for their writing – their posts – is a good and proper safeguard. Otherwise, bloggers could rant on and one, mischaracterizing others and acting unethically. To be true, this is already occurring the blogosphere. I’m sure that Dr. Cline could speak more eloquently about this issue than I. Therefore, I make the following suggestions to the author of 417 Pundit.
- Align the purpose and execution of the blog.
- If the use of proper grammar and logic are your goals, then be sure to use that grammar and logic in your own posts.
- I suggest you point out the grammar errors, and then post your revision of how the sentence or paragraph could be written better.
- Understand your audience. Decide who you want to read your blog. Think about the purpose for reading the blog.
- Use 417 Pundit as a way to educate bloggers on appropriate use of the English language, including grammar and syntax.
- Use 417 Pundit toward intelligent discourse, using logic, reason and facts to help bloggers hone their skills and craft. Help create a more ethical and intelligent blogosphere.
- Take your blogging responsibility seriously.
I welcome 417 Pundit to our blogosphere and I challenge the author to consider my argument by revamping the site. I offer my blog, Fat Jacks Erratic Rants, to be the next to undergo 417 Pundit’s scrutiny.
I argue, if you make the changes I have suggested you will develop a following. You will also be able to carve out your own special niche and contribute to a better citizen-journalist community. I’m certain you will find grammar mistakes on my blog. I am a life-long learner and look forward to discovering my faux pas.
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3 comments:
I'm certain he/she will find grammatical errors/spelling errors/the odd typo and faults in ALL of our logic. We are, after all, human and prone to error.
Constructive criticism of the blog itself is welcome. Petty attacks are not.
None-the-less, well said Jack.
Well stated. er, I mean, that was very well stated. :)
Fat Jack... This is an excellent contribution to the local blogging conversation. I hope 417 Pundit takes your advice.
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