Thursday, May 25, 2006

Blogrolls and Honor

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Readers will note that I have made some changes in the Blogroll. I have added some blogs to my roll, some which were way overdue for mention, and frankly there are still a few more I need to add. There is one blog I keep trying to add, but every time I do, it totally screws up the layout, and I have no idea why that happens.

One thing about my blogroll, is that I am picky. Maybe too picky. The thing about my blogroll, as opposed to everyone else’s, is that I regularly read every blog which is on my roll. Maybe not every day, but I try to get to them all. So while some blogs have a roll listing everything short of Democraptic Underground, I am more selective.

Also, I generally find something I agree with in every blog on my roll. I may not jibe 100% with everything they say, but in large measure if a blog is on my roll, I am recommending it. I mention this, because of the Blogosphere habit many people have of playing ‘you put me on your roll, and I’ll put you on mine’. Sure, it drives up traffic, but I have to say I shake my head when I see a blog with literally a hundred links or more; they cannot possibly say they are aligned with all of them. I am considering a tiered system, where I would note the blogs I always read, and the ones which are usually worth a visit if I have time and the inclination. This would help separate, for example, Democracy Project, with which I agree a lot, from Polipundit, which I keep on the roll out of respect for past and some degree of curiosity, but with whom I have little in common these days. There are also some blogs on my roll which do not post everyday; I may have to call them the Inactive Reserve or something.

I have also removed some blogs from the roll, because they have stepped over a line I consider unacceptable. Early in my blogging career, I wrote an article on the difference between how the Mainstream Media was treating the War in Iraq, and how things were really going. To my surprise, I received emails from a couple active-duty Marines serving in Iraq, who appreciated the support – this was in early 2004, when the media was going all out to slander the military as incompetent and vicious. I realized that my words were reaching a much broader audience than I had expected, and this reminded me that I have a solemn responsibility to keep in mind the effects of my articles. I don’t pretend that I reach the same sorts of numbers as the A-listers, or even the B-listers or C-listers. Yet it remains a fact that words have meaning, and if someone takes the time to read your stuff, then what you say matters. I mention this, because of the unfortunate poison in the tone used by some Conservatives. In some cases the blogger has chosen to regularly address the President and his supporters in a way which is deliberately deceitful and disrespectful, of the man and of his office. And in one case, the blogger posted an article so defamatory and false, that despite a great respect for work on many other areas, and for the blogger’s talent as a writer and unique perspective, that I cannot in good conscience recommend that site.

So, the work on the site layout continues. And if you know of a good blog which I have not seen (or which I continue to forget to add), please let me know. I love finding good minds.

Thanks.

6 comments:

DJ Drummond said...

Thanks Steve. I consider myself a 'Z-Lister', because some people have said my long posts put them to sleep!

Seriously though, when I say "A-Listers" and so on, I am really talking about the high-traffic blogs, not the quality of those blogs.

Anonymous said...

To paraphrase Bill Maldin, "Whaddaya mean this ain't the most important blog on the net. I'm reading it."

You have satisfied the definition of a gentleman, D.J. You did not list those you de-linked. And it must have been a temptation to name names.

Anonymous said...

Consider HughHewitt.com and PowerLineBlog.com as very worthwhile additions, particulalry Hugh.

Regards,
Arnie

Anonymous said...

http://hangrightpolitics.com/2006/05/25/republican-adolescence/#more-20

Ryan

kimsch said...

DJ - I have a lot of blogs on my roll and I do try to at least look at all of them every day. You will stay on mine and I'm glad you've chosen me for yours.

God Bless You D.J.

kimsch

antimedia said...

I don't know about A-listers and all that stuff. I read blogs that interest me. That's why I read yours.

My blogroll policy isn't quite as stringent as yours, simply because I can't read every one of them daily. But I have read and do read each and every one of them (even though it's getting harder to do), and I've never blogrolled someone I didn't read regularly, at least for a while.