Remember the olden days, when something written in print usually implied a certain level of topical expertise on the part of the author?  Before the days of hyper-internet-mania, one’s struggle to bring their work to the literary forefront was compounded by competition, unimpressed publishers, and the ever-present question, “Why would someone want to read it?” As readers, we could hold on tightly to the illusion that something published was something intelligent and worthwhile.

Welcome to the blogger era. An era in which anyone – soccer moms, gamers, foodies, the shady guy next door that you’re still not sure about – has the creative license to put up a blog site and blast their opinions, solicited or not, to the internet masses. 

Certainly there are intelligent and informative blogs in existence.  Just yesterday, I learned from a blogger in Toledo how to keep my bully squash plant from strangling its garden neighbors – useful advice from an intelligent woman well-versed in the areas of botany.   The advice was not, however, without opinions and bias, which seems to be a point lost on this modern world.  Blogs, while the may be helpful, are not indifferent and necessarily entirely factual – a key distinction from news and entertainment journalism.  

The blogging age has taken the usual morning-commuter-rail-conversation up a notch by providing just about anyone with their very own pedestal on which to stand and dispense their personal opinions as they see fit.  This is America – this is the 21^st century.  There is nothing wrong, fundamentally, with this new medium of editorial content – freedom of speech and the rights to one’s opinion are certainly not new ideals to us.  

What is lacking, however, are the fundamental basics of conveying said opinions.  

Blogging, in many ways, is not unlike an online argument.  A blogger makes his or her opinion known, as is inherent in a blog site, and the various readers of the inter-web make their comments known (at times far more insistently than others).  In order to maximize the effectiveness of one’s opinion, let us not forget some simple concepts that should remain fairly consistent over time. 

1. Keep it clean.  If you have to resort to trashy language or feel the need to drop random F-bombs in for good measure and added effectiveness, you’re pretty much doomed from the start.  No one wants to take advice from the schoolyard bully who’s going to resort to potty-mouthery.  You’ll simply end up sounding unintelligent, stubborn, closed-minded and foolish.  People might also laugh at you. I know I would.
2. Have something to say.   It’s really swell that you’re a huge fan of Akon, and that you want the world to know just how much you love his new album.  Unless you’re going to tell me something I don’t already know (assuming, of course, I happen to actually be an Akon fan, which I am not), such as what his plans are for future projects, who he is collaborating with, or other key bits of information, something like this would be better suited to your Facebook wall than a blog.
3. Play nice.  No one is going to agree with you 100% of the time, unless, of course, you have mastered mind control, in which case, we should hang out.  Otherwise, get used to the idea that whatever you post will more than likely receive negative feedback.  This is a key opportunity to display your intellectual prowess by responding intelligently and appropriately.  Akin to suggestion #1, you’re only going to vastly discredit yourself if you allow yourself to become wrapped up in a foul-mouthed comment tirade.  Rise above – it generally makes the other person appear silly anyway, thus achieving the same desired result.
4. Negative Nancy. None of us are truly happy (well, maybe a select few that are rather fortunate).  This fact, however, does not mean to imply that misery loves company.  Your day job sucks, you disagree with US foreign policy, or your new iPhone completely disappointed your overly-high expectations.  Don’t just complain about it.  If you’re moved to blog about something that angers, irritates, annoys, or otherwise just bugs you, provide solutions rather than simply complaining.  Everyone has a complaint or two – distinguish yourself by having a plan to minimize such complaints.  You just might help someone else who’s having a really hard time, too.
5. Know your subject.  This seems rather simplistic, but all too often, bloggers fall into a trap of trying to seem like a subject expert where they are not.  Even if you are blogging about an area that is somewhat new to you, by doing some simple research before sitting down to write your piece will help your credibility tremendously.  It’s also okay to admit that you aren’t an expert in the subject, and therefore, are citing other sources.  

As readers in this convoluted world of information overload, we must remain selective in what we choose to read or follow on the internet.  Blogging, at the end of the day, is still writing.  And if, as a writer, you expect the masses to stop and pay attention to you, it should be good writing.  Otherwise, why bother?

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