Are web logs ruining the web? Jun09 '04

Sun Microsystems – the software giant, and the creators of products such as Java and Solaris, has a web log for their employees.

Many companies are doing this, and although I love to discover new web logs from individuals in the industry, I often wonder if the approach was the right one.

Upon my first visit to the site, many questions popped in my head. Who ARE these people, and what are they talking about? Do I really care what ‘day to day’ life is like for some stranger I’ve never met, and probably never will? Should I take the time out of MY day to read about some guy’s trip to the bathroom, and how he bumped into an old friend from high school? Really, what benefit or new knowledge am I gaining from this?

Is a problem developing?

As I sat back in my chair on this beautifully scented Monday morning in June, I thought about the meaning of web logs, and the popularity they are attracting. As more and more people hop on the "blog bandwagon," the distinction between "news–worthy facts," and "pointless gossip" has thinned considerably. It seems anyone with a computer and internet access is writing to the "live web."

And why not? With products such as MovableType and WordPress, creating and managing your own online journal has become a breeze. It’s almost as easy to post an entry in your web log, as it is to call a friend on your cell phone to report some gossip. And with only one person being able to hear that phone call, who would choose that method over posting an entry on the web, where anyone in the world could stumble upon it, including your friend, AND the people you are gossiping about! (not likely, but my point stands)

It seems that people are "writing just to write." But there is certainly nothing wrong with that. And who am I to talk about this? I do the same thing here, and elsewhere! My point of this entry is to weigh the possibilites of the fact that this COULD BE a problem. But I’m certainly not saying it is right now.

With the bad comes the good

Although the decision of "good or bad" over the flood of web logs may be a long way off, there has been a significant positive breakthrough, that is happening now, and that is changing the way we gather information on the web.

News feeds (RSS) allows for the brilliant organization of headlines – similar to an average newspaper. From a single location, you can browse all the headlines from hundreds, if not thousands, of web sites – all of which are their own virtual news sources. So, in a sense, it’s like taking all the newspapers, magazines, and publications in the world, and having all the headlines (and articles) presented to the you, the reader, in the form of a "universal newspaper."

Sounds incredible, huh? It certainly is, and it is the absolute BEST way to check web logs, news sites, (and any site that presents information) for updates – WITHOUT having to go to each source.

At first, we had the problem of "how do we GET all the information to us?" Now, the problem is, "How do we find time to READ all the information that has finally found a direct route to us?"

But is that really a problem, or a luxury?

Relevent: News Feeds Explained

Subject matters

News feeds allow readers to streamline their favorite web sites, and sift through content – picking out the good stuff, and dumping the trash.

And trash prevails on the web.

Some web logs are just trailing thoughts or rambles, that seem to start and end without any notion of how they came about. It’s like watching a movie well after it started, and then leaving the room well before it ends. What have you gained or learned from that? Do you know what the story is, and can you honestly interpret it to someone else, who may inquire about it? Chance are, probably not.

It’s safe to say the same thing for many web logs. The "mind spurts" that are floating on these blogs are relevent to no one but the writer – and really, what’s the point of wasting that space to begin with? Is the writer even gaining anything by doing it?

These issues, and more, are the things that need to be analyzed by someone, or some group. Maybe I should start a Web Trends company, that analyzes content on the web, and where it could be heading.

Of course, I am only looking at the negative side of things. There are many positives that come with web logs, and the subjects contained within. I have on my short list dozens of web logs that feed me with valuable industry information, that helps me "do what I do" better. The subjects on many of these sites are clear, concise, and well–written.

Honestly, I couldn’t imagine what I would do without these updates being presented to me. I guess you could say, "I feed off my news feeds." If I am away from the computer for a couple of days, I go through "news feed withdrawal."

Web log criteria

I believe in order to make your web log mean something – it should be informative, intuitive, organized, creative, and most importantly – well–written. Well–written means solid grammar, punctuation, and spelling – with no incomplete thoughts or half sentences.

In the long run, I am guessing that the web logs that present information in the proper manner, will last longer than the "mind spurt" web logs – ones the present incomplete stories, with poor grammar.

But that decision or outcome is too far in the future for anyone to pinpoint. And I hope everyone understands that the facts I presented in this article apply to me as well. I guess time will tell if my own sites meet the criteria above. Only my readers can tell me that.

I am also aware that as long as the web is "free," in the sense that anyone can post whatever they want – there will always be "mind spurts," and "half sentences."

And is this really an effective use of such a powerful tool, called the internet?

Categories: Internet

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