New Rules
Magic blogs are really starting to suck. I'm even having trouble reading some of favorite blogs without vomiting on myself. But let me explain.
After starting my blog, I made a clear decision to (1) not comment on issues that another blog(s) had already commented on and (2) not get involved in inter-blog politics. The goal, of course, of this decision was to keep my blog both fresh and original. I wanted my readers to know and to recognize that my blog was the only place they could find the kind of insights I offer.
That being said, I can't help myself anymore in commenting on the recent (de-)evolution of magic blogs. There are two very major problems developing within the magic blogging community that I can see, so I'd like to first address each of them and then detail possible solutions.
[Before I start, I should acknowledge that many of these comments may appear ironic in light of the subject matter of this post. Indeed, a post criticizing other bloggers, for example, for blogging about themselves is inherently hypocritical. Yet, I feel that I must ask for your understanding that, in raising these issues, you understand that this post is an exception and not the rule. Thus, when I write, for example, "Who gives a shit what other bloggers do?" in a post all about what other bloggers do, you must think of me foremost as a magic blog reader reacting to other blogs rather than as a magic blogger writing about these reactions.]
Here are the four major problems:
(1) Too much self-involvement in the blogging community: The original magic bloggers started in order to comment on the magic community. They used a digital tool (the blog) but focused mostly on real people and real issues from the real world. At this point, however, too much attention is being focused on the blogging community itself (which does, in my opinion, absolutely nothing for our precious art form). Who gives a shit what other bloggers do?
(2) Too much repetition in the magic blogging community: This ties into the first problem. If you look at the last month worth of posts from most the major magic blogs, you'll notice something: they probably all have to do with either the Magic Cafe, Whit Haydn, or Criss Angel. Each one of those topics brings to light different issues, so let's break them down separately:
(a) The Magic Cafe - Guys, it's fucking done. We realize that Steve Brooks is an asshole, he staff is comprised of douches, and the members of it are retarded. What else is there to say? I love the Magic Circle Jerk (it is, after all, what started all of this), but we get it. I really don't want to see another fucking post about the Magic Cafe. You've not only beating a dead horse - you're exhuming it, raping it in the ass, and jizzing in its eye sockets.
(b) Whit Haydn - So every blogger and his mother decided to have his/her say on the issue, spent weeks writing about it, and then everybody decided, "Whoops. Sorry. Didn't mean any of it." Stand by your fucking opinions! Plus, why was EVERYBODY commenting on it. One or two bloggers raising the issue would have been enough. New rule: If you don't have anything new to say, don't say anything at all.
(c) Criss Angel - He represents a combination of the above issues. I think we've all gotten how much you guys don't like him, so stop repeating yourselves. Additionally, if you're going to comment on it, at least add something new to the discussion. It's a waste of both your time and ours to read a rehash of something we've already read.
(3) Too many problems and not enough solutions in the magic community: It's fine to criticize, but why not suggest ways to make things better, too? If you're going to dis Criss Angel, why not suggest ways that Criss or others contemplating making a television show can create something you would enjoy watching? We need to be constructive and not destructive in our criticism. Unless some flagrant asshole really fucking deserves it.
What solutions can I offer? How about these simple rules that, if followed, will prevent most of the "Big 3" is described about? These, in fact, are the rules that I try to follow. (Obviously, there are - and should - be exceptions, but these rules make good guidelines for good blogging.)
RULE 1: The first person to blog about an issue "gets" that issue. This means that if someone else makes a post about an issue, don't make your own post about that issue, unless it adds a radically new insight to the problem. Writing your own post about an issue should be a last resort: e-mail the blogger or add a comment to the post.
RULE 2: Once it seems that everybody has a consensus on an issue, the issue is, for all practical purposes, dead and posts on the topic should stop. Obviously, if anything changes, as things often do, the issue should be resurrected. However, I think it can be agreed that any post, for example, about how idiotic the Magic Cafe is is redundant at this point (therefore, the issue of idiocy at the Magic Cafe is, for all intents and purposes, a dead issue).
RULE 3: Research something FULLY before posting about it. This whole Whit Haydn fiasco (which I believe was entirely bullshit) wouldn't have happened if somebody had just directly e-mailed Whit before posting.
RULE 4: Be constructive rather than destructive in your criticism. Do you always have to suggest possible solutions? Of course not. But simply bad-mouthing everything you don't like won't get us - magic bloggers, magic blog readers, and the rest of the magic community - anywhere.
All of these rules can be combined into one big rule.
*** GENERAL RULE: Your posts should be fresh, offer a new or different perspective, and contribute - in a positive way, either directly or indirectly - to the development of our art form.If what you have to say doesn't add anything original or constructive to the magic community (not just the magic blogging community, mind you), don't say it. ***
The reason I blog and the reason I read other magic blogs is that I believe that there is a real potential for developing magic blogs as a tool for enhancing and bettering our fantastic art form. It is my sincere hope that this advice helps us achieve that wonderful goal.
After starting my blog, I made a clear decision to (1) not comment on issues that another blog(s) had already commented on and (2) not get involved in inter-blog politics. The goal, of course, of this decision was to keep my blog both fresh and original. I wanted my readers to know and to recognize that my blog was the only place they could find the kind of insights I offer.
That being said, I can't help myself anymore in commenting on the recent (de-)evolution of magic blogs. There are two very major problems developing within the magic blogging community that I can see, so I'd like to first address each of them and then detail possible solutions.
[Before I start, I should acknowledge that many of these comments may appear ironic in light of the subject matter of this post. Indeed, a post criticizing other bloggers, for example, for blogging about themselves is inherently hypocritical. Yet, I feel that I must ask for your understanding that, in raising these issues, you understand that this post is an exception and not the rule. Thus, when I write, for example, "Who gives a shit what other bloggers do?" in a post all about what other bloggers do, you must think of me foremost as a magic blog reader reacting to other blogs rather than as a magic blogger writing about these reactions.]
Here are the four major problems:
(1) Too much self-involvement in the blogging community: The original magic bloggers started in order to comment on the magic community. They used a digital tool (the blog) but focused mostly on real people and real issues from the real world. At this point, however, too much attention is being focused on the blogging community itself (which does, in my opinion, absolutely nothing for our precious art form). Who gives a shit what other bloggers do?
(2) Too much repetition in the magic blogging community: This ties into the first problem. If you look at the last month worth of posts from most the major magic blogs, you'll notice something: they probably all have to do with either the Magic Cafe, Whit Haydn, or Criss Angel. Each one of those topics brings to light different issues, so let's break them down separately:
(a) The Magic Cafe - Guys, it's fucking done. We realize that Steve Brooks is an asshole, he staff is comprised of douches, and the members of it are retarded. What else is there to say? I love the Magic Circle Jerk (it is, after all, what started all of this), but we get it. I really don't want to see another fucking post about the Magic Cafe. You've not only beating a dead horse - you're exhuming it, raping it in the ass, and jizzing in its eye sockets.
(b) Whit Haydn - So every blogger and his mother decided to have his/her say on the issue, spent weeks writing about it, and then everybody decided, "Whoops. Sorry. Didn't mean any of it." Stand by your fucking opinions! Plus, why was EVERYBODY commenting on it. One or two bloggers raising the issue would have been enough. New rule: If you don't have anything new to say, don't say anything at all.
(c) Criss Angel - He represents a combination of the above issues. I think we've all gotten how much you guys don't like him, so stop repeating yourselves. Additionally, if you're going to comment on it, at least add something new to the discussion. It's a waste of both your time and ours to read a rehash of something we've already read.
(3) Too many problems and not enough solutions in the magic community: It's fine to criticize, but why not suggest ways to make things better, too? If you're going to dis Criss Angel, why not suggest ways that Criss or others contemplating making a television show can create something you would enjoy watching? We need to be constructive and not destructive in our criticism. Unless some flagrant asshole really fucking deserves it.
What solutions can I offer? How about these simple rules that, if followed, will prevent most of the "Big 3" is described about? These, in fact, are the rules that I try to follow. (Obviously, there are - and should - be exceptions, but these rules make good guidelines for good blogging.)
RULE 1: The first person to blog about an issue "gets" that issue. This means that if someone else makes a post about an issue, don't make your own post about that issue, unless it adds a radically new insight to the problem. Writing your own post about an issue should be a last resort: e-mail the blogger or add a comment to the post.
RULE 2: Once it seems that everybody has a consensus on an issue, the issue is, for all practical purposes, dead and posts on the topic should stop. Obviously, if anything changes, as things often do, the issue should be resurrected. However, I think it can be agreed that any post, for example, about how idiotic the Magic Cafe is is redundant at this point (therefore, the issue of idiocy at the Magic Cafe is, for all intents and purposes, a dead issue).
RULE 3: Research something FULLY before posting about it. This whole Whit Haydn fiasco (which I believe was entirely bullshit) wouldn't have happened if somebody had just directly e-mailed Whit before posting.
RULE 4: Be constructive rather than destructive in your criticism. Do you always have to suggest possible solutions? Of course not. But simply bad-mouthing everything you don't like won't get us - magic bloggers, magic blog readers, and the rest of the magic community - anywhere.
All of these rules can be combined into one big rule.
*** GENERAL RULE: Your posts should be fresh, offer a new or different perspective, and contribute - in a positive way, either directly or indirectly - to the development of our art form.If what you have to say doesn't add anything original or constructive to the magic community (not just the magic blogging community, mind you), don't say it. ***
The reason I blog and the reason I read other magic blogs is that I believe that there is a real potential for developing magic blogs as a tool for enhancing and bettering our fantastic art form. It is my sincere hope that this advice helps us achieve that wonderful goal.
posted by Pagliacci @ 10:53 AM
1 Comments:
At 3:58 AM ,
Ian said...
Thanks God - at last someone has said it.
Magic blogs have been on a self referential downward spiral for months now. Most bloggers seem to only have a few posts worth of interesting content stored up and run out of steam very quickly.
I see your post has upset another blogger who seems unable to see that your "rules" are not "you must obey me" rules - but instead "if you want anyone to find your blog at all interesting you should think about this" rules. Many bloggers claim they don't care who reads their blogs and that people who don't like what they write should fuck off elsewhere - but in reality if they didn't want people to read their blogs they wouldn't be blogging, they'd be keeping a private journal.
Ian
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