Blogging Rule #2: If You Write Something Controversial, You’d Damn Well Better Be Prepared To Back It Up
This follows rule #1: If your heart isn’t beating with nervousness when you hit the submit button, your writing probably isn’t worth reading.
A few days ago, an unknown blogger wrote a blog post on an unknown blog dissing marathoners. The tone of the post was condescending and insulting. It had a distinct “holier-than-thou” feel. The author diminished the accomplishments of people that undertake the awesome task of attempting to run a marathon. The author claimed to be pre-med (or as my friend Dave Repp pointed out- what the rest of us call a “biology major”), then cited a sketchy medical study supporting the idea that marathons are bad for your heart. This is laughable given the contradictory research AND the fact that we’re in the midst of the worst obesity epidemic humanity has ever seen. I could hear all the lazy “I’m not going to exercise because I don’t want my body to fall apart” rejoicing as they stuffed another Ho-Ho in their mouth while watching Snooky down another Jägerbomb. “Almost a doctor” indeed. Logical fallacies, conjecture, and hyperbole abound!
In short, it was very similar to 90% of my posts.
While I was offended by the posts and felt an urge to punch this bitch, I did have a distinct twinge of respect. This unknown blogger managed to ruffle the feathers of a vehemently-outspoken group that has a significant internet presence. The resulting traffic avalanche is a blogger career-launching event. The post was PURE GENIUS.
Until I found out she’s moderating comments.
Worse, she’s apparently moderating all the comments that disagree with her points. A quick perusing of the comments conformed my suspicions.
Here’s my simple message to “Grace”: If you have the balls to post something like this, you’d damn well better have the balls to allow people to comment.
That’s what separates good bloggers that stimulate discussion and the progression of ideas from no-talent dipshit hacks that anonymously post inflammatory shit then hide behind a wall of moderation because they’re too cowardly to face the consequences of their actions.
Hopefully this will serve as a cautionary tale to my fellow bloggers- don’t post shit you’re not willing to defend.
Grace, you seem like a talented writer with a flair for blogging. Don’t be a tool. Open up your comments to anyone and everyone. Moderation is for cowards. If you really believe what you write, have the heart to defend yourself.
[Edit- my comment on her post with a link to this post was submitted... any bets how quickly it will be rejected?]
Want to see a new blogger that’s doing it right? Check this one out:
http://justdontstoprunning.blogspot.com/
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15 Comments
Brad
December 31, 2011While I don’t agree with much of her post (and isn’t that the beauty of the First Amendment to start with) and I don’t have to. Deleting negative comments is just CS. On my blog I delete spam – period. I also don’t go posting highly controversial material either.
Dear Grace « Under Pressure
December 28, 2011[...] about how they are also bad for your heart, with no link to said study and per usual, the running world exploded. Grace, while I appreciate that you think I’m another marathoner prancing around in Lululemon [...]
John
December 27, 2011Unfortunately she wears glasses. So we can’t punch her in the face…
Chris
December 23, 2011My real issue with her asinine post was that’s attacking marathoners for being holier-than-though, not just on a work-out level but for thinking that running marathons makes them “good people.” Who the hell thinks that? I’ve never met anyone who thinks that running marathons makes them a good person. In shape, yes. Crazy, yes. Really boring at parties because all we want to talk about is 22 mile trail runs, yes. But a better person? No one even thinks that. So if her 2nd caveat is true, that if you do it ’cause you like it then she has no problem with you, then her entire post negates itself. I can’t bother even being offended by it because its just so stupid.
Chris
December 23, 2011Wow. She really did delete EVERY negative comment. That’s amazing. When I wrote an post on my old blog implying that the structure of D&D has some racially troubling aspects, I got a shit storm from overly defensive white gamers telling me I was an idiot and an ass-hole . . . I approved every one. I didn’t RESPOND to every one (just the intellect ones), but I didn’t moderate it. That’s just cowardly.
John R.
December 23, 2011Jason, I must respectfully disagree with your point that her blog post was pure genius. Granted, you seem to define genius as anything that guarantees blog traffic or noteritey, no matter whether the blog piece is one of quality or useless dribble. In your view it seems, the only criteria by which to judge a blog post is how many hits it has. Perhaps a better criterium would be to what extent a post edifies – and this edification could be through many ways: information, humor, sarcasm, wit – just something other than petty, negative slop – the kind of stuff you might expect from TMZ or Fox News.
I think this is one of the negative consequences of blogging – and yes there are negative ones. You have written of the positive, but seem to neglect the negatives – that anyone, even those with nothing good or beneficial to contribute now has a voice. Furthermore, since many bloggers now write for monetary income, their goal becomes not quality content, but shock value to generate hits.
This blogger strikes me as someone who is very petty and insecure – someone who is filled with envy or anger instead of joy over the accomplishments of others – someone whom I probably wouldn’t want to associate with in real life – not because I disagree with her opinion about running (I’m not a marathon runner myself), but because she’s incapable of expressing this opinion in a decent enough way and is a poor writer.
Even in the blogosphere, I’m reminded of a phrase my mother used to tell me growing up: “if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.” It seems for many bloggers, the motto is “If you can say anything that will generate blog hits and potential revenue, say it.”. How sad.
Jason
December 23, 2011John- the “genius” comment reflects the nature of the impact this has made, not the actual content. I think it was absolute garbage, even if parts are true.
Even the negative slop has value. Giving everyone a voice is a good thing. The democratization of ideas is a great benefit of the Internet. Previously, voices were unnecessarily censored by gatekeepers that assured communication was hoarded by an elite minority.
diana
December 23, 2011My problem with this girls post is not that she expressed her feelings about people who run marathons cause I will agree with her that some may be annoying but so are some pre-med students, teachers, truck drivers, teenagers, etc..there are a lot of annoying people! Anyway, my problem is when somebody tosses out medical information who isn’t a doctor, isn’t in the medical field and who doesn’t have much supporting documentation and then others take what they say to be true or fact.
Your point about comment moderation is also true. You put something out there, be ready for responses and if you don’t agree or don’t like them, you can write another post on why and how that person is wrong!
Pat
December 23, 2011I’m a pretty easy going dude and I run and I also know how stupid running is. Her article made me laugh at myself. I didn’t agree with it whole heartily but I don’t agree with most articles that way.
Clearly if that lady became a doctor I would not trust her medical intelligence to put a band aid on my cut finger.
As you point out Jason you don’thave to be a marathon runner to be a Jack Ass you could also be a “Barefoot Runner” a”a Triathlete” or a “Tim Teboe fan.” Oh yeah and those dudes who run in Luna Sandals they’re the worst of them all!
The author was 100% right about running a marathon not making us Mother Teresa. I I wanted to be like M.T. I would have take money from crocks to use for private jets and my top notch healthcare while I prevent my patients from receiving modern medical attention to preserve my image as helpless old lady. (while my bank account sky rockets)
Lastly I tried to post a positive comment on her blog (albeit a little bit twisted) It was moderated and never showed up.
Chronic Runner
December 23, 2011I got a lot of heat for a recent post (http://www.chronicrunner.com/2011/12/monday-mutterings-marathon-bandwagon.html) but most of the comments were made on FB – I think a total of 107 comments – many claiming I was a full-of-shit-elitist. I wish that more dissenting comments had been left on my blog! I love having a good argument/debate. Deleting critical comments is cowardly and defeats the whole point of blogging.
Vanessa
December 23, 2011PVs = page views
Vanessa
December 23, 2011I strongly strongly agree about comment moderation. When I saw the post, there were many negative comments there, so I guess she went through and cleaned them out. Which was dumb.
While I agree that it WAS genius, I think she aroused attention by accident, so it was probably more like a fluke? She doesn’t seem to be enjoying the attention. If it was intentional, that would be pretty brilliant. I’m dying to know her PVs.
Jason
December 23, 2011I think you’re right, Vanessa. It was a typical rant complaining about annoying people. We’ve all written those posts. Still, you have to assume every single thing you write will be read by anyone and everyone, and you have to be prepared for the consequences. It’s the nature of the internet… we have no way to predict what will go viral.
As far as page views, I would guess it is in the ballpark of 3-5k at least. I’m seeing links to this post popping up EVERYWHERE.
Trisha Reeves
December 23, 2011Yes, her post is everywhere, and it was prompted by many of us who were offended by it, and I believe, posted by me first….so that makes me her principal promoter. Yes, she is pretty genius.
Julie Dolph
December 23, 2011Thank you for this! Well said.