I assume most bloggers are like me: Forty, Fat, wait, no, that’s the start of who’s at risk for gallbladder problems, let’s try this again: check our traffic and referrer logs obsessively. It’s not all vanity, it’s a way of figuring out what people find interesting and finding new blogs, as well has how many people actually come here (so to speak). The Danish cartoons brought me my largest traffic, and the Duke Lacross team is still interesting to a lot of people. Women in various states of undress are perennial favorites. I even had three people come here in the last 24 hours looking for “Monday Humor”. And I discovered a brand spanking new blog Bridget’s Random Thoughts.
Archive for category Inside Blogging
Referer Logs
May 16
I’m still alive, just busier than usual, which means I don’t have time for a reflective, in depth post. I’m also unexcited by the topics of the day (who cares if a comedian bombed or not, and how do I even communicate with someone who thinks Colbert was devasting but the media is in bed with Bush other than to say he did and they aren’t), so that means I haven’t been posting. And the forecast is busy for a while, so the gruel will be thin for a while yet.
I’ve taken the ruminations of Mark at Kaedrin blog about Weblog usability to heart. I’ve already made some changes before I read it, but I could do more. To that end, I’d like to have a Best of Funmurphys in the side bar with links to my best stuff. I have a few ideas, but it would be nice if we few, we happy few, we band of brothers who actually read this blog on a somewhat regular basis (i.e. more than once) would let me know what you think as well. So go ahead, and pick your favorite posts in the comments.
Thanks for your help.
And please, please, don’t leave me hanging with nobody leaving comments. Because then I would have to destroy all evidence that this post ever existed.
Today’s subject is all about blogging. It started when I read Daniel Henninger’s column in the Wall Street Journal: Disinhibition Nation. The short version is simply Sturgeon’s Law: 90% of everything is crap. And O’Toole’s commentary applies to Sturgeon as much as Murphy: Sturgeon was an optimist. But Mr. Henninger is right in my experience: people are far less inhibited on the internet than real life (or what they should be. Please, don’t let it all hang out).
And now we turn to sockpuppets. Michael Hiltzik was caught employing sockpuppets by Patrick Frey, AKA Patterico, and had his LA Times blog suspended while the paper investigates. Of course, he’s not the only person caught with his hands in a couple of socks: John Lott (AKA Mary Radosh) comes to mind. The lure of disinhibition is hard to resist for people who must maintain a certain decorum because we (that’s an internet we, not a royal we) know who they are when what they’d really like is the freedom to let loose with their real feelings. What stands out about Mr. Hiltzick is his utter lack of class or shame when caught. Of course, Patterico is all over that sorry excuse of reasoning and ties it into the larger trend we see in the media – they lie every day and have no shame about it either.
So have I ever used a sockpuppet? No, I’ve always posted under my own name in blogs and on forums. Sometimes I’ve come late to a conversation and discovered another Kevin Murphy there, in which case I called my self Kevin “the other” Murphy. Isn’t the true test of character what you do when you think nobody is looking? Sure it would be nice to anonymously blast people and say everything I think, but then isn’t that a test on what and how you should say things? So I aways try to talk and write as if my name were attached, and the easiest way to do that is to actually attach my name. I understand that for certain people in certain situations that isn’t possible, but I’m not in that kind of situation.
And yes, I think I have had a couple of commenters here use sock puppets based on IP addresses and quality of the remarks. I understand that IP address isn’t enough alone because if you dial up into a large provider like AOL you get whatever IP address they have available. Will I out you? Hey this is my place, so if I think I should I will. Generally, I don’t care.
Back to John Lott for a minute. His sock puppetry was exposed by an aussie named Tim Lambert who is obsessed with sockpuppetry, seeing them on the hand of anyone who disagrees with him. He may even have a couple of socks on his own hands.
I can actually see a valid reason for sockpuppets – if you want your ideas considered for themselves and not dissmiss or accepted because you are well known to the community. But in this case, I think when the dust settles it would be best to reveal your deception. Otherwise, it’s just lying by another name, because you are trying to deceive people. Unlike simply saying something inaccurate, the point of lying is deception.
Just remember, be careful out there.
I often wonder if I would get more readers if I got into more food fights. I don’t get into pissing contests with other bloggers, I try to be calm and reasonable when I write, though there are some exceptions. I always ask myself, but what if I’m wrong? I gave up posting on big name lefty sites for the same reason I suspect a lot of lefties gave up posting on big name righty sites – there is not interest in dialogue or understanding, just serial abuse of the heretic.
(How do you explain the popularity of Instapundit then? Because you know there will always be fresh post when you go there. I can only surmise that the professor has hordes of grad students posting since no human being can post that frequently and retain a job, stay married and be a father. Oh, scratch the job thing, he’s a professor.)
I’m not a big fan of Michelle Malkin because I think she often goes overboard (though less so than Ann Coulter). On the other hand, she provokes an even greater overreaction on the part of lefty readers. Hey, posting contact information to the internet that is provided “for immediate release” in a press release is not an offense. Making death threats (which she didn’t do) is. To all those chewing the scenery over Michelle, when she is the calm, reasonable one, it’s time to stop throwning the food and start eating it while hoping you got more traffic out of it than she did.
Hello, I Must Be Going
Mar 23
As you may have noticed, or more likely, will notice sometime in the future when you get around to visiting this blog, I have been slacking off here lately. No, I am not too busy with new love, I am not prone to hiatus, nor am I off doing fine reporting in dangerous but important parts. I am in fact busier than usual, and forecast that state to last a while longer.
I Love Wal-Mart
Mar 8
Yessir, I love everything about Wal-Mart. I’d especially love one of those wall mounted plasma HDTVs from the electronics department. I’m sure with one of those in my possession, I would be able to rhapsodize at great length about Wal-Mart, it’s ability to deliver quality products at a low cost, the unfairness of the union smear campaign against it, the unfairness of Maryland singling Wal-Mart out over employee healthcare. Of course, I could learn to love Best Buy, Comp USA, Target, or another store that sells plasma HDTVs if it somehow managed to come into my possession.
Because as a blogger, I have no code of ethics, ergo I must not have any ethics (or plasma HDTV).
Of course, I could do a review of one, and somehow never return it. Because it’s not like companies never send freebees hoping to get a (good) review. And believe me, I’d love a plasma HDTV (as long as it’s widescreen and has a 3D YC comb filter).
The Silver Age Of Funmurphys
Jan 23
I used to do the forum thing, but The Fishbowl explains why I don’t anymore. Hey, I can scientifically prove it’s utter crap now. Entry 549,293,948 in I wish I’d written that list. Via The Listless Laywer.
Good News
Jan 19
Good News, I guess — Vicky is out of the hospital. I’ve only visited one, but I can only imagine you have to feel better in your own, quiet house than in the hospital. I’m praying for a swift and full recovery.
Your Help Requested
Jan 11
I met Vicky Drachenberg at Midwest Blog Bash IV (see Chris Johnson if you want a T-Shirt). Unfortunately, I didn’t have too much time to talk with her as I was trying to eat and leave as she and her husband Matt were arriving. Now she’s really sick, and after 8 days in the hospital, they think she has endocarditis — an infection of the heart. So please pray for her and drop her an email. You can find out all the details at her husband Matt’s blog, overtaken by events.
