[LINK] AIIA raises concerns on Tanner and Conroy blog

[Jan Whitaker]

At 11:59 PM 10/12/2008, Ivan Trundle wrote:
>  Can't say that my views are any different - but
>for some, blogs are A New Experience, so they won't die anytime soon,
>even if the readers have long lost interest.

They may not be new, but that doesn't mean they are worthless. They 
sure are proliferating! It's a twist on the old electronic forum 
concept for communities of interest. And because some are within 
larger platforms, like blogger etc., they are easily discovered and 
participation is somewhat standardised.

The Au.govt new blog is homegrown, so it doesn't really have the 
different capabilities that the standard platforms have. There is no 
connection to anything else. It's a crap shoot as to whether anyone 
finds out about it. There is no preview to see how your input is 
going to appear. There is no ability to withdraw a comment that 
you've posted. And there is extreme editorial control through the 
moderation that is sporadic at best.

Personal opinion: blogs are just another tool in the panoply of 
communication structures. They suit some situations and not others. 
It will be a while before the new govt blog gets its feet and the 
people sponsoring it find out if it provides a usable place for 
exposed public comment. AIIA may not like it, but so what?

Jan



Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
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Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or 
sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.
~Madeline L'Engle, writer

Writing Lesson #54:
Learn to love revision. Think of it as polishing the silver for 
guests. - JW, May, 2007
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