Comments on: why i hate the word blog

By: eL

eL — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 04:19:18 +0000

JD, I don’t disagree that media outlets use said terms as though they have some higher significance, but I attribute that to ignorance and little more–as though all blogs are proactive this or that, and the very idea of “blogging” or whateveryouwanttocallit is new or “news.” (I’d like to see Bill O’Reilly go after Dong Resin one of these days, just for kicks.)

It’s the sort of tickle I get when I hear someone say, “I’m going to go update my Myspace page–the doubled “my” has me in stitches every time.

But blog, blahg, or personal website, I dig what you do here, and don’t let CNN bring you down.

By: GDeeeeZL

GDeeeeZL — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 11:53:40 +0000

I’ve never managed my own blog. Rest assured, JD, if I did it would definitely be cucumiform.

Furthermore, I have from reliable sources (a random Google search and a creative imagination) that the term “blog” is a derivative of “Webelogs.” At a Webelos Cub Scout badge ceremony, Tricia Martin, mother of little Timmy and Jacob Martin and Scout Leader for Troop #6842 announced to the parents in attendance that she was very pleased with the results of her scouts’ outdoor activity event the weekend past. After delivering the results of the cabin build and knot tie competitions, in one very embarassing moment Tricia reported the outcome of the Webelos log race as “Weblog race.” From that day onward the term stuck and was forever used to refer to any source on the internet where people vomit logorrhea (present comment included) for all to see.

JD, I agree that referring to a blog on a blog in a blogosphere is pleonastic (sorry, I saw “tautology” above and thought I would pull another logic term out of the internet’s backside, so, you know? I can give the impression I’m bombastic, and therefore, wicked smart).

I like your website.

Bulwark — thought I’d throw in one more GRE word for you to impress the other readers.

By: Jonathan Dobres

Jonathan Dobres — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:56:16 +0000

Actually, eL, that’s a good point. But media outlets still have this nasty tendency to refer to “blogs” and “bloggers” as if those terms carry some special significance, when really, they don’t don’t signify much of anything. It just bothers me.

By: eL

eL — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:37:05 +0000

Before “blog” sinks any deeper into the abyss of tautology, the term, “weblog” originated in the late 90’s to describe frequently updated, first-person, online journals. “Weblog” became “we blog” because a small group of people thought it was cute (“hey everyone! Look! We blog!”). The “we” became redundant and dropped, leaving the term, “blog.”

But the term is still pretty focused with regard to its origin and definition. Can the term “blog” be used to refer to a tractor? Peonies? Dark matter? No, no, and no.

This is a blog. Just accept it.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 17:10:15 +0000

AMEN. I hate the word “blog.” I’m more OK with it in print, but I can’t stand using it in real conversation. I always, always, ALWAYS say “website” when I am talking out loud.