Blog of all blogs
In anticipation of the blogging debate - pencilled in for next week - I think we need to start collecting links.
Put simply, people like to point to Jimmy R blogs, the Puskas thread, and others as examples of a "good blog".
Firstly "good" is entirely subjective.
Personally, one of the greatest blogs I have ever read is
And it is the comedy that makes it.
A lot of the 'good' blogs according to Sean are populated by about a million posts from the 'clique'
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/17/best_beckenbauer_platini_zidan.html
Reaching once more for the trumpet marked ebren - I would add this one:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk
And this is my favourite:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/12/13/your_journey_to_olympic_greatn.html
See the December 13, 2006 04:57 PM post.
Perhaps this was the nadir:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/15/in_defence_of_newell.html
But it is also on-topic, relevant, not sexist, racist, or offensive (at least me and HB and KK aren't doing any of these things).
I think we also need to find examples of excellent humour, conversation, debate - anything that springs to mind.
If we are going to do this we need facts to back ourselves up. Anyone can say "I don't like the clique", or "I hate the chat". Specifics are harder to argue against without sounding like a spoilt brat.
Of course - by the nature of the blogs mean we will learn names, and people through their arguments. Agree with some people and disagree with others.
Human nature means that this will turn into a community, and then we will be interested in each other.
I - personally - think the development of a community is an inevitable consequence of the nature of the blog, and once the community grows there will be in-jokes, references to old arguments, and posts directed at each other.
The only way to avoid this would be anonymous posting.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/film/2007/01/getting_down_and_dirty_in_the.html
Quick update - Jelly was the person banned for the "I thought it was a really good goal", can't quite beleive I didn't get that. Now blogging as Gelatinephoenix.
Oh - and this:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/03/swedish_chandler_bing_faces_hi.html
posted by Unknown at 5:39 AM
16 Comments:
It's getting hard to keep up with the arguments - so here are some of them from the last couple of days.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/02/02/the_myth_of_the_friendly_derby.html
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/02/01/on_second_thoughts_andy_cole.html
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/02/02/the_myth_of_the_friendly_derby.html
And just for a giggle - Kelis on quiche
http://music.guardian.co.uk/urban/story/0,,2003411,00.html
Ebren, I like the points you make about community. How seani can't see that in-house jokes and banter are an inevitable part of any blog is beyond me. I'll admit we've taken it too far on occasion, but I could list at least 10 regular posters on the GU blog who offer nothing but abuse, xenophobia and wind-ups.
I'm heartened that people have requested my return, but until the blog improves - and judging by Glendenning's recent comments and the emergence of 50k this won't be any time soon - I see very little point. I've changed my mind before though, and I have a great idea for a Family Guy inspired username :)
Hell, this blog is better anyway. Thanks to Ebren. I'll think back on my many months of happy blogging and hopefully come back with some links later.
Ebren, this may not be what you're looking for, but one of my favourite miro posts
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/04/millionaire_maestros_should_ke.html
Balls!
David Lacey's thread on Teddy, Saturday Nov 04 2006. Pure miro magic :o)
Hi all,
First of all, thank you for your words of support. Let me assure you that the strike is going... swimmingly. Sunshine has come back to these shores after a couple of weeks of torrential tropical rain, the fishing is going well, trees laden with mangoes and other juicy treats, the hammock is in the shade, plenty of time to experiment with new cocktail combinations, not very far from absolute perfection. I'm having a right laugh at the image of poor Offside standing by his brazier. Let me tell you, if I was anywhere near a brazier at the moment, I'd soon be reduced to a small puddle on the ground.
I don't intend to stay away for ever but I will probably take it easy and stay in the shade until the "Mother Of All Blogs" comes around (from then on referred to as the MOAB). This is most unlike me, by the way, as I usually don't take things too seriously and always take my football with a pinch of salt. But I can sometimes be stubborn as only an old French mule can.
As you can tell from my recent posts, I have tried to use restraint in my dealings with Messrs Glendenning and Ingle and not take this on a personal level. I hope we can all do the same on the MOAB and refrain from personal attacks and pointless bickering. I don't think there is anything to be gained by going for a "full frontal". Let's elevate the debate instead. It seems we have enough in the grey matter department to make our points forcefully and clearly. I believe we also have enough heart and humour. I am definitely looking forward to it.
Marcela,
it's nice to see you here, and, as ever, a pleasant experience to read your thoughts. I hope you will join in on the MOAB. I have the feeling that, whether you like it or not, your opinion will carry more weight than all of ours combined. And please note, I am not asking you to take sides either, but your comments on the importance, the need even, of some degree of "controlled off-topicness" will be very important.
It strikes me as sad that violent posts (see the Everton/Liverpool thread of yesterday) are deemed OK by the moderators because they are on topic while a little harmless banter can get people banned.
Ebren,
I'm glad you kept that pigeon link, a true classic. I like your ideas about the funerary rites and the sense of community. It's a crucial point and I trust you will make a good case of it on the MOAB. You can start sharpening that quill now.
Bluedaddy,
thank you for your kind words yesterday on the Cole blog. Likewise, and don't worry, I have the feeling there is plenty more mixobloggology to be done.
If anyone wants to get in touch, my e-mail address again: olivierrothster@gmail.com
Enjoy your weekend and take good care of yourselves.
Slainte
offside
A couple of things I forgot to add (as if my first post wasn't long enough...)
I am definitely lost regarding all the new identities. I don't know if it's a good thing or not. I suppose the important thing is the message but there's definitely a streak of multi-schizophrenia running through the blogs. Do some people actually have several handles? How long 'til we hear the chant "Three kokomos, there's only three kokomos"?
One thing I do like is that ofHome is not shy about his return and signs his posts "greengrass". Brilliant in-your-face attitude.
Does anybody have speaktruth's email address? I'd like to get in touch with him without breaking my picket line.
If any of you are interested, I was having a personal chat with speaktruth (and pipita) at the tail-end of Sid Lowe's "The end is nigh for a player unable to cross great divide" thread (January 22nd) and while discussing a potential All-time France XI, we came up with a silly and totally unrealistic suggestion (my post of january 25, 11:18 PM).
That's it for now, I'll be back if I think of anything else.
Ciao
offside
Offside,
I'm sure that you are right: I did my full frontal, and ended up with a little egg in my face. A couple of good old Lutheran cold showers later, I am ready to toe the party line - and it looks like being a grand party, with you already hard at work on les cocktails.
Not much opposition (or perhaps we should see them as Partners in Dialogue) has turned up so far. I think Fundy and Billie Shears and a few others have posted, but I wonder how many of the "Silent Majority" will put their names on the line?
The Mother Of All Blogs (MOAB) is a great handle. I am proud to be a Moabite and a card-carrying (full deck of 52 plus Jokers) member of Blogidarnosc.
The Moabites appear to have been a peaceful bunch in Old Testament days, seeking harmony with their neighbours, worshipping their idols and getting on with their lives. They had a king called Balak, which might/might not please those among us with blue idols. They had some amazing Old Testament names, too - perhaps a source of new user-names.
I adore their peaceful nature.
I quote:
"The Moabites were much too friendly, in fact, sending their daughters to cultivate friendly relations with Israelite men and to entice them into idolatry."
(perhaps a bit sexist, but we could bring it up to date by sending the odd son as well: O'Shea, anyone?).
As ever,
Greengrass
morning all.
Haven't looked at all the links yet. Can't bring myself to read the newell one, as i remember the arguments about 'inherent'. Man i disliked cally at that time, but i have grown to love him, and also to admire his logical style and all encompassing knowledge.
Am also gearing up for the MOAB. Have actually written some stuff on community, and social capital. One of teh key components of community is that it is an organism, allowed to evolve somewhat autonomously. The quickest way to destroy a community is to apply a 'machine' metaphor to it, and to develop a strict sense of hierachy (ie, we 'know our place' etc).
On a lighter note. Aren't some (not all) of the newer posters grade a idiots? I won't name names, and i hope it isn't any of our alter egos, but some people are really getting off on 'clique, liverpool obsessed' etc, and it's really doing my head in.
ps, i will send an e-mail round to all who have left their e-mail addresses.
It seems like we're all doing our homework. This could well end up as the most important thread in blog history :)
We'll be ready.
I don't want to be behind the times, so feel free to email me at dr_sanchez@hotmail.co.uk if you have something to say and you don't know anyone who's intelligent enough to understand it :)
KK -
I knew it was only a matter of time before someone would try to turn this into a Liverpool thread.
Hi guys, I have just used up another of my long line of active email addresses toy sign in as Nerbe.
I thought I'd create a throwaway login that I would be happy to be banned, and NewEbren or EbrensNotDead were just too boring.
I'm trying to decide if creating this blog makes me deeply sad or not - as well as removing any chance that they will publish my elephant polo story.
Oh well, I've never been good at backing down.
Ebren, I don't see anything sad about it. It's the way of the future!
KK, GG, we can't let this blog be hijacked by the usual suspects. Before we know it miro will be posting film ideas and HB will be banging on about the glory days at Anfield. I won't stand for it.
Nope - never going to happen.
HB is banned from this site.
That said, SirOliverReed is more than welcome.
So kokomo is not an eskimo, greengrass is ofhome and offside still alive in tahiti and using more salt than peper in his cooking.
Obviously everybody is getting anxious for the big classico blog, la gran final, - watchdogs against Moabites-.
Elevating the debate, means to keep the ball on the ground, no tackles, pass to the open guy ,shoot and score.
You will have to drible against subjectivity, around the authority and stop at the whisle..
I will stay on the side line cheering from the bench I may get in in the last 5 minutes, only if you are short or behind but I have total confidence with our A team who has the intellectual and moral capacity to justify the validity of the cause and proves the absurdity of our opponent.
Score final:
Moabites:4---W.D:----1.
Thanks for your email everybody, All the best,
guitougoal
Just wanted to add my congratulations on an enjoyable read here. Many thanks to Seani for the link, else I migth not have enjoyed all of these comments.
Hi alex,
who are you? I mean what do we know you as on the GU blogs?
offside
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