Curmudgeon - 14 comments
Iain Dale has published lists of what he believes to be the Top 100 Bloggers - in various categories - and I'm sure you've enjoyed reading over the weekend (too many articles to link to).
It is a somewhat similar idea to one I briefly talked over with Iain (how important am I?) during the summer, though I do feel that asking Labour supporters to vote for Conservative bloggers, and vice versa, would have turned out to be more informative (if a little far-fetched). I'm also sure that - barring a few instances of self-, and multiple-voting - our recommendations facility is a much fairer way of doing things, and relies upon the judgement of our community of readers. I like that way of working.
Still, if you've been lucky enough to appear on one of the lists - and in the category you expected - congratulations! Everybody needs encouragement when blogging, and if you've been 'discovered', gained a brief spike in traffic, or even restarted blogging after a long hiatus, perhaps it has been a worthwhile exercise. If you ask me - and with the greatest respect to those who appear very near the top of the chart and might feel this is aimed directly at them - there only seems to be a limited correlation between Iain's positions and what I would say were the ideals in a blog: thoughtfulness, usefulness, opening up a debate, campaigning, etc. These aren't the criteria he applies, but I think they're at least as good - if you really must go with one man's personal opinion.
I do draw the line at repeating the line that Iain is "the UKâs leading political blogger", and especially to Labour supporters shilling the man's book and potentially contributing to Conservative Party funds. I expect I'm in a tiny minority, but must confess to feel queasy reading his glossy Guide to UK Political Blogging, as one self-declared guru after another - possibly with a shiny, two-month-old blog to their name - tries to present themselves as part of the in-crowd. No, the birth of the political blogging personality doesn't appeal to me at all; not merely because I don't have a personality, but because this approach favours the world of trivia and intrigue, of 'insiders' and special correspondents, rather than debate, writing, and community work. I also resent the encroachment of mainstream media power into the blogosphere, and any attempt to build hierarchies here. I find it politically uncomfortable as much as anything.
The more this guide is distributed during the Conference season, and I've no doubt it will be eagerly snapped-up (Update: it sounds like this is true), the sooner this new world will be upon us.
Meh. Am I taking it all too seriously? Should I care?
NB: this blog appeared at #17 in the Labour list, so I can't be accused of having a chip on the shoulder. At least not on this issue.
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14 comments so far...
Interesting post. I like the way that you do things on this site although you are still building hierarchies etc. Iain's thing is OK as long as it is seen as a bit of fun. I agree there is a danger in it being viewed too seriously. If his chart is viewed as "the bible", debate could be fossilised. And it's not just Labour bloggers who are concerned that his A list candidate status risks diminishing his independence (whether consciously or not). Yours - a two-month old blog.
Very well said. I was beginning to think I was the only the dissenting voice on the overall tone of "isn't it wonderful that some tory has put me in his list" - even if it seems to be mostly about promoting his new book.
Well, I think it's a great list. ;-)
Wouldn't you rather have (currently) 80 votes on our list than 1 at Iain's? (NB. You're not allowed to mention exposure, opportunities to get on Breakfast News, vastly greater site traffic, or a small Sports Day-style trophy roughly the size of an eggcup).
It seems that, unwittingly, Iain's latest book may become the tipping point at which the UK political blogosphere (God, I hate that word!) leaves behind its fraternal mentality and takes on the characteristics of traditional political life.
When a tory blogger is done down for merely compiling a subjective list of labour blogs (for his own financial gain as well as publicity for the concept in general), then it bodes ill for a repeat of somthing akin to Guido blogging in support of Kerron like a couple of months back.
I suppose it was always going to be like this sooner or later, but there definitely feels like there are heavily partisan lines being taken online and that it will only be a matter of time before a labour blogger starts fisking what a tory blogger has written, or vice versa.
As it is, I'm more proud of being recommended by my labour peers, than recommended by my tory peers.
Having said that, exposure, opportunities to get on Breakfast News, and vastly greater site traffic would all be nice.
The fact that he's a Tory doesn't really come into it (I hardly ever attack them - there's little point even now), it's the fact that he has power, influence, and friends. The evidence of the last weekend suggests he has enough sweeties to throw that even Labour bloggers will promote his book out of gratitude for the publicity. That power needs to be used wisely while it exists, and continually challenged. Iain also has the power to, as you say, push the UK political blogosphere (I don't mind the word - it's funny) towards taking on the characteristics of traditional political life. Actually, not traditional political life, but media-driven political life. That doesn't bode well.
BTW, our recommendations system is open to all readers - you don't have to be a Labour blogger to vote, just to receive votes. Question is: why didn't Iain propose a vote, rather than use his own judgement? At every stage I try to get B4L to work collectively, and it often works well, so why does he not think his readers can work the same way?
Exactly B4L, how come an individual's opinion is suddenly worth more because he has bigger site traffic?
Is the viewpoint of the Daily Star more worthy than that of the New Statesmen....don't answer that question ;-)
our recommendations system is open to all readers
I didn't know that.
But, y'know, it's nice to be given a thumbs up by people. And while I neither know nor care on what criteria Iain judged the blogs or, indeed, whether or not he did it all himself (I doubt it somehow), I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Fair play to him - if he can make money off this stuff and publicise the rest of us at the same time, I'm not going to stop him.
And, about him not instigating a vote, he's obviously not trying to be collegiate about any of this, but then - he's not trying to build a community like this place. He's trying to increase his profile. And, like I said, fair play to the man.
BTW, while we're here - is there a collected feed for Conservative blogs like B4L or LibDemBlogs? I've yet to find one.
Don't think the Tories have one, though the Lib Dems have this.
Looks like it's had a makeover since I last looked (funny that!) I'll have to keep my eye on it.
On the other hand, the work he put into the list was great. Personally, I've found a few new sites as a result so I'm not going to knock him. Some of the concerns or criticism here (including mine)is a mark of Iain's success. I don't have him down as a power-crazed madman.
Of course it's better to have the approval of your political allies rather than the feint praise of your political enemies - if your political convictions are so weak that you need approval or praise to express them in the first place of course.
I didn't ask for/nor did I expect a place on the Dale list but it caused a good chuckle in the West Midlands when I got one and it has massively increased the number of misguided souls who access my blog in search of erudition and profundity - instead they get to read my mainly incoherent rants and for that I am prepared to thank Mr.Dale because I might in my idiocy just occasionally say something that makes someone think again and that can't be bad can it?
Tories have got an aggregator of sorts, EU Serf and DK run Right Links, but I find it hard to navigate.
I find Lib Dem blogs to be the best aggregator in terms of layout, and I've never tried the recommendation system here. Iain's leaflet has acheived one thing; it's got acceptance of the format and medium. That's essential if we're to continue to grow. As for it causing a split and increased partizanship?
Meh, don't do partizan, never have, never will. My membership card makes me a Lib Dem, not going to stop me coming here and annoying Andrew regularly...
Just had a look at Right Links. It's a little complicated, but has some good functionality (that I can steal!). The Lib Dem one probably goes the other way. There's still a lot for us to do, of course, and the next month should see a few changes. Proper hosting should solve the reliability issues.
I'm not convinced by the partisanship increase idea either: it's often high at election time, generally low (relative to other media) at other times, and rarely very interesting. I'm glad that people associated with other parties feel they can come here and comment in a civilised arena.
I'd just like to take another opportunity to be churlish about this whole exercise of Iain Dale's - and to point out that he claims he's never heard of my blog, even though he put a comment in a post of mine after I launched an unprovoked personal attack on him a few months ago.
It's a rubbish list.
;-)
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