Well this is my first blog…. EVER! As I was reading through the first two chapters of New New Media by Paul Levinson I began to feel shame for not realizing the importance of blogging in our current social climate. While I am well aware of the growing popularity of blogging, I have yet to take and active roll in blogging myself or following any blogs. That all changes now! What an amazing opportunity blogging presents to give a voice to the masses! Especially in a society like the United States of America, where our founding principles exemplify the importance of the individual ‘s right to speak freely. Old Media sources such as newspapers or books have a tendency to be filtered in their content because of the editors, publishers, etc. that were controlling the finished product being delivered to the reader. Blogging, generally speaking, takes the filter away and gives any person who has something to say the power to be heard. The reason this is such a positive development for our society, in my mind, is that there is more diversity of opinions being heard than ever before. It can be intimidating trying to sift through the flood of new information out there but I truly believe that more information is ultimately more productive for learning than less information. Readers probably enjoy following blogs that reflect opinions similar to their own, but there is also the advantage of being able to see a perspective that may completely contradict someone’s personal view! Having your own thoughts be challenged is often the best way to develop your own mental clarity on any given topic. Blogging and allowing comments to your blog creates an open discussion that we don’t get by simply reading a newspaper article. Blogging is allowing more free flow of information than we have every experienced and has the power to help us become society that thinks more critically and is possibly more open-minded. Power to the bloggers!!!
Blogs I find most interesting relate to soccer because I am a coach and former player... I have mild obsession with the game. My therapist says it is under control though!
