SteveSilver.net

Blog Police

It’s bad enough that San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors is proposing regulation of the Blogosphere (tell me what’s “liberal” about that?) But then comes this stupid piece the other week by Newsweek’s Steven Levy- a noted blog-hater- bemoaning the lack of “diversity” in the top ranks of the Blogosphere. As though it’s all planned, like the 8.5 million bloggers are all being manipulated by a small white male elite. Sheila convincingly tears this whole thing to shreds:

Let me explain to anyone out there whining about "the men's club" of blogging:

You can blog FOR FREE. You need NO INCENTIVE except that you need to WANT to blog. You need to want to set yourself up on your soapbox, and see who shows up to hear your rants.

This kind of diversity stuff goes up my ass, especially since blogging is not a regulated activity in any way. You don't even have to TELL your race or gender if you don't want to. You can be invisible, and just be a mouthpiece.

Besides, all of this is besides the point. WHO CARES? I read blogs written by women and by men. I do not think my blog-roll has to be 50/50 just to keep the balance. Some of the blogs written by men SUCK. Just because you're a man doesn't mean your blog is good. I mean, it's ridiculous that I even have to say this, but apparently I do. And just because you're a woman, or you're black, doesn't mean that your blog is good either.

One big problem in the upper ranks of the ‘sphere: other than Sheila (and Karol): not enough redheads.

(This story came to Sheila via a blog called Cake-Eater Chronicles, a title which led me to assume that the author was based in the country-club capital of Edina, Minnesota. And I was right, but I won’t hold it against her.)

Posted by Stephen Silver at April 5, 2005 10:46 PM