Rumors Of Demise Greatly Exaggerated

Blogging is dead.

It has been for a while.  Andrew Sullivan – my blogfather – wrote about it not all that long ago (in re the death of The Awl, a blog I don’t lament in the least)

William Jacobson at Legal Insurrection attempts an autopsy of blogging – at least, of blogging as a cultural phenomenon and business model.  Both were killed by the loathsome Twitter:

Social media really is a sewer, and I attribute much of the evaporation of the blogosphere to Twitter. It’s much easier to find an instant audience on Twitter than to build the relationship with readers to get them to come to your website. Twitter pundits are the worst pundits, counting their worth based on “followers” (many of whom are fake and purchased). The NY Times had an amazing expose on the purchasing of Twitter followers in order to create a fake reality of popularity that then can be monetized as an “influencer.”

The financial pressures also are real, as ever-increasing demand for clicks to drive dwindling advertising payout creates so much noise it’s hard to be heard. And yes, the financial pressures are real in this superheated media environment.

Monday will be my sixteenth anniversary as a blogger.  I’ve never been especially sensitive to the ups and downs of the field; I never became a superstar like John Hinderaker or Ed Morrissey or Rachel Lucas.    I didn’t go down in a wave of shame and humiliation, either, like Duncan Black or Oliver Willis or pretty much a anyone who ever blogged for “Minnesota Progressive Project”.  It’s always pretty much just been me, with the odd contribution from First Ringer (and, back in the day, Johnny Roosh and Bogus Doug).

And it was about the time Twitter and its hordes of droogs took over the job of facile instant political analysis that people stared hitting the gates.

And, like the other highs and lows, I didn’t care.  Twitter bores me stiff.  I use it mosty to promote the show, and to gauge the cowardice of liberal politicians (the ones that routinely block conservatives are, in fact, gutless cravens).

But the “death” of blogging interests me not in the least.   I got into it because I enjoyed writing.  And while I’ve gotten the odd paycheck out of the deal – back in 2007, I think I was gettting $200/months in ad revenue, which has plunged to maybe $100/year lately) and my annual pledge drive always adds a nice bump to the vacation budget, I do it for the pure unadulterated love of writing stuff for people to read.

Dead, schmead.  As far as I”m concerned, it’s just beginning.

11 thoughts on “Rumors Of Demise Greatly Exaggerated

  1. If you have things to say, blogging is still worth doing. I’m glad you’ve stayed with it, Mitch.

  2. I’ll be sending you some silver on your next pledge drive in recognition of your 16yr. anniversary. Love your blogging Mitch, pretty much a daily stop here for me. Congratulations for sure!

  3. The advent of social media effectively weeded out the riff raff. That’s why I stopped. (Oh, and also because I was getting bored with it, didn’t really care about goings-on as much as I thought I would, never had enough time to work on a good post, etc.)

  4. I’ve enjoyed the blogging experience, and while my own blog is mostly dead (I plan to launch a series of related posts in the near future), I treasure the experience, the skills I’ve gained, and the relationships that were formed (including the opportunity to meet up with JPA at the Reagan statue in Budapest).

    I think the appeal of blogging ties to a revelation I had when my blog was in its prime: the blog was my version of a garage band.

    I never had the musical aptitude to actually be in a band (even a poor one), but the blog gave me creative opportunities to both compose and “jam” with others. Perhaps every garage player has a hope deep in his/her heart or imagination that they’ll one day play in stadiums. Some bloggers no doubt desired the blogging equivalent (as opposed to just writing about stadiums). While some bloggers made the unlikely leap, there is pleasure and satisfaction in being part of a community and just being heard, even if it’s just someone from across the street shouting, “Turn it down!”

  5. Blogging is dead.

    To paraphrase Twain, The report of blogging death was an exaggeration.

  6. NW, it was our pleasure to meet you. We could not ask for better weather and company.

  7. Oh my, I just re-read the title. Scraaaaaatch. Although I did make sure to use the actual quote.

  8. Pingback: In The Mailbox: 02.02.18 : The Other McCain

  9. My short blogging career rewarded me with the widespread and unbridled hate of many prominent leftist reprobates, which I treasured; the award of the title Twin Cities pre-eminent cartoonist, violence threatened and attempted upon my gentle person.

    Treasured memories, all.

  10. Political blogging was just one niche among many. There are a ton of other blogging niches still going strong, especially when tied in with consumer products that can support them. Money Saving Momma has her own Martha Stewart or Pioneer Woman on the cheap following. There are prepper blogs, storm chasing blogs, you name it there is a niche and they are still going strong. Not a lot of money in it as you point out but SAHMs seem to get free products or some supplemental income out of it.

  11. I suspect that the success of Twitter 9such as it is) is driven by advertising metrics. I think the metrics people are missing out a lot; I do not subscribe to any Twitter feeds. I have a facebook page I visit maybe once every three months.
    Instead of using social media I scan about a half dozen blogs a day, and another half a dozen MSM news sites. I keep in touch with family & friends via Google Hangouts.
    I spend about $10k/year online. I book all of my travel online. Yet it is as though I am invisible to the advertising mavens who worship “likes” and shared links.

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