I invited a friend, who regularly reads, and occasionally blogs on, BMG to join the BMG canvass on Sunday. This person had another obligation but mentioned in passing that s/he was concerned that bloggers just talked with each other and was unclear as to how much bloggers actually accomplish.
I mentioned the $50,000+ that had been raised by the BMG concert and that I regularly see people who I know who blog out on the campaign trail.
But, the RSVPs have been a touch light. It got me thinking, was my friend’s perspective closer to the truth? Is my optimism misplaced?
1) RSVP for the BMG canvass, if you can join us. This will go along way towards changing people’s perceptions. Celebrity guests include MDP Chair John Walsh, Rep. Katherine Clark, Somerville Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, Northborough Selectman Fran Bakstran and former DNC member Ginny Allan. More RSVPs are coming in.
2) Share your thoughts here about the topic. Are bloggers all talk and no action? Do blogs increase activism by promoting discussion, sharing opportunities and creating community? Or are they just a time sink?
Well, for ME at least. ;P
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p>I don’t know about the rest of bloggers, but I’ve had precious little time lately…something about new homeownership I think. At least, that’s when it seemed to start.
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p>Blogs are good at a minimum for combating stupid right wing talking points and conventional wisdom, particularly the national blogs vs. the national media but even on a local level, you can make a difference. Even better when they provide a place for people to figure out a way to work offline together, which I think is a strong suit.
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p>And Kate, do you have any idea at ALL how hard it is to say no to you? I’m still feeling the stinging guilt! Even moreso reading this. 🙂
People have made that comment to me before. I guess it comes from leading by example. 🙂 Kate
…about it being difficult to say no to Kate!
Blogs are all of those.
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p>I think the degree to which blogs are able to influence the public discussion is not fully appreciated. As progressives, we’ve made tremendous strides in finding our voice in the last four years, and blogs have a hell of a lot to do with that.
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p>That being said, now is the time to move beyond the comfort of the echo chamber, and to spread our area of contact as far and wide as possible. We need to get to the folks that don’t read the blogs, that aren’t in the whorl of our discussions here or other areas of progressive discourse.
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p>And that means canvassing on Sunday. 🙂
beating the crap out of the media. It’s fun. It’s cathartic. It’s patriotic!
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p>I really don’t know how I can fit in going from RI to Nashua to Cambridge in a several hour time span…blegh. I’ll THINK about it, OK? (Mr. Lynne, help!)
Talked it over with the Mr. I may be able to put in a few hours Sunday.
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p>Mind you, I’ll be bloody exhausted, I will have zero real downtime this weekend, and the serious amount of work that has to be done on my house before Thanksgiving will likely be put off – again.
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p>I hope you people are happy now!
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p>I will not require a ride, as there’s no way I can avoid bugging out by mid afternoon. I still do need that rehearsal, or Mr. Lynne will kill me. My poor triangle percussion skills reflect on him you know.
TOLD you it was hard to say no to Kate.
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p>I’d better like get some sort of historic tee shirt or lawn sign or something outta this…or at least a sticker!
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p>Yes, it’s all about ME. Heh.
Well, as readers of the Dem Dispatch know, it is also my Birthday Canvass. Someone suggested that she would get me a T-Shirt with the word “Relentless” on it for my birthday.
would be an understatement. 🙂
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p>We loves ya Kate, you know that right?!
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p>So I’ll see you at 11:30 at Nashua HQ.
We’re doing it for Lolorb!
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p>Good night!
blogs are kind of like a writing workshop. they are a place to work out your ideas among fairly sympathetic peers.
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p>but for everyone who blogs, i would bet there are 400 who don’t. and most of those 400 are going to cast ballots that have a weight exactly equal to the ones of people who spend 10 hours a week bantering online.
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p>so you may have the influence to get everyone on blue mass group to come to your side of an issue waving banners and blowing whistles, but the overwhelming majority of people have never heard of blue mass group or really deeply deeply care about a lot of the issues that are dissected here. and most of them probably never will. so that reality should be reckoned with.
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p>(no offense charley, david, and bob. you all do a fantastic job. it’s not you, it’s the medium.)
is spent writing. On my own blog, I’m read by anywhere from 250-400 people a day.
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p>Although I prefer my computer to large groups of people, I also find time to help with my own town committee, which is doing some visibility events. I also hold office in my town. Point: there’s a difference between activism and campaign work and doing actual governing. They’re both important, and not mutually exclusive, but it’s a matter of how much time I have and where it is best spent. Blogging actually overextends me.
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p>Living in Western Mass, canvassing in New Hampshire is major enterprise for a Saturday. Although it’s valuable and it would be fun to meet fellow BMGers, it’s not a mission I have time for.
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p>Just providing one perspective.
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p>Mark