Bob Ross has been a longtime friend and sometime critic of mine. He is the most devoted publisher of Spurgeon since Passmore & Alabaster. He's also a prolific writer of passionate commentary on just about everything, ranging from serious theological aberrations to little things that just get under his skin. He's a kind of fundamentalist Andy Rooney.Well, Bob must have heard I started a blog. He broadcast an e-mail this morning that included this:
The blogging fad does appear to have something in common with the message board: it seems to bring all sorts out of the woodwork. Finding something of permanent value in blogdom is like discovering a jewel of gold in a swine's snout. You wonder how it got there.
Bob himself doesn't blog, but if you want to get his regular e-mail updates on what's wrong in the universe, you can sign up at his website.
8 comments:
The blogging fad does appear to have something in common with the message board: it seems to bring all sorts out of the woodwork. Finding something of permanent value in blogdom is like discovering a jewel of gold in a swine's snout. You wonder how it got there.
I would have to disagree with that statement. I agree that there are massive amounts of Christian blogs these days and finding really good ones vs bad ones (or ones with duplicated info or personal ramblings) can be a challenge. However, this comment seems to suggest that there are very few good Christian blog entries and that is just plain incorrect.
Keep in mind, sorting through blogs is not much different than sorting through all the "so called" Christian books in a Christian bookstore for example...or sorting through the multitudes of sermons available in audio format.
Blogging is far from a "fad" and I think one day Mr. Ross will eat those words.
It reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend many years ago. I was talking to him about how digital cameras were going to take over that field and his response was that digital cameras were a "fad". I recorded his statement in the infobot and told him he would eat his words. Many years later when digital cameras started dominating the field he denied making the statement. One query to the db showing him his very own words set the record straight.
I realize that people that don't work in the technology field find it easy to call things a "fad", however, most of the time they don't know what they are talking about and they are wrong. I couldn't begin to tell you how many people/companies have told me they would never use computers, email, the web, etc etc... one by one they all fall down.
So I end in saying, message boards are here to stay, as are blogs. You will start to see more and more companies adopt blogging technology as well.
The blogging fad does appear to have something in common with the message board: it seems to bring all sorts out of the woodwork. Finding something of permanent value in blogdom is like discovering a jewel of gold in a swine's snout. You wonder how it got there.
Bob, does not to appear to be very educated about blogs.
I repeatedly find many gems at....
Gad(d)about
Transforming Sermons
Jollyblogger
Shizuka Garden
Out of the Bloo
Mr. Standfast
Coffee Swirls
The skeptic in me wonders how much is envy involved here, particularly with this last sentance in the quote to which I would reply: Bob if it's a gem, it's a gem.
Furthermore, this statement seems to be directly lifted from Proverbs 11:22 (as a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion). Beyond the poor application of the verse, what is Bob saying here? We all lack discretion? Some of us certainly do, but many do not and to make such a blanket statement and stereotype speaks volumes of how much Bob understands and reads in the blogosphere.
Bob also forgets that unlike his email list, blogs are open and fair game to criticism which is a refershing avenue of public correction that is rarely available from the closed form of media he currently uses.
Whoa, for a second I thought you were talking about the happy-little-tree painting guy.
Um, carry on...
Blogs may be here to stay, but let's not say that it isn't a fad. It definitely is. Everybody and their brother thinks that they're king of the mountain and everyone should listen to them. Half of the blogs that exist now won't exist next year. I think Andy Warhol said that in the future everyone would have a blog for 15 minutes.
Sean,
They aren't a fad. You may be right about half of what you see today will not be here tomorrow, but tomorrow the total number of blogs will probably be 10 fold what they are today. So there may be a lot of "churn", as we say, but the overall growth rate continues to climb and blogging technology will creep into the corporate world and business as well.
I also disagree with you about people thinking they are king of the mountain and that everyone should listen to them. Many people blog just as they would write in a journal. Many people just blog their thoughts, etc etc... Of course, with the massive number of blogs you are going to run into some that think as you stated, but that isn't the majority. Christian blogs can encourage, teach and edify the church body.
The more Christians read God's Word, study God's Word, read about what other people have to say about God's Word (which should cause them to check God's Word) the better.
fad (n.) : A fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of time; a craze.
I suppose by that definition your blog may be a fad, but blogging as a whole is not.
Speaking of blogging ... WHY DIDN'T you tell me you started blogging ... sheesh, send you an email about using Drupal in April and this is what happens?
I should really spam you more often.
I was glad to see you post something concerning Bob L. Ross's Blogging. I also signed up for his newsletter. He is one of the few that have a book out there explaining Landmark Baptists. Good job Bob.
I was pleased to see your Blog about Bob L. Ross's Blogging. I also signed up for his e-mail postings sent out. He has a book on his site about Landmark Baptists. Rare indeed to see one ... but Bob has taken on the job.
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