Does popularity moderate bloggers' tone?

I came across an interesting commentary about how bloggers get bureaucratized by their popularity.

The posting comments on a chapter in a book called Making Online News entitled, "The Routines of Blogging".

Here are the relevant passage:

"More than one blogger said a key turning point in the way they practise blogging was the moment they felt the gaze of the public eye. Realizing that people are paying attention...has led these bloggers to adopt a more careful, dispassionate approach and tone."

One blogger is quoted as saying this has led to less expression of opinion, and more reporting and thoughtful analysis. "I was more creative when I started, now I'm more deliberate... I started trying to be more professional... Once I got to 100 readers, I started to get more organized and started to take more responsibility for what I posted. Then I started to restrict what I put up there... I've ducked a couple of issues recently...because I wanted to be better informed. I didn't want to be wrong...so I just avoided the topic."

When I look at the evolution of say, Jeff Ooi, as a blogger, I find that the observation above to be true. When he started out, Jeff used coarser language and was not averse to making personal attacks. As his blog grew in popularity, he tempered his language and basically became more professional.

I guess this is just a natural progression. When you first start out blogging, it's usually for yourself. Then, when you develop a following, you start writing for others. This will naturally affect the way you write and what you write about.

Is this a good thing? On the whole, probably more good than bad. It's hard to argue against being more professional.

• Talkback (1)
• Print
• E-mail
• Share
• Alerts

Slashdot

Digg this

close this

Talkback 1 comments

• From virtual, and back again to reality
• Use mobile phones on MAS flights
• Shopping locales designated as cyber centers
• M'sian authorities reverse Web site ban
• Mobile number portability arrives in Malaysia

• The problem with Cyberjaya
• No Wi-Fi in Perth
• Do laptop detectors really exist?
• Mobile music coming to M'sia
• Fancy TV on your phone?

2009

2008

2007

2006

• The Internet as the medium
• May the new year bring good tech-ings
• High tech undone by low tech failings
• Reflections of an eternal optimist
• Thanks for a great 2008

Oon Yeoh

Oon Yeoh has been writing an ICT column for The Edge Malaysia, a business weekly, for the past six years. He's also written a book, Transition, about the impact of technology on society. He's currently working on New Media projects involving the convergence of text, images, audio and video.