Blogs: Why Are They Popular?

Parent Cafe
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<p>It’s easy to confuse mural arts with unsolicited graffiti. </p>

<p>Anyone who has applauded the revitalization of New York could tell you the difference between legitimate art and gang-infested organized vandalism. There is a reason why cities are doubling their efforts via Anti-Graffiti Task Force (New York) or Graffiti Blasters (Chicago) and it won’t stop there as there are attempts to make it illegal for a person under the age of 21 to possess spray-paint or permanent markers. </p>

<p>Vandalism is a criminal act. Period.</p>

22

<p>“i think people writing is great… even if its bad writing”</p>

<p>Yes, and that goes a long to explain why our schools produce so many illiterates. And for the record, having to read horrible writing is a form of torture. </p>

<p>By the way, I am not surprised by your position on bad writing. :)</p>

23

<p>LateToSchool - no business value, I hope. :wink: Mostly, it’s a one-sided version of a coffeehouse discussion. I know that my friends read it and enjoy it… trying to get them to join in.</p>

<p>See, most blogs that have business value are, um, a little scandalous. I have no desire to be the next Washingtonienne. :p</p>

24

<p>

For the MIT blogs at least, there is no formal editorial process – the bloggers aren’t told what to write, and there are no issues which are off-limits. I wrote about the suicide rate once, and alcohol several times, and never heard a peep from anybody. There is a selection process for determining who gets to be a blogger in the first place, though.</p>

<p>For my part, I like keeping up with the lives of my friends (and meeting new ones) through personal blogs. As a recent college grad, I am trying to wade through information on investing, and I was relieved to see [Vanguard’s[/url</a>] corporate blog, including the chairman’s [url=<a href=“Investment education, resources, & guidance | Vanguard”>Investment education, resources, & guidance | Vanguard]advice</a> for graduates](<a href=“http://www.vanguard.com%5DVanguard’s%5B/url”>http://www.vanguard.com). When used properly (and when written by people with some writing talent), corporate blogs can be a great way to get topical information to the public in a conversational format.</p>

25

<p>Because at somem point you’re going to outgrow ‘Gameboys.’</p>

26

<p>Xiggi, your comments on writing are interesting. Two weeks ago, D invited me to campus for dinner as she planned to work very late and I’m a free meal. Every time I go to her school, I feel as if I’m in a magical, wonderful place - stepping onto that beautiful campus, I feel like I’m on sacred ground. Anyway, we’re sitting outside, and I’m enjoying the beauty of the place and the pulse of life, and I asked her “are you happy you chose this school? Are you satisfied with your experiences here? how do you feel about all of your decisions, and your accomplishments? did you get your money’s with, and are you pleased how you used your time here?” etc.</p>

<p>I expected I would hear something like “this was the perfect school for me” or “I’ve had a great time, made awesome, life long friends” or some such thing. I was in this rather nostalgic mood, as her undergrad time is coming to an end, so, I was sort of expecting a response that matched my mood. </p>

<p>What she said instead left me sort of speechless, and it went something like this: “I wish I knew how to read and write. If I had a ‘do over’ at all, I would have prepared for college a LOT more seriously - starting back in junior high school. I would have worked very hard on my reading comprehension and writing skills. I wasn’t at all prepared for college, coming here. I have lost opportunities in my education, and failed to take the best possible advantage of the learning opportunities in my classes because my reading and writing skills were not and are not anywhere near good enough for college level work”. </p>

<p>Then she wraps this up with “but the good news is, at least I know it, and I’m doing something about it, so, when I get to grad school, I will be better prepared. But I feel sorry for my friends who are graduating. They don’t even know they cannot read and write, and for them, grad school is going to be…” I cannot remember the rest of what she said after that. </p>

<p>This, from a young lady who in high school earned 5 - AP English, 740 on the verbal section of the SAT, single sitting, and has a college gpa that ranges somewhere from a 3.4 to a 4.0, depending on how one slices the combination of the two degrees and four minors. </p>

<p>Being the parent, all I could think of was, hmmm, 12 years of private school, then five years of college, in cold cash we’re talking about approximately
$250K, not to mention the investment of 17 years of time, and she tells me “I don’t know how to read and write”. I couldn’t think of a thing to say except something really lame like “I will support whatever you wish to do next”…</p>

<p>I have no earthly idea what anyone should do to solve that particular problem. I don’t know if the issue is in curriculum, or in the effort of the student, or both.</p>

27

<p>Molliebatmit, thanks for your post, and especially for the Vanguard link. This is a sort of serious matter for us so this really helps me.</p>

28

<p>Ariesathena, you always make me laugh. I have no desire to be scandalous either but no guarantees it won’t happen anyway lol.</p>

29

<p>LTS, many thanks for taking the time to write that story. I believe that all of us are guilty of waiting until is a bit late. But it is never too late. On this issue, I really, really hope that you’ll find the opportunity to relive your experience with college life, but not partially. </p>

<p>X</p>

30

<p>Xiggi, thank you as well, and especially for your kind words. It WILL happen for me - someday. :)</p>

31

<p>Latetoschool,</p>

<p>I think there is a big difference between personal or political blogs and commercial blogs. The former are typically people’s opinions/rants or attempts to mobilize/connect with like-minded people. The latter, if well done, are valuable tools to contact customers and potential customers without having to depend on advertising or the media. Here’s a [corporate</a> blog](<a href=“http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/about.html]corporate”>http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/about.html) that I think is effective and well-done. We’ll see more and more of this in the next few years and I think smart companies will jump in now.</p>

32

<p>

Our son’s peers - including those who were educated in public and private schools - echo your daughter’s lament. I’ve written this before and been roundly criticized but schools are too focused on creativity, diversity, tolerance, environmentalism and similar concepts. Many students get a rude awakening when they finally take a course (often in college) where the professor requires quality work. Good students like your daughter adjust. In my view, that’s indicative of an innovative person.</p>

33

<p>

Man, I know that feeling. My friends call me “Monica” sometimes :wink: - no need for the blogosphere to catch on. (I only ask for one hell of an obituary.)</p>