Given the surprising attention attracted by yesterday's annoyance, I'm sitting on a blog post titled "Blogging Lessons" that starts out like this:
Here's a list of things I've been meaning to write down for a while. They seem to creep back into mind now and then, often after dealing with a hot (or potentially hot) button issue.
But can't decide if I should post it or not.
Thoughts?
Part of me thinks it's worth doing and folks will likely learn something, commiserate, or add their own lessons.
Another part of me thinks that people will read too much into it, see themselves in one or more of the "lessons", and ultimately get [more] pissed off.
Hmm.
Posted by jzawodn at January 31, 2007 08:19 AM
Do it. There's only 3 ways to catch somebody's attention.
Piss them off
Make them laugh
Teach them something.
SOunds like you've got the potential for all 3 here.
After yesterday's rant, which I don't necessarily disagree with, I'm not sure how many will want lessons from someone who makes mistakes as much as the rest of us... but I'm sure it'll be a great read so I'm looking forward to it.
Yes. Please do it. The worst thing that'll happen is that you'll achieve all three of Ryan's points above...
You can never fully control how people will react to any communication. At best, you can only shape it through your words and tone. Don't waste time and energy on what you can't control.
I think the real question is whether you think the community would find value. If the answer is "yes", go for it. On the other hand if it's something you think has more value to you, save it.
I wouldn't worry too much about yesterday. It's done. Take any lessons learned and apply them going forward, but don't look back.
When in doubt leave it out :)
Anyway you can wait and decide later
Why not just use the blogging axiom that says:
"When in doubt, post the m**f**er! ?
Jeremy you are about the last person I expected to be a repentant blog poster, but I sure respect the fact you retracted the "spam" label on Andy's ZuneAtar since so many take your word as tech gospel.
I'm a little surprised that you're worried about pissing people off. I always put you more on the Derek Balling side of the scale, not really bothered with other's insecurities.
Don't do it! Every time I've been tempted to write a blog post along these lines I've been embarrassed with the results. "Some things I just can't get off my mind." "Stuff that really annoys me." "5 things you probably don't know about me" that's why I didn't respond to your earlier tag, Jeremy -- sorry!). Ugh. All of these potential blog posts have one thing in common: They're interesting to you, personally, but offer nothing to the reader.
Write it down in your private diary. Then if the act of writing this stuff down makes you see a way of taking one or more of these thoughts and turning it into something with broader interest, then go write a blog post about *that*.
Of course it depends on what kind of blog you want to have...
I suggest posting it in "private", i.e. not publicly. I don't know whether your blog engine allows for something like that, but writing and posting it *in any form* means to get it out of your head, you're saving it elsewhere, as far as your brain is concerned.
Works for me, at least.
If you're voicing an opinion or a preference, then no one is going to have any beef with that. If you're arguing a point, then as long as you have valid reasons behind your arguments, it doesn't matter how many people you piss off.
Post; let's see what annoys you and join in with what annoys us. Like snap.
If it doesn't call an individual out and has useful content, why not post it? The title and intro alone don't seem that controversial, which makes me wonder about the content. If there's something that should be written privately to someone else, leave that part out (and send an email).
FWIW... I thought yesterday's posting was poorly thought out and quite inflammatory. I blogged about it and got over it. But do I think the idea should not have been posted? Absolutely not.
The fact is the post (worst case) spurred discussion (whether heated or not) and that's a great thing - it's the thing I think we all aim towards. People can disagree (I did) but it doesn't mean it was wrong to post.
I think you should post "Blogging Lessons" and quite frankly, aside from keeping Yahoo's image in mind, I don't think you should ever question "To Post or Not to Post." Post it - if we hate then we hate and we will talk about it (opposite stands true). I wouldn't let public pressure get in the way of voicing your opinion.
Again - FWIW - I am an amateur compared to you guys but that's my $0.02
"Another part of me thinks that people will read too much into it, see themselves in one or more of the "lessons", and ultimately get [more] pissed off."
Are you posting it with the intent to piss people off? I'm guessing the answer is, "no." In which case, post it, and if people get pissed off--listen to them, try to figure out and understand why. It's an opportunity for you to learn and grow and I wouldn't pass up on that.
On the other hand, if you are posting it to piss people off, then don't. Being a jackass isn't worth it.
If you hadn't spilled the beans, I would have suggested you email it to an F-list blogger (like myself), and had them post it, at which point you could link to it, and say "Hey, she's got some really good points!)", and be all coy...
Of course, that'll never work now. :)
What a great way to drum up traffic for the site. Everyone is anxious to see who you are going to piss off. Combine that with the traffic increase due to the front page DIGGing of your "Micro$oft should by Yahoo!" post and you are about to make history. Go for it before the short attention span of your average person gets drawn away to some sporting news and the momentum is lost. If you piss someone off and the stay pissed then they weren't really friends (unless they are female - they stay pissed off about everything and forever).
Self-censoring takes away half the fun of having a blog. :)
I'm tired of hearing the same tired people tell about how to blog, lessons in blogging, etc. It would be refreshing to hear from a different source.
Post it.
By all means, do post. I don't understand what all the fuss was about in the first place.
