I need your help. Remember how I wrote in the post about the super bowl how controversy is great marketing?
Well, I’ve intentionally strayed away from writing blog posts on current events, or even in response to popular blog posts that are floating around. But I’m wondering if I should take the leap. I don’t want to just be a “response” blogger.
Part of the reason I’ve kept to myself, is fear. Once you put your opinion out there on a hot topic… you’re bound to get someone disagreeing with you. And so far, I’ve only gotten one sort of snarky comment on this blog. And then there was another comment recently, but that was really unrelated to the blog itself.
I feel like internet arguments are kind of dumb. They don’t solve anything, and people get really rude, really fast, basically because things are grossly misinterpreted. I’m also not sure anyones opinion is ever changed from an internet argument. Interjecting my opinion on a hot trending topic would be like standing in a large group of people shouting at one another, interjecting my opinion and having the whole group start shouting at me. (I wish I could draw, that’d be a funny cartoon)
Our friend Colleen recently wrote a response to a blog post that was really popular, and her blog got a ton of hits from it.
I think I might have answered my own question by writing this blog. It sounds like a sell out thing to do to just write responses to other peoples blogs just to get hits. But if it’s controversial and I have an opinion that may be beneficial and that side of the story isn’t being shared… then I think I’ll go for it.
by Jim Baker
I also intentionally keep the majority of my opinions private. If I’m going to talk about my opinions I’d rather them be in a conversation, a dialogue where there can be immediate clarification, answered questions, asked questions etc… very few of my opinions are worth arguing over, so I’d rather leave the arguing or debates for the really important things, things that I’d die for. The gospel, grace, forgiveness, my family … it’s a pretty small list.
Be true to yourself and your opinions. If something should be said, say it. If you have something to say, put it out there. I realize that this isn’t what you were implying, but getting a lot of hits has never been my goal, however validating it is to know people care about what you have to say enough that they go to your blog. I blog when, and only when, I have more to say than is acceptable for social media.
@ brett – great thoughts, thank you for sharing. internet conversations really do lead to miscommunication because of the lack of immediate clarifications.
@colleen – good thoughts as well, i’m glad that you knew that wasn’t what i was implying. your blog post that i linked here was timely and needed.
I also intentionally keep the majority of my opinions private. If I’m going to talk about my opinions I’d rather them be in a conversation, a dialogue where there can be immediate clarification, answered questions, asked questions etc… very few of my opinions are worth arguing over, so I’d rather leave the arguing or debates for the really important things, things that I’d die for. The gospel, grace, forgiveness, my family … it’s a pretty small list.
Jim- do you have a vision for your blog? How does addressing controversial topics fit in with your vision? Maybe it depends on the issue, maybe on your “expertise” on the issue, maybe on trying to bring balance or a different perspective.
Only blog on controversial topics if you can take the heat that naturally comes with it. Internet debates get nasty and irrational and are seldom productive, but a lot of good stuff can be said in the midst of the chaos. It’s a “rough n’ tumble” job only for those with thick skin and enough energy to engage in intractable digital disputes. In other words, it takes a special person. So, if you should set out to become the next great internet controversialist, Godspeed. You might get more hits but you’ll make more enemies (and some of them needlessly, some of them by necessity).