9 comments

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  Clement

  7 months ago

  I agree with you 100%.Blogging is about the community exchanging ideas and building one another. Money might come in only as a by-product. Unfortunately, these days money is taking a centre stage. But is there a way to reverse this trend?
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  Derrick Kwa

  7 months ago

  Is there a way to reverse this trend? Interesting question.
  
  I think that the trend will reverse itself naturally. In time, as people see that doing it just for money isn't going to work, they'll stop trying it. And only the passionate ones will stay on. When it gets tough, those that aren't in it for love of the community and what they're doing - they'll leave. At least that's what I think.
  
  As for what we can do now, I think all we can do is to build awareness and lead by example. That's the only way we can show the true value of blogging, and it isn't money.
  
  I don't have all the answers, of course, so I'd love to hear what you (and others out there) think of it - what do YOU think we can do to reverse the trend?
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  Glen Allsopp

  7 months ago

  I agree with you...sort of. Blogging is very much about the content in my opinion, the web and blogging means that anybody can have a voice, anyone can share their awesome ideas and thoughts.
  
  Of course, the community is still my favourite part, great post!
  
  Cheers,
  Glen
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  Derrick Kwa

  7 months ago

  Yeah, definitely, content is important. I guess what I meant by "it shouldn't even be about the content per se" is this - you say that "anyone can share their awesome ideas and thoughts", and I completely agree, that's the brilliance of the web. The thing about sharing, though, you can't share without the community.
  
  So I guess what I'm saying is that you can create content even without the web. What the web and blogging does is it allows people to see the content and talk about it and all. As Cory Doctorow said, "Conversation is king. Content is just something to talk about."
  
  That was what I was trying to get at. Content is still definitely important, though, but I think the community matters more. It does to me, anyway. =).
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  cheyenne

  6 months ago

  The thing is we have to keep in mind that is a society centered around money- making. " Money makes the world go round" might be a decent quote. It is true blogs are used for money and it is also true that blogs are used to spread ideas. I agree that the passionate will continue but those who want money or are in need of money will also continue. There is no way to reserve this, if you ask me. There isn't much we can do. People who are using blogs for money may continue blogging for cash. Like some of my friends say " the more you have, the more you want" It might be a sad truth but it is the truth all the same. It is possible that people will stop blogging for money and change their ways to blog for the community but right now the truth is that if people are blogging for money, they will continue blogging for money because money makes this world go round and with the current financial crisis, the number of people looking for money will increase. Yes, blogging should be for the community but you know, people out there need and want money.
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  Derrick Kwa

  6 months ago

  Well, if it's a "sad truth", as you said, why accept it the way it is? Just because it's the way it is now doesn't mean that i can't - and shouldn't - be changed.
  
  As for why I said it will naturally reverse - because I don't think there's actually that much money to be made in the first place. So people will start realizing that there are better ways to make money, if that's what they want to do, and they'll move to that. Most of those who are in it just for the money won't last the distance, it's not necessarily that easy to build a successful blog.
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  martin1c

  6 months ago

  I think the main point of blogging is content and that the community who look at blogs really want high quality content most. As long as the content is of a high standard then I see no reason why someone shouldn't be able to make money from their blog in an indirect way.
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  Derrick Kwa

  5 months ago

  Definitely, I have nothing against people making money from their blogs. Maybe the post wasn't clear, and I apologize for that. But yeah, I have nothing against people making money from their blogs. But what I don't believe in is starting the blog JUST as an attempt to make money.
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  benjio

  5 months ago

  I agree about the wordpress direct that it it not the real McCoy. It does not give you options to really let it know about you. I would love to make money with it, but do not know HOW! However, for nayone fiddling it is a good concept as the techie thing is more or less taken out.
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