I have read two blog posts today which have brought to a head something which has been rattling around in my mind for a few days now. The thought started when I was travelling round the blogs I read on a regular basis as I believe that if you write a blog – you should also read blogs. One of the things that was coming up on a surprising number was a test to see the required level of education for a reader to understand your blog. You can even get a badge! I wasn’t tempted to put one on my blog, or in truth to even try it out, as it is based on the American education system and I haven’t quite got my head round how that equates to ours in the UK yet so it would have been meaningless for me. However, the consensus was that John Chow and such like had a reader education level equating to Junior High if memory serves me right. Many comments said you should make sure your blog was ‘reduced’ to this level – their words not mine.
I found myself surprisingly irritated on two levels by these comments. Firstly the assumption that ‘Junior High’ education means you are less intelligent. Excuse me, but who said just because your education finished at Junior High you are less intelligent – poppycock! Secondly, that you should compromise your own standards to cater for the supposedly less intelligent masses – how insulting and arrogant. I found myself building up a real head of steam over this as I mulled it over in my mind. Then I came across two posts today that reinforced my thinking about how one should write and present one’s blog.
Firstly I read Jay at DatMoney.com’s post ‘You are not Chow, Shoemaker or Rowse – So don’t try to be!’ and almost immediately thereafter I read Seth Godin’s Post ‘Dumbing Down’. The first of these discusses the importance of being yourself and I could not agree more. Yes, the blogs mentioned are hugely successful but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for other people in the same marketplace, as long as what you offer is you, which by definition is unique – and if it gives value, a frequent topic of mine. Seth, as ever, hits the nail on the head in his post about this seeming need for everything to be ‘dumbed down’ and again, I find myself in total agreement. If we continue to cater to the lowest common denominator, it will get lower. There seems to be a mad rush by the media to dump us into a sea of mediocrity. They would present us with an unvarying diet of tripe and trivia. Well I have news for those ladies and gentlemen. I am not mediocre, I am not stupid, I understand words of more than four letters. I am unique and I have something to offer.
My blog posts tend to be longer than some, and fairly wordy. I like words, they have meaning and texture and most of all they convey ideas, they fire the imagination and stir the soul. I would not suggest that my blog posts reach that level, but I they are the medium I use to convey my thoughts and I offer them as that – no more, no less. If people choose not to accept that which I offer – that is their choice and I respect that – but that will not stop me from offering it. It will not stop me from writing and thinking the way I do to cater to a supposedly unintelligent, mass market composed of individuals that cannot make up their own minds. I can make up my own mind, how arrogant of me would it be to suppose that you are any different? It is time we took a stand against this rising tide of imposed ignorance. I do not wish to exist in a world of tripe, trivia and mediocrity – do you?
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A couple of things spring to mind. Some bloggers don’t put a huge amount of effort into writing quality content – they have their eye on being the next big thing. It’s like people who want to make it big in music so they become rich and famous – not because they love making music. These people have their priorities totally mixed up.
There is also the issue where people try to write good content, but they didn’t choose their niche too well. Maybe it’s a hyper-saturated niche (make money online spring to mind). Maybe they don’t know the subject matter well enough to blog about it. Maybe they chose a very narrow niche and they’ve run out of content. Whichever it is, these are the people who complain that such-and-such a site didn’t bring them loads of traffic, or that they never get comments. The simple fact is that some blogs just aren’t that interesting. Of course, it’s a matter of opinion, but not everyone can blog – nor should they try to!
I personally try to break down the technical barriers so non-technical writers can hopefully give blogging a try, as many bloggers are technical and assume that everyone else is too. Now, if I can help a few new bloggers to start writing, that would be great. Besides, it would be good to get a wider range of subject matter. Too many blogs write about the same stuff.
Here’s another thought on the matter — and one that is a huge pet peeve of mine.
Ben, you said it with this phrase, “Some bloggers don’t put a huge amount of effort into writing quality content…” .. it’s getting so that most bloggers don’t put ANY effort into writing .. period. They don’t even write — they post the writing of others, most of which is pure drivel.
When we think about the way so much blogging has “dumbed down” it reminds me of the still used adage of the advertising industry … K.I.S.S. .. which has a variety of translations due to political correctness these days .. but in essence means, “Write your copy so that “anyone” will understand it”.
Which brings up another aspect of blogging today — and that is that most blogging has become just another way to put a sales pitch on the Internet. Do you remember when blogging used to be about .. (and I quote flaminglacer here) …”the medium I use to convey my thoughts and I offer them as that – no more, no less.”
It’s getting so that we can’t just put something out there in the sheer hope that it will bring value to another. Nope! Not any more — it better damn well bring value to the blogger or it isn’t worth taking the time to do it.
What a bunch of …..
We’re now inundated with mediocrity everywhere. It’s in the products we buy — it’s in the entertainment we seek — and it sure has taken over the Internet.
End of rant!
Thanks flaminglacer for your intelligent — non-mediocre post.
In Peace!
Yesterday I thought that if I read one more blog that was nearly 100% advertising I would screen. Posts about join this, and join that were driving me crazy.
I do like to learn about new products, new “systems” etc., but so many of the blogs simply exist to sell and don’t really add valuable content per say. The interesting things it that adding interesting content would help them sell.
I enjoy visiting your blog because you have intelligent things to say. So thank you. Thanks for not joining the “dumbing down” trend.
Leisa
I completely agree with you! I refuse to dumb-down my content. I know my readers are intelligent and they would be offended if I changed my style of writing. And while I do participate in affiliate marketing and the almighty Google Adsense, I see these as icing on the cake for sharing my passion. If I make a few bucks in the process, great. If not, I can still afford to eat. Great blog, very thought-provoking and definitely not dumb!
*Sigh* I realize that I myself am “dumbing down” my blog a bit for the general public. It’s not so much doubting intelligence as it is trying to make it a easy read for a non personal blog. I write in chunks so “big words” and “fancy language” are not necessary. For a personal blog I would hold a higher standard. I do agree with you on most points but I know some of the people that read my blog. And wordy blogs wouldn’t sit well with them. My choice to lower myself, I suppose. I think some of us blog and gear it towards the “no attention span” generation. Don’t judge us who write for our audience. It may seem like a disservice but we (or at least I) know what I am doing. With that said, I do enjoy hearing thoughts and real opinions, so I enjoy your blog. Keep up the interesting and thought provoking writing.
This was a terrific article. I actually took the test on my website and it appears I write at the grammar school level.
I can honestly say that I don’t try to dumb down for a specific audience. But, then I don’t try to use larger words in an effort to appear more educated than I am. I have a college degree in computer science with a minor in marketing.
I remember reading something years ago that tv shows are written to be aimed at 14 year olds. I don’t know if that is true or not.
I think the software tool that makes the assessment is checking words, grammar and sentence structure. I use a lot of passive language in my writing, which may cause my score to be reduced.
Thank you for the thoughtful article and I am impressed at the thoughtful comments the article has produced!
Just found my way here via a link on Ben Barden’s blog. I am Highly Allergic to dumbed-down blather and thrilled to see your vociferous defense of those of us who actually Do dare to use big words and write above the Stoopid reading level. Bravo!
Came via Ben Barden’s blog. I think my blog’s at elementary level but that doesn’t really concern me. I don’t deliberately dumb down my content. That’s just the way I write. Personally, I don’t see the need for 50-cent words when a 10-cent one will do. Same for length. Why say it in 50 when you can do so in 10? I guess it’s the way I was trained to write back in school. Being clear and concise was encouraged. Long and rambly often meant that there’s a higher chance of getting out of point.