Thursday, October 14, 2004

Calling something a rose, does not a rose make

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet So true. But what happens if we alter some of the key points in that Shakespeare statement? If we call a sampaguita a rose, does it become a rose or will it smell as sweet as a rose? Definitely not, right? It will have its own character. This is what's happening to the latest addition in the Inquirer.

The bloggers community is one in saying that the Inquirer's Talking Points, a spin-off of Sassy's and
Yuga's interview for pinoyblogs, is not actually what a blog is. In fairness, Inquirer did say it is "like" a blog. Well, to me, that meant, it operates like a blog. But does it?

What the Inquirer does have is far from being what they say it is. At best, it is no different from their letters to the editor. The only difference is that here, they give a specific topic which the readers can comment on. Well, they had been commenting before, right?

A blog is a no holds barred, personal journal of an individual which he/she may open to the blogging community for comments. As this is the case, any issue is fair game and leaves to the commenters whether they agree with the opinions of the blogger or not. Nevertheless, the original opinion is the blogger's own. Besides, corollary to blogging is the learning of computer jargon and programming like html's, linking up, etc.

At any rate, if we are to believe Andrew Sullivan when he said that blogging is a "collective mind and a corrective one" it is so because of the openness of the medium in terms of self-expression. Something not found in the Inquirer's plan. If for only that, I would say they're wrong in assuming they're creating a blog. And 'tis true,oh, so true!"

19 comments:

Dr. Emer said...

I think the Inquirer saw a window of opportunity in Pinoy blogging. It is now taking advantage of that opportunity. Problem is, they were not slick enough to escape the watchful eyes of Ate Sassy.

Lagot sila. =)

rolly said...

Oo nga Doc Emer. Kaya nga if ever we are going to have a bloggers' convention and come up with an official group, I shall be nominating no other for president but Sassy. Anyway, pinoyblog was her baby.

Dr. Emer said...

I agree, Tito Rolly. Both Fate and Ate Sassy wouldn't have it otherwise. Happy Birthday ke Ate Sassy!

=)

Cerridwen said...

Excuse my innocence, are you talking about Inquirer here in the US or there is one there in Philippines? (please pardon if the question sounds lame)

rolly said...

Cerridwen Hi, it's the Philippine Daily Inquirer. click the link "Talking Points". It's just a little misunderstanding of the term "blog" actually.

tintin said...

(aka pinayhekmi)
Wow, this has come to be such a big deal. Inquirer should call their talking points something other than a blog. You're right, it isn't one.

Anonymous said...

Hello tito rolly,

I like your blog. Nice to see guys your age who are also into this.


http://thelastmuse.blogspot.com

batjay said...

dapat tawagin na lang ng inquirer na "bulaga" yung supposed "BLOG" nila. bwahahahahahaha!!!!

ingat from kiwiland tito rolly.

Dr. Emer said...

CONGRATULATIONS TITO ROLLY FOR BEING THE Pinoy Blog of the Week!!!!

=)

Anonymous said...

"what's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

aww! that was my favorite Romeo & Juliet quote!!

hahaha!! la lang! just a pointless comment :-) ayayw nyo yun? 10 na yung comments nyo XD

eri

rolly said...

Tintin I wonder why it should be a big thing really. All we're saying is that it does not seem to be a blog at all. No big issue. Apparently not with the conceptualizer. Oh well... fine!

Elizabeth guess that's who you are, welcome to my little world in cyberspace. Uhm, thanks for the compliment, I guess. LOL!

Batjay kakainggit ka talaga! Ang sarap mo naman, pabyahe-byahe na lang. Kamusta na lang kay kiwipinay. Dala mo ba si Spiderman? Baka nalimutan mo na naman, ha. Sayang, di ko tuloy na meet. Na-miss ko tuloy yung photo op.

Doc Emer Thanks. Sayo ko lang nalaman yun a.

eri salamat at lalo mong pinadali ang pag type ng pangalan mo. hmmm, I still don't have a clue who you are. Can you give me at least a hint? What year level are you in?

tintin said...

(aka pinayhekmi)

Have a great weekend! And congrats on being the pinoyblog of the week!

Jillsabs said...

hi tito rolly! :)

i got the swirly dots on www.dynamicdrive.com it's a very useful site with lots of html tricks.

doesn't the faculty have a yearly summer travel thing? I remember when I still taught at the ANHS, ms. telen showed me the itinerary and i practically salivated because it included bohol, boracay, cebu and dumaguete for only 8k! and subsidized pa ng school. ang saya2x :)

rolly said...

jillsabs Talaga, nagturo ka sa ANHS? Kelan? Sayang, hindi tayo nagkita. Yes, we did have a summer tour. Joined the firs three tours and missed out on the others as I was invited to go to Canada. I don't think we would be having one this year. Austerity. Oh well..
Thanks for the response on my inquiry re the swirly dots.

santi said...

Tito Rolly,
Congratulations for being Pinoy Blog of the Week. You really deserve it.

Re "Talking Points", they seems to be riding on the popularity of Blogging in the internet. Maybe because their letters to the editors column is not that well responded. As a new Blogger, I don't find "Talking Points" attractive. I prefer the "real" Blogging where the opportunity of self expression and sharing of views are welcome and may even go beyond that as in connecting people not only in this medium but also on personal level.

Anonymous said...

Can't blame the inquirer for taking advantage of the sudden popularity of blogging. Their newspaper is after all also a business and good business men always take advantage of any medium available to market their product efficiently or in this case their newspaper. Then again I agree that it should not be called a blog for the obvious reason that it isnt one. I agree that a blog should be something more personal and not so commercial like that of the inquirer's.
-Samantha
P.S. Congratulations sir for being the pinoy blog of the week! :)

rolly said...

Tintin Thanks and have a good weekend to you and your hubby, too.

Santi Thanks. Yes, I don't mind the Inq7.net using blogging as a tool. As a matter of fact, I'm for it as it gives access to others. However, it does not seem to be a blog s most of us know it. That's all.

Samantha Thanks. Why don't you start writing your own blog like I suggested all your club mates? That is if you don't have one yet.

Rachelle Grace said...

congrats tito rolly! :)

rolly said...

Rache Thank you very much/