I Just Wanna Bitch
And it’s my blog, so I can bitch all I want.
Every day I come across blogs that have so much potential to expand on their subject matter, but all they do it copy and paste their entries from other sources. Be it press releases, email updates or other people’s content, these sites just copy, paste and post.
That’s not blogging. It’s laziness and a lack of creativity. Do a little of your own research, clip and paste relevant paragraphs to expand on, or delete your blog. Seriously. Because at this point, even with links to give credit, you are really just stealing other people’s content. You make us all look bad.
Most people start blogs because they have something to say. And yes, there will be times when someone else can say it better than you, and you make the exception to post their full content (I hope with permission). But that shouldn’t be the norm. That shouldn’t be what I see 2 out of 3 days when I go to your site. You’re just wasting my time, and you’re wasting your own, too, because clearly you are not a blogger.
We now return you to regularly scheduled (and predominately original) content.
Well hi there.
I don’t consider it as lazy to pour through all of the sources that I do almost daily and point to it when I agree with it. I only started a blog as a collection place for all of the crud that frustrates me about the liberal domination. I hit a boiling point this past election cycle and needed to vent or explode. So it serves the purpose well. I hope you will forgive those of us who are not born creative, but need to express ourselves none the less. We look to you creative types for inspiration and facts and hope merely to spread these views and data as widely as we can hoping (against hope) that the tide can be turned. I hope this helps with your frustration 
My best regards, Ri4DC
I happen to disagree with you. I post relevant sections of external material and give credit to help point both of my readers (lol) to the data that supports my views. I believe there is no crime there. Dammit Jim I am a engineer not a blogger
Comment by Ri4DC — July 1, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
You know, I know just what you mean and let us not forget forget all those bloggers whose blogs have morphed into little more than cyber infomercials or those so-called bloggers who constantly seek to exploit their readers for more and more money.
Comment by Kateland — July 1, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
You’re about 50% right, I think… I’m NOT a blogger, I’m a writer. It’s what I do, I write. I may not write consistently in one place because of time constraints and deadlines, and when it comes down to it, my blog is the only writing I do that’s NOT on deadline. Could I self impose some deadlines? Sure, but then I think I’d lose some of the joy of it. I write on my blog what I want to write and say, and it may not be consistent…. and sometimes I may only post a video and a link to someone else, or a cross post…. but that’s also because I have a full-time job, a writing career (first book out this month!!!), two children and I volunteer at school and in my community…
But I don’t think I’m wasting YOUR time, because you can choose to not visit. I don’t write there for anyone else, I write there for me.
Comment by Heather Cook — July 1, 2009 @ 9:26 pm
Heather, you are exactly the opposite of the people I was talking about. You WRITE. No, not every day, but you WRITE. Your own stuff. You don’t copy something from Macleans or the AP in its entirety - right down to the ads at the bottom - and post it to your site. I know, because I’m a regular reader of your site. I’ve never seen such a thing on yours, and I’m sure I never will.
RG
Comment by Right Girl — July 1, 2009 @ 9:30 pm
I’m sorry that you’ve run across blogs gone bad. But I do agree, “Conservative Girls Are Hot!”
Comment by blackcoffee — July 1, 2009 @ 10:09 pm
Oh, lol… possibly I just have a complex. It’s been known to happen. it’s the “not doing enough” complex because I read so many great blogs out there and am constantly thinking “why am I not doing better!!!”
Comment by Heather Cook — July 2, 2009 @ 9:26 pm
Great post!
I’m gonna copy the whole thing and post it on my blog!
Comment by J Pazzesco — July 2, 2009 @ 10:16 pm
I am guilty as charged…..but isn’t that what free speech is all about? If originality was mandatory there would be no blogs. In my case my profile outlines the reason I “blog.” I don’t belong to a legion amd there is a limit to how much draft beer and/or coffee I can afford or consume.
Comment by Walter P — July 3, 2009 @ 8:33 am
Wendy, I know you’re right. I’ve been trying to build up the courage to start making my own observations, and not just cut & paste what I think are meaningful articles, videos, cartoons, etc.
I’ve rationalized that first I need to learn the mechanics of maintaining a website. I only started a blog this past April and am still trying to figure out basics, like how WordPress works. That said, I will start adding my own thoughts with some frequency.
I did make an attempt with this: http://www.tomllewis.com/?s=david+brooks a few weeks ago.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. It does get a little intimidating reading the many very professional blogs I read, knowing how far I have to go to not look like the amateur I am. Of course, it shouldn’t matter, because hardly anyone has ever even seen my blog anyway.
I’m somewhat confident that I have a decent grasp on “conservative principles,” as I’ve been reading, and understanding conservative writers for many years, I’ve just never been a “good” writer. Obviously the only way to become one, is to start writing.
You’ve motivated me. I’ll do my best. Thank you.
Comment by tomllewis — July 3, 2009 @ 9:15 pm
Tom, you’re going to be just fine. Write for yourself, no one else!
RG
Comment by Right Girl — July 3, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
Well, for what it’s worth, you’ve liberated me. I just wrote my first post just for me, with no concern for what “others might think.” Very good advice. http://www.tomllewis.com/?p=1188
I know I’ve got a lot to learn.
Thanks again.
Comment by tomllewis — July 4, 2009 @ 11:55 am