Disclaimer: As no studies have been presented about the nature of blog comments, the conclusions in this blog are absolutely non-scientific. They are based on the comments from two blogs, one conservative and one liberal. So it with much trepidation that I make the following statement...
Blog "comments" are absolutely partisan. There is little evidence of discussion. Instead, a Blog and its comments function as an online pep rally; the blogger riles up the masses, and the crowd responds emotionally. This accounts for the extreme, emotional comments that tend to crowd comment sections. Here are a few examples of such comments:
First from Michelle Malkin, a conservative blogger, who in this post discusses the legality (or lack thereof) of change.gov:
On December 20th, 2008 at 10:07 am, DesertLover said:
Thanks to Lance and to you Michelle for not letting this go away unchallenged … those of us in the computer and internet fields chimed in on the illegality of this website’s domain name just as you did because we also knew the site did not meet the qualifications for a .gov classification …
Just more proof of the number of liberal kool-aid drinkers that infest the governmental bureaucracy at virtually every level imaginable …
Keep up the good work … and thanks again …
On December 20th, 2008 at 11:00 am, ajmontana said:
Odopey is the 2nd biggest scam the United States has ever seen, number one going to Al Gore.
On December 20th, 2008 at 11:13 am, alamb said:
that’s exactly right WaterBoyz. Obama is going to campaign, as President, and use all tools available to galvanize, organize his troops to push his agenda. IS THIS LEGAL? For sure we need to counter this infamy big time!
On December 20th, 2008 at 11:35 am, TXGator said:
It will be easier to deal with things if we just accept the fact that the rules only apply to the responsible. Most conservatives value responsibility. Most liberals think the rules apply on a case-by-case basis.
Here are a few emotion soaked comments from a liberal blog- that of Jed L from DailyKos, on the subject of Dick Cheney saying 9/11 was the most compelling moment of the Bush Presidency:
I can't discuss. (20+ / 0-)
Too busy vomiting with rage.
Hard core Christian and hard core liberal...not an illogical combination at all.
by penny8611 on Sun Dec 21, 2008 at 01:01:26 PM PST
This does so much to quell any hint (4+ / 0-)
of conspiracy.....not.
"the most compelling, was 9/11 itself"
What it was all done for a TV special that he could watch from the WH basement?
He makes me puke as well.
"Flying is simple. You just throw yourself at the ground and miss." ~Douglas Adams
by LaFeminista on Sun Dec 21, 2008 at 01:38:29 PM PST
[ Parent ]
Probably say the Scooter Libby tragedy... (3+ / 0-)
To Cheney, I'm sure this episode was about as scary as it gets... I mean, imagine, having your own underling convicted of committing crimes...because you ordered him to...
by Nimbus on Sun Dec 21, 2008 at 01:25:43 PM PST
[ Parent ]
The question was high point (1+ / 0-)
you buffoon, Cheney. NOT important or compelling. I guess since there was NO high point in your administration you have to alter the question to suit your reality.
by eXtina on Sun Dec 21, 2008 at 02:30:35 PM PST
[ Parent ]
Why is is that Blog comments tend to be, errr, less politically tolerant?
The Dell Karpini study reveals political knowledge is directly correlated with tolerance.
According to the Pew Study, respondents who indicate blogs are their main news source are among the least informed members of the citizenry.
Well, there you have it.
A second line of evidence that confirms that bloggers are among the least informed of voters is that bloggers are predominantly young. The Pew Center establishes this as fact:
The following demographic data comes from two surveys of internet users conducted in
November-December 2005 and February-April 2006 (n=7,012).
The most distinguishing characteristic of bloggers is their youth. More than half
(54%) of bloggers are under the age of 30. Like the Internet population in general,
however, bloggers are evenly divided between men and women, and more than half
live in the suburbs. Another third live in urban areas and a scant 13% live in rural
regions.
A second Pew survey records that these same young voters are among least informed:
Casting doubt on this line of evidence is the fact that- by nature- any would be commentator on a blog needs to be politically informed. How can young people be the least informed segment of the populace and at the same time be the most active in the blogosphere?
The answer confirms one of the themes that has been developed in class, the readings, and this blog: the blogosphere is far more partisan then any conventional news source. Thus, those who get their information from the Blogosphere are more partisan. Indeed, Pew also found that- circa 2004- the younger demographic led all others in news intake from the Internet:
This finding has important ramifications for understanding the use of blogs in the future. They cannot exist alone, as they do not encourage cross talk between different political segments.
At this point, I am going to begin my Blessay, so good luck and thanks for reading. It has been a pleasure.
3 comments:
You write: "the blogosphere is far more partisan then any conventional news source. Thus, those who get their information from the Blogosphere are more partisan."
The question of cause vs. effect is assumed, but not demonstrated. . . .
And remember that those who are more knowledgable also tend to be less persuadable (and thus, presumably, more "partisan").
That is: this is good, but there's room to complicate the argument and the analysis.
I accept your second argument. In fact, attributing the partisan nature of the blogosphere to the entrenched opinions of knowledgeable people might make more sense in light of what I noted that "Casting doubt on this line of evidence is the fact that- by nature- any would be commentator on a blog needs to be politically informed. How can young people be the least informed segment of the populace and at the same time be the most active in the blogosphere?". If we assume that those who are more knowledgable also tend to be less persuadable (and thus, presumably, more "partisan")," this is no longer a problem.
Is getting election news from the internet the same things as participating in the blogosphere? Isn't it possible that those 18-29 are using their pdas to check out cnn.com or nytimes.com and not blogging at all?
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