An Introduction

Not so long ago, I’d have called myself an anti-blogger; now I’m a reluctant convert. I’m a writer who believes in the book as the ideal delivery vehicle for ideas. It takes time and effort to write and edit a book; there is no excuse for an ill-thought-out or ephemeral idea; and a book is rarely anonymous or from an untraceable, unaccountable source. Books will continue to be my main interest but I do now see a useful role for the blog and eclectic dialectic is my contribution to the form.

Many of the ideas expressed in this blog are more fully explored in books published and to come.

My two most recent books are Politipedia:

which takes a look at politics from a few unusual directions,and The Optimist's Handbook:

which argues that the world’s in a better state than it is often depicted.

For more information: www.nickinman.com.

Contact me: nick@nickiinman.com

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Playing Silly Bloggers (or how to have an opinion)

I’m probably not the only one who finds that the word “blog” grates on the ear but the English language gives victory to whichever term gains everyday currency – at least for a while – and I can’t think of anything better. However, there’s already a fairly good English word for the blogger’s discourse: monologue, since most web logs are speeches delivered to no one in particular. “Opilogue” would be a better description of many blogs, being streams of opinion not necessarily grounded in fact.

I’m reluctant to add to the chaos of voices on the web. I do not subscribe to the postmodern, new media assumption that anyone’s opinion is as valid as anyone else’s. “Comment on this story”, “Have your say” and “Comment is free” are magnanimous, ostentatiously democratic phrases which seem to invite your input and give it respect but really they are trivialising it. What you have to say becomes virtually worthless if it is consigned to a footnote on some server somewhere, perhaps never to be read and thought about by anyone. No wonder, that many people comment in a trivial manner, contributing little or nothing to the debate.

Opinion is worthless if it is not based on knowledge and measured thought. At the risk of stating the common sensical, I’d like to propose some ground rules for debate that we all might like to adhere to in the interests of talking to each other rather than talking at each other.

pasted 9 January 2008

Let's be reasonable about:

The Rules of Debate

Politics

Religion

Science

The Mass Media

© Copyright of all material on this website is held by Nick Inman or other individuals or organisations.
Commercial use is prohibited except by prior written permission from the copyright owner.