May my opinions gather wind under their wings and fly, perchance to soar. |
This is a response [edited] to Crow's well thought out entry in his notebook on 10/27 that starts "As The Crow Ponders — Sometimes I Wonder": Very well worded. Before FB there was a more diverse blogging community. We sure didn't agree with each other! We had members from Aus, Zim, England, Scotland, NZ... we bounced off each other. But FB... was an easier social media for short updates and thoughts and especially photos. Open Salon enticed the essayists. Then FB became meme and conspiracy driven; the algorithms still in place that award outrage and meanness are killing it. At the same time blogging was becoming passe as it was monetized. Everything was monetized including outrage. I think those who love bunnies and unicorns were always a part of the community but with everyone leaving they came to run the place... and multiplied. Then the site emphasized 13+ to be 'child friendly' but the result was writers who write Hallmark verses or Church Bulletin updates. Some absolutely refuse to read, review, award anything 18+ or touch any topic that's taboo. The YA section of my local library covers death, rape, assault, bullying, murder but one bad word here means writers here won't read it. The site allows for XGC but I've had to change my main blog to 13+ just so people will read it and disagree instead of ignoring me. Not to let vampires or werewolves off the hook, but the reason I enter Darleen QoD's contest is that I don't have to worry about rating or even offending her! She's a peach in my opinion but I could compare her to a rotting papaya and she'd just laugh. I appreciate that. The 'serious' and 'adult' writers are partly to blame because we don't support each other by reading and commenting. The 5 Star Brigade and Badge Bestowers (and you get a car and you get a car and you...) have eroded any efforts to write serious poems beyond nursery rhymes, or essays that tackle religion, sex, gender, race, politics... etc. I would highly suggest joining
Crow is a Southerner, so is Shadow Prowler-Spreading Love. If Eric Wharton or Debi Wharton joined we'd have Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi covered. Calling all Georgians... . Back in the day we also had Oklahomans and Kansans involved. I wish zwisis were actively blogging as Sarah's experiences in Turkey and Greece were priceless; but, she's back in Zimbabwe these days. Those were the days... . Beholden could add memories from his upbringing in South Africa. Blogs needn't be higher than E. Non-American-centric points-of-view are priceless. ~466 words Posted in "Blogville " 833 |