I’ve been reading your blog since way back and commenting to you (as the author) whenever I agreed or opposed (as the recipient) but the interactivity is missing, when nobody else knows about our conversation. An open blog might lead to a fertile discussion on any subject matter – at least I think it’s wise of you to give it a try!

Pax

Sullivan of course, does write this towards the end of the piece:

“The triumphalist notion that blogging should somehow replace traditional writing is as foolish as it is pernicious. In some ways, blogging’s gifts to our discourse make the skills of a good traditional writer much more valuable, not less. The torrent of blogospheric insights, ideas, and arguments places a greater premium on the person who can finally make sense of it all, turning it into something more solid, and lasting, and rewarding.”

…and he describes the piece itself as a traditional, non-bloggish one. So, yeah, he’s not an either/or guy. My initial thought was just that maybe I wasn’t making as good use of this format as I could — when you have the opportunity to write in different ways, why not experiment a little more with it. But we’ll see if I actually manage or am just too old school.

Regarding posting comments to older pieces, I don’t know quite what to do. It seems the software doesn’t allow me to open them all up in one fell swoop, which means I have to do it individually for each of them (unless there’s something I’ve missed?). So if anyone wants to comment on an older post, please send me an email or let me know here, and I’ll open it.

So, I should like to think that the good *Mr.* Sullivan proves himself wrong, along the – admittedly very interesting – way.

Regards,

DHO

Well, I for one applaud you choice (give yourself a pat on the back, a random nettite agrees with you on something..): I’ve always thought that the most interesting and promising feature of blogging is its possibility as a truly inclusive mass media. Its (possibly utopian) possible effect on public (and hence private) discourse on things great and small is, in my opinion, difficult to underestimate.

Who says most people don’t have the patience for longer pieces? For that matter, who says you have to write for those who don’t? I for one find blooming, quasi-obsessive niche writing quite enjoyable, and not just when Alan Moore is at the other end of it.

That said, perhaps you should add a comment on what sort of comments you would like, and to what subjects? For instance, do you have some sort of mental expiration date, posts that are simply too old to bother you anymore (otherwise, I’d like to ask if Ganesha has been generous so far), are there any subjects (politics, religion, etc.) you don’t want people to get into? Anything else?

Ellers er der vel ikke andet at sige end: Held og lykke. Jeg håber, du ikke får nogen anledning til at fortryde din beslutning.

Den Håbløse Observatør