Writing and Commenting

For the purposes of this class blog, there are several guidelines to consider. There are several to help in writing the required posts and several others for writing comments on the posts, also required for full participation in the class.

Writing

In the case of writing on a blog, there are at least two philosophies. The first and most popular on the Internet of the 2010s might be characterized as clickbait blogging. Clickbait is a term invented to describe writing aimed at the reader’s gut. The author is writing in anticipation of a visceral reaction [Latin: viscera (viscus) – internal organ(s)]. The end goal of all writing is to receive money from advertisers, whose payment is dependent on the (accurate) measurement of visitors to certain websites (through the aforementioned clicks). Students interested in learning more about this style might consider picking up Ryan Holiday’s 2013 memoir Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator.

This is not the style of academic or formal writing, which brings us to a second style of blogging. In this style, the purpose of the post is to present an argument, usually by sharing an interesting piece of evidence and its important to a larger matter of importance. Not all blogging that avoids clickbait style is appropriate for this class blog; please note the following guidelines, listed first affirmatively and then negatively:

  • Get to the point and stay there; do not ramble
  • Be an ethical linker – use Do Not Link; do not link directly to sites which you do not want to receive traffic/advertising revenue.
  • Organize multiple sources (evidence and your (or others) interpretation of it) into a cohesive whole; do not rant on a single idea
  • Give examples [plural!] to make your point; do not assume the reader is in your mind
  • Embedding multimedia requires commentary; do not make up for a weak argument with embedded YouTube videos
  • Brevity is the aim, so try to keep the post under 500 words; do not write more than 1000 words in a post.

Commenting

Whether writing in agreement or disagreement, always strive for civility. If you are unsure, read the comment aloud and imagine being its recipient. Avoid platitudes and vapid truisms, but be open to praising arguments you find convincing: albeit with an explanation. For example, write “I especially liked your analysis of X because of how you argued Y.”

Of chief importance is the following list to consider when you find an argument unconvincing and want to offer a rebuttal. This list comes from Daniel Dennett’s book Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking, who in turn took the list from the social psychologist Anatol Rapoport. The goals are simple: to advance the discussion by making the receivers of your criticism more open to your point of view.

  1. Attempt to re-express your target’s position so clearly, vividly, and fairly that your target says, “Thanks, I wish I’d thought of putting it that way.
  2. List points of agreement (especially if they are not matters of general or widespread agreement).
  3. Mention anything you have learned from your target.

Only then are you permitted to say so much as a word of rebuttal or criticism.