Gary Pearce: Dome doomed?
Submitted by James on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 5:29pm
It's always risky business to talk about the challenges facing rival political blogs, especially in the middle of the summer when our traffic is in the toilet and people seem mostly sick of partisan hackery. But Gary Pearce this week opines about the downward spiral of the Dome, attributing the decline to a lack of constantly updated content. Since Beckwith left, says Pearce, the residual crew has not settled into a crank-it-out routine, and the fall-off in new posts has been palpable.
Here’s the acid test: I no longer feel the need to check Dome on-line every couple of hours. It’s usually the same old stuff.
I'm not sure if Gary's personal patterns of blog surfing are an acid test of anything, but even if they are, the lack of fresh content isn't the only problem facing the Dome. In my view, the bigger issue is the infestation of reactionary visitors who hijack discussions, attack liberal commenters, and generally embarrass themselves in dazzling displays of ignorance. It has truly become a chore to read through the discussion, and any attempt to explore issues in a meaningful way is met immediately with sarcasm or Libertarian lunacy.
My own blogging patterns have shifted significantly in the wake of the infestation, which predates Beckwith's departure. While I used to check the Dome at least every hour, I barely hit it once a day now. And I haven't left a comment there or linked to a post in weeks. That may not seem like a big deal, but I'm quite certain that I have linked to the Dome more than anyone in North Carolina over the past few years ... and have definitely been among their most frequent visitors.
Bloggers can be strange birds. The best ones seem to operate with a "sharing is good" mindset, linking to other blogs frequently, patting good guys on the back, and giving assholes all the grief they deserve. But that's not what happens at the Dome (or at Talking About Politics, for that matter). Those blogs do their own thing, more or less in isolation, generally steering clear of links to other blogs, and apparently counting on insidery insiders to keep the doors open.
I suspect the Dome will survive just fine, for whatever that's worth. But unless they find a way to reverse the decline in discourse, they'll end up bottom-feeding like WRAL-TV does, driving away thoughtful commenters with a perfect storm of right-wing rhetoric.
TAP offering advice on blogs? That's rich!
Under the Dome has undoubtedly gone downhill quick since RTB left. And I mean when RTB left NC many months ago to work remotely, not simply his more recent departure from his job with McClatchy. Interesting how that was handled, eh?
But seriously, anyone from Talking About Politics giving advice on blogs? Stunning. That place was a joke. Still is. Just checked today for the first time in weeks, but only because you wrote about it.
It seems Gary Pearce is still letting Carter Wrenn use their "co-creation" as a platform for non-stop attacks on Doug Berger on behalf of Carter's paying client. Thanks, Gary, you old DINO you.
Acid Test
Here's another acid test. If you're a blogger, criticizing another (well known) blog by referring to yet another blog, at a minimum, the links should work. [TAP=Fail]
Dome began sagging long ago, I fear.
If Charlie Clay or Jim Shumaker were around to comment and willing they would tell you decline in the quality of Under the Dome began long before the rise of the Web. They saw the decline as a failure of initiative by the contributing reporters.
The pot calling the kettle..........
To be reasonably honest, I think your same argument could be used against BlueNC. I would not say that dissenting opinions are welcomed on BlueNC and I have found that you sometimes allow the use of "nasty" language over here. In my opinion you have a nice, agreeable swarm of hornets available at a moment's notice to strike down any decent, fun loving right wingers.
I don't know if you realize it or not but us 'sensitive types' can be scared to write much over here if it does not meet the party guidelines.
At least the Dome administrators are not the ones attacking a different view. I can handle opposing viewpoints as long as they are not "the house." It's hard to win with the "house odds," if you know what I mean.
Stay cool and lots of love to you and yours.
Esse Quam Videri
Dome purports(ed) to be something BlueNC does not.
You know the house you're walking into here. It's posted on the front door.
Thanks for the comment
I worry about that myself ... but I can say without fear of contradiction that our demeanor here has shifted dramatically over the past year into the "goodness and light" direction. I personally have made a significant transformation, and though I admit to some backsliding, I'm confident we're pushing this sit to on a higher path.
That said, I totally get your point about house rules. We're increasingly focused on debating the issues, not the person, which is why we have little tolerance now for drive-by shootings. When a conservative commenter comes around saying "you're nothing but a stupid liberal," he or she can count on being blocked from future posts. On the other hand, a conservative commenter who argues that universal healthcare is a bad idea because of X, Y and Z, will get a much more gracious reception.
Your comment here is a perfect example of striking the right balance. It's critical of something you don't like about this site, but it's also entirely reasoned and well-written.
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Getting to your thoughts about the Dome ...
I personally go to blogs to read and engage. For example, if a blog doesn't allow comments, I usually don't even bother to read it. It's been more than a year since I even clicked on the Locker Room, for example. So when the other commenters are predictably in knee-jerk attack mode, I've learned to steer clear. That's why I don't comment at the Dome anymore. And that lack of interaction eventually leads me to drop even occasional visits.
Truth is, I'd love to have more smart people commenting here from all political persuasions. As an unaffiliated voter, I have little serious interest in inside-the-party politics, preferring instead more substantive discussions of real policy issues. I may not always communicate that interest, but I'm doing my best during these frustrating times.
Thanks again for the engaging comment. I hope you'll post more often ... and if anyone gives you a hard time, I'll be sure to brush them back with my new velvet gloves.
:)
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
You are right
but do keep in mind that the "house" here at BlueNC is decidedly and openly and absolutely positively left of, left of center. Any right winger who stops by is accepting a certain amount of risk. Also, it is all in the approach. There is a way to express an opinion without intentionally setting off our alarms.
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Vote Democratic, the ass you save may be your own.