6 comment(s):

 Anonymous said...

How influenced are you by bloggers' points of view in politics, political candidates, international/national political issues?

I would like to think I form my own opinions without being unduly influenced by what I read. I like using blogs as a heads-up to information that I miss because it isn't beat to death by mainstream media.

Do you go out of your way to check if these bloggers are informing actual facts or if most of it is their opinion?

Unless a legit source is provided, I assume they are at least putting their own spin on the issue. I admit I'm too lazy to go check if a source isn't given. :)

Do you only read blogs that mirror your view points, or do you venture out and read sites you recognize differ from your political standings?

I tend to stick with liberal blogs, or at least moderate. I avoid really conservative blogs because my reaction cannot be good for my health. I get too worked up about it, which is stupid because everyone is entitled to their opinion (even if it is dead wrong and idiotic *g*), but there you have it.

2/12/2008 12:09:00 PM  

 Anonymous said...

those of you who have a little interest in politics and/or world events could comment

Do those who really have no interest spend a lot of time reading political blogs? I guess I always thought only those who were interested (like me) spent the time, otherwise they wouldn't be classified as not interested if they were.

But anyway, I do check cited references when available, and take the rest of things with a grain of salt. I'm a conservative, but I'll read liberal blogs where there is logic and reason, but far-left blogs where all things conservative should be illegal, well those I avoid.

2/12/2008 02:24:00 PM  

 Anonymous said...

How influenced are you by bloggers' points of view in politics, political candidates, international/national political issues?

Not very. I already have an opinion before I go into the blogs.

Do you go out of your way to check if these bloggers are informing actual facts or if most of it is their opinion?

Sometimes, if I haven't heard the story yet through Mainstream Media. (ABC news, NYT, LA Times, The Nation, local paper and news) I will often jump to a link to get a full quote or more info. I assume the blogs I'm reading are going to have a political lean and take the rhetoric with a grain of salt.

Do you only read blogs that mirror your view points, or do you venture out and read sites you recognize differ from your political standings?

I tend to think that blogs are to the left what talk radio is to the right. I am socialist and read very liberal blogs. I have looked at a few conservative blogs to see how they spin, and like Carrie, realized I was capable of hurting myself by having to endure the right's viewpoint on how things are or should be. Besides the comments sections of the blogs always have trolls to feed you the republican party line if you really want to hear it. I don't.


I like blogs because they feed info and news faster than traditional media. It is not uncommon for me to hit a blog refresh every 15 minutes or so at times of big events. I rarely read a magazine unless it is the Nation or International Socialist Review. I think there is no real dif between Time and Newsweek, so why bother with those lightweights. I subscribe to the local paper, and watch CNN and ABC news for national and local channels at 6 at night. But in my view, all those are censored and do not give a full accounting. Blogs just work for me and my working at a computer from home through the day. They are quick, easily accessible and have info from many various sources. If anyone wants to share blogs that they read with me, I'd be interested to know what may be out there that I am missing.....

2/12/2008 03:51:00 PM  

 Anonymous said...

I don't read political blogs so I don't know how helpful my answer will be, but I do read some political stuff that ends up on my f-list. I have no idea if they're republican or democrat, though I'd say most lean to the left -- so I guess I mostly read stuff from people who's views are like mine.

I tend to have some opinions in place already, but I can sometimes be swayed by a good argument ('course, that goes for both sides). Isn't that the point of all this discourse?

Most things that show up on the f-list or rss feed are opinions, so that's how I tend to take them, not necessarily as hard fact. And most people link to news sources when they're talking about this stuff, so I'll read those too, occasionally.

As for ebook readers... if they have internet connection, it might be another way to keep up to date with news feeds? Although if one also has a cell phone or PDA with the same capabilities, I don't know what advantage an ebook reader would have, other than perhaps being easier to read off of. Would an ebook reader allow one to post to the internet?

--dance, testing out the open ID thing.

2/13/2008 02:53:00 AM  

 Stacia said...

I'll read political blogs on both sides, though not usually the extremes of either. They don't really influence me, and I do check sources if I'm interested enough.

But a regular blog where politics comes up turns me right off. There are a few authors I will not read because their political comments offended me--referring to people with different opinions from theirs as idiots, for example, or posting long lists of "jokes" that served only to make fun of people who voted a different way. Doesn't matter if I agree with their views or not, it's offensive. When you're blogging in part to allow people who enjoyed your work a chance to get to know you better, I think you have kind of a duty not to deliberately insult them. JMO, but it really makes me mad.

2/13/2008 07:33:00 AM  

 Sara, Ms Adventures in Italy said...

I don't read political blogs, sorry.

I do read ebooks and am very interested in them / well-informed. I'm going to be test-driving the Iliad next week. Email me if you have any specific questions.

2/13/2008 05:25:00 PM  

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