A Skeptic'S Take On Academic Blogs

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. A Skeptic'S Take On Academic Blogs
The sceptic's take is not so sceptical, the author having actually blogged, and not merely a critic of them. The main point - with which I am sympathetic - is that it is very difficult to conduct a rich academic discussion in the blogosphere. I think it is easier to consolidate discussions into groups (as the author describes) but this carries with it the weaknesses of groups: the sway of group loyalty, the 'circling of the wagons' mentality. Working in the large, diverse, messy, blogosphere is harder, but it is ultimately richer and deeper. More...