To Comment or Not to Comment: Indonesian Bloggers' Dilemma
13 December 2006
Gist---it is selfish for senior bloggers to neglect their juniors.
Recently, the issue of commenting or not commenting on bloggers' entry has again been debated in several quarters of Indonesian bloggers. This is not a new question, but came up again all the same. The accusers most likely come from the so-called newbies, while the accused are those more experienced and high-traffic bloggers.
This could just be a traffic-envy case. Or the usual gap of the old and the young. Yet, we can always see it more than just that. There is always something more to everything.
The case is, even bloggers have this narcissistic tendency of wanting to be well known. It is not just about blogging per se and be pleased with it, but more, to gain some sort of popularity or traffic. If high-traffic bloggers be classified as blogosphere celebrities, along with that, there usually follows good flows of visitor exchanges and commentaries.
By default, that is nothing special actually. Blogging gains increasing popularity is due, i.e., to its interactivity. Responses and comments, even flamings, characterize its existence. And for most bloggers, including Indonesian, to comment or not to comment is still a question.
The PEW survey of July 2006 did expose that personal issues occupied bloggers more, particularly those of the young. Many bloggers in Indonesia are indeed young in age and young in mind. Graphical moods, grievances and any other variety of narcissistic and self-serving entries seem dominant. Only a limited number of bloggers that worry on quality entries.
Many bloggers in Indonesia are also those whose lines of work are computer or ICT-related professions. Those who own the most visited blogs are in fact internet-related professionals instead of simply internet users. That is why the contents mostly relate to ICT plus a portion of popular issues.
It is true that blogging phenomena among other professionals is also increasing in Indonesia. Nevertheless, the use of blogs as a tool of public relations is still less recognized. Few politicians or ministers have recently stepped in, yet less intense. A running candidate for a political position may try to show interested eyes, but that could be just temporary. His interest may eventually ebb either for winning or loosing the race.
Blogging according to professional lines, say, among pundits and intellectuals, civil servants, teachers, environmentalists or even diplomats are making a go in a rather weak vigor. Perhaps blogging on religious contents such as those represented by the Indonesian Muslim bloggers are more visible.
Of course, this has also to be packed together with the hobby-based bloggers, either around mothers, culinary activists, chit chatters or else. Then again, the blossom remains around the young, either they being less IT-savvy, writing-shy, lack in experience or a mix of each. Many bloggers are just in serious need of peer appreciation.
Here is where the significance of commenting or not commenting on the entries of other bloggers, particularly of the young or less-traffic blogs comes in. No one can refute the legitimacy of the 'supply-like' theory, that bloggers need to pro-actively offer quality posts, employ a range of traffic tricks available and so on while at the same time be very patient until, eventually, others will notice. That self-motivation is always the best recipe for success.
It is also not obsolete, say, to argue that good blogs in other countries may not always get so many comments and that is not to worry about. Yet, this argument is equally as true as the fact that many good foreign blogs also receive hundreds of comments.
Many bloggers in Indonesia are also those whose lines of work are computer or ICT-related professions. Those who own the most visited blogs are in fact internet-related professionals instead of simply internet users. That is why the contents mostly relate to ICT plus a portion of popular issues.
It is true that blogging phenomena among other professionals is also increasing in Indonesia. Nevertheless, the use of blogs as a tool of public relations is still less recognized. Few politicians or ministers have recently stepped in, yet less intense. A running candidate for a political position may try to show interested eyes, but that could be just temporary. His interest may eventually ebb either for winning or loosing the race.
Blogging according to professional lines, say, among pundits and intellectuals, civil servants, teachers, environmentalists or even diplomats are making a go in a rather weak vigor. Perhaps blogging on religious contents such as those represented by the Indonesian Muslim bloggers are more visible.
Of course, this has also to be packed together with the hobby-based bloggers, either around mothers, culinary activists, chit chatters or else. Then again, the blossom remains around the young, either they being less IT-savvy, writing-shy, lack in experience or a mix of each. Many bloggers are just in serious need of peer appreciation.
Here is where the significance of commenting or not commenting on the entries of other bloggers, particularly of the young or less-traffic blogs comes in. No one can refute the legitimacy of the 'supply-like' theory, that bloggers need to pro-actively offer quality posts, employ a range of traffic tricks available and so on while at the same time be very patient until, eventually, others will notice. That self-motivation is always the best recipe for success.
It is also not obsolete, say, to argue that good blogs in other countries may not always get so many comments and that is not to worry about. Yet, this argument is equally as true as the fact that many good foreign blogs also receive hundreds of comments.
Therefore, the do-it-yourself or you-can-do-it formula can also be a cliché or an overused point of view. In a way, I even dare to say that could also be selfish.
To put this bluntly (and without any prejudice), for a high-traffic bloggers to say that other bloggers have to work the hardest possible in order to get notice is just another way to state I am where I am because I am very good, very high in quality and thereby deserve to be treated as so.
This self-serving view is not wrong. Ironically, it is true. But, even so, that will not make it right.
To put this bluntly (and without any prejudice), for a high-traffic bloggers to say that other bloggers have to work the hardest possible in order to get notice is just another way to state I am where I am because I am very good, very high in quality and thereby deserve to be treated as so.
This self-serving view is not wrong. Ironically, it is true. But, even so, that will not make it right.
The wrong thing is the lacking of some sort of social responsibility among peer bloggers. This responsibility can take the form of the much needed appreciation to other---most likely newbie---bloggers, even through comments. For many Indonesian bloggers, this is an issue of high significance.
If you ask why, the answer is not only about being the cry-babies nature of younger bloggers, but more because blogging in the sense of quality entry and writing tradition is still relatively weak in the country. If we want to nurture it to bloom, all need to work together.
Most high traffic bloggers profess to do service to the Indonesian blogosphere. Some even take the role of representing the Indonesian bloggers in the international forums. If in a narcissistic manner such bloggers have to be titled as celebrity bloggers, so they are the celebrity bloggers of Indonesia.
And if they say that non-celebrity, less-traffic, younger or newbie bloggers have to work the hardest alone while these celebrities are professing to do service to the Indonesian blogosphere and keep referring to the cliche of do-it-your-self formula and, by that, do nothing to help, just say stop to them.
And if you are one of them, my word to you: stop! Why? Because there is this "bloggers' social responsibility". If anyone thinks not, make one! That is urgently needed in Indonesia.
The thing is, the time is already overdue for celebrity bloggers to push away the limelight toward the less popular once a while; stop looking just at self-reflections, but do reflect on others.
And if you still ask how, my answer is here where the question of either to comment or not to comment pitches in. Indeed, an exchange of comments among bloggers is a form of appreciation and energy for improvement. A comment, so much less than a link, by celebrity bloggers to the less-popular bloggers is a tonic drink.
If in management and human relations, it is popular to cite about the amazing effect of a small tap in the back by the boss to the morale of a staff, in the blogosphere, traces of blogwalks and comments of celebrity bloggers will do magic the same way.
This is why every Indonesian bloggers has to appreciate the sincerity of Fatih Syuhud for his persistent call to write in English among Indonesian bloggers. Through his blogger-of-the-week review, he has given others a giant boost to work more.
But if you don't do the mantra Fatih Syuhud or one or two other bloggers do, just stop by once a while and log your two-cents comments to any, even random, blog. You could be amazed as to how that would affect the others. A little help always counts.
And when you nurture the less, you are actually nurturing the upcoming birth of quality bloggers who are due in the near future. That is a service at the very best to the Indonesian blogosphere.
Most high traffic bloggers profess to do service to the Indonesian blogosphere. Some even take the role of representing the Indonesian bloggers in the international forums. If in a narcissistic manner such bloggers have to be titled as celebrity bloggers, so they are the celebrity bloggers of Indonesia.
And if they say that non-celebrity, less-traffic, younger or newbie bloggers have to work the hardest alone while these celebrities are professing to do service to the Indonesian blogosphere and keep referring to the cliche of do-it-your-self formula and, by that, do nothing to help, just say stop to them.
And if you are one of them, my word to you: stop! Why? Because there is this "bloggers' social responsibility". If anyone thinks not, make one! That is urgently needed in Indonesia.
The thing is, the time is already overdue for celebrity bloggers to push away the limelight toward the less popular once a while; stop looking just at self-reflections, but do reflect on others.
And if you still ask how, my answer is here where the question of either to comment or not to comment pitches in. Indeed, an exchange of comments among bloggers is a form of appreciation and energy for improvement. A comment, so much less than a link, by celebrity bloggers to the less-popular bloggers is a tonic drink.
If in management and human relations, it is popular to cite about the amazing effect of a small tap in the back by the boss to the morale of a staff, in the blogosphere, traces of blogwalks and comments of celebrity bloggers will do magic the same way.
This is why every Indonesian bloggers has to appreciate the sincerity of Fatih Syuhud for his persistent call to write in English among Indonesian bloggers. Through his blogger-of-the-week review, he has given others a giant boost to work more.
But if you don't do the mantra Fatih Syuhud or one or two other bloggers do, just stop by once a while and log your two-cents comments to any, even random, blog. You could be amazed as to how that would affect the others. A little help always counts.
And when you nurture the less, you are actually nurturing the upcoming birth of quality bloggers who are due in the near future. That is a service at the very best to the Indonesian blogosphere.
LA, 12 Dec 2006
Labels: blogosphere, Indonesia, Indonesian bloggers, seleb blog
