With this over-the-top teaser on the Nov. 14, 2005 cover of the magazine,
They [My edit: A tiny number of blogs] destroy brands and wreck lives. Is there any way to fight back? the folks at Forbes have stirred up a whole lot of predictable blacklash from the blogosphere.
Yes, of course there are examples (upsetting, frightening ones) of blogs gone bad and of bad people (i.e. lowlifes) who blog. Nothing new here except the channel. Rumor and inuendo have erupted and swarmed and wreaked havoc on people's lives since time began. [See EFF parody.]
But the number of blogs and bloggers that fit into the ugly smear category is miniscule, as the story mentions ever so discretely, about half way through:
"Attack blogs are but a sliver of the rapidly expanding blogosphere. A hundred thousand new blogs are created every day, more than new blog per second, says Technorati..."
Having worked as a reporter and editor for MSM myself I'm surprised an astute editor didn't call out that fact to reporter Daniel Lyons and ask if perhaps the story weren't just a teensy-weensy bit lopsided.
At any rate, the article makes a perfectly valid point - namely, that the blogosphere is an unpredictable place where memes can pick up surprising momentum and quickly enhance OR damage anyone or any brand. (Fear of blogging is quite justified. I devote a whole chapter to it in The Corporate Blogging Book.)
Surprisingly - or not so surprisingly - a number of well-known bloggers are playing right into Forbes' hand by jumping on the story like "an online lynch mob" (All wrong! All Wrong!). When in fact the article uncovers (and I have to assume accurately describes) some pretty unnerving examples of blog smear.
Also covered is the notable fact that blog hosting services such as Google's Blogger and SixApart's TypePad are not liable for content they host because they're protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. So it's frustratingly difficult to get back at or stop those who are smearing you.
See more balanced reactions to the Forbes' story by Jeremy Pepper, Stephen Baker and Dave Taylor.
I think it's not surprisingly or shockingly that a few top bloggers (and blog consultants) have jumped in the fray, but sadly and insecurely. The Forbes story may not have been a balanced piece - but, really, neither were the pro-Blog stories thus far - but it had valid points that those so-called leaders should have responded to, and posted counter-arguments.
Alas, it's easier to attack than defend.
Posted by: Jeremy Pepper | October 30, 2005 at 04:36 PM
I just finished reading the Forbes article and I shamefully say, "I agree".
I love blogging and the ideal that self-publishing represents. But, just like anywhere else on the Internet it is a crapshoot of credibility.
Just as a thousand monkeys typing into infinity will produce Shakspeare. Several million bloggers typing into infinity will produce fodder for Jerry Springer.
Yes, this will resonate through the CXO community and may even stilt the adoption of blogging in the business environment.
But no article no matter how powerful will quell the idea of self-publishing in the web.
Only legislation forcing accountability will derail the Wikiexpress.
Posted by: Rob Patey | October 31, 2005 at 08:59 AM
Whichever side you come down on, as a marketing professional the significant thought to me is this entire buzz has occurred before the ‘Letters to the Editor’ section of Forbes has even been typeset.
This demonstrates the significance of subscription technology’s potential and power, and serves as a call to action for organizations to make use of the technology.
Posted by: Kip Meacham | November 01, 2005 at 08:44 PM
I was just strating to take your site seriously - right up until I saw the big huge bold pink letters,
"Welcome to PORN VALLEY" in the ad just below the CEO Blog roll.
Thank MSNBC for bringing you the most visible element on your page, AND for making it a reference to PORN.
How cool is that???
Posted by: Gary Crabbe | December 12, 2005 at 03:59 PM
“credibility” – the point is that blogging is a direct communication between two people in its essence. No blog is more credible than the person writing it. So, as anywhere else in life you will have to use your good sense of judgement and be critical about which information you trust and act upon. As it is said, blogging is just another media and we must learn how to use it and how to asses the value and credibility of the information offered by it. Take it for what it is!
Posted by: Karsten Keinicke | March 24, 2006 at 10:45 AM