Blogging and the Flooded Brain

What you are reading here is a technical blog. In the World Bank they are (pretentiously?) known as 'Expert Blogs'. I post these reflections once a week, for instance, and, as you would expect, I tend to think about them before I do so. But, as we all know, all over the world these days are bloggers of a very different kind. They blog not only everyday but several times a day. Some blog intensely, almost minute-to-minute.Some of them blog about cats, dogs, the fleeing thoughts and events of their day, whatever comes to mind. For our purposes those are not interesting.

Far more interesting are those who blog about public affairs...whatever the country.  These political bloggers are becoming far more important these days. They are bringing to drive issues up the public agenda successfully, sometimes out-competing so-called mainstream media (MSM!). They are beginning to acquire the capacity to shape public opinion as more citizens in more countries follow public affairs on-line.  Some say this is all very well; it is all very democratic.

I agree. Except that there is a problem here: immediacy very often trumps reflection. An event happens, the blogger posts a comment instantly. Readers react. Other blogs react. A fire-storm sometimes ensues that breaks through to mainstream public opinion. (24-hour news stations often have the same feature; and they too usually have their own blogs these days.) Some broadcasters even blog, tweet and read the news...all at the same time. It is the growing culture of instant analysis, instant judgement...all before the full facts are in; all before calm reflection has occurred.

The question is: is this good for the quality of public debate in any country? I don't think so. For, as political communication researchers keep finding out, what shapes informed public opinion on a public issue or controversy is public debate that is rich, informed and many-sided. Plus everyday chat with fellow citizens. Punditry in the media contributes to this process hugely, but only when it is of good quality. There is nothing as powerful as a well-written and well-argued opinion piece to make you re-arrange your mental furniture around a public controversy.  I am not quite sure that bloggers who write when their brains are flooded in the immediate aftermath of a public controversy erupting make that kind of contribution to the public sphere.

I end by noting one exception that I am aware of and admire. The Atlantic has a blogger called Andrew Sullivan. He writes a mesmerizing blog on public affairs: The Daily Dish. It is quite popular. Andrew has a habit of reacting passionately to an event, and he will do so instantly. But very often he will come back to his readers the next day with a more considered reflection. I wish more of those who blog about public affairs would do that.

Photo Credit: Flickr user cambodia4kidsorg