I don't think any single source can be fully authoritative, and so the popularity of political blogs is exciting, IMO, because it reflects what I hope will be a resurgence in public engagement in political debate and discourse.

But this comment also reminds me of several incidents lately uncovered by blogs about the mainstream media: ABC's suppression of pro-Obama poll information, CBS's editing of a John McCain interview, and Fox's alteration of photos of NYT journalists.

::Nodnods:: I think there’s also an overlap with academia. Bloggers who extend the same care in research to blog articles as academic papers can and have garnered authority by dint of research on subjects, even if it’s not yet widely accepted by the establishment. Good research and well-written, thoughtful analysis will out with consistency, so in effect it’s not necessarily the fact that a blog is a blog or that a blogger is a blogger, but that the blog and the blogger deliver a consistent level of work that establishes its own reputation.

And I followed several of the media links as they happened, and that’s where the value of the political blogs come in as citizen journalism, opposition discourse, and watchdog functions that suffer neglect in the profit-driven media industry.

ITA that moral objection is not the only reason some readers won't read about rape, especially in Romance. But I know from experience that it is one reason, and I know this because I have been criticized directly for not standing up against rape in Romance. Once, on AAR, no less, I was likened to a member of the KKK for not rejecting Gaffney's To Have and To Hold. I have argued with readers who believe that any author who uses rape in Romance is anti-feminist, even anti-women. That it's irresponsible for authors to use rape in the genre.

Ah, I see. For whatever reason, that didn’t even occur to me this morning. I sort of thought you were just lumping “Gah, I can’t read this because it will destabilize me for days/weeks” into “I will not read this because it offends my delicate moral sensibilities.” There is overlap there, and I try hard not to criticize the latter (…most of the time), but I guess the coffee just hadn’t kicked in yet when I read this this morning.

FWIW, while I certainly think there are *some* uses of rape in romance that can be indefensible, I do not presume to judge how it’s been used in the majority of novels, especially since I cannot read them, and will not.

ETA: It rather annoys me that I read “morality” and immediately made the mental leap to “conservative ‘family values’ types.” Which is unfair to pretty much everyone and is, I think, why I misread the comment to which I was replying.

I read political blogs and to be honest, the journalism I've seen on blogs has become more ethical and substantive than the stuff I read in the paper or see on the boob toob.

I don’t think any single source can be fully authoritative, and so the popularity of political blogs is exciting, IMO, because it reflects what I hope will be a resurgence in public engagement in political debate and discourse.

But this comment also reminds me of several incidents lately uncovered by blogs about the mainstream media: ABC’s suppression of pro-Obama poll information, CBS’s editing of a John McCain interview, and Fox’s alteration of photos of NYT journalists.

I go to blogs for information. But I’m going to base what I expect on the blog and how much I trust the author/poster. On blogs like this here one, I expect to be truthful and accurate information (to the best of any human’s ability) and good reading advice. It’s not impossible for DA to be wrong, but if it’s something posted as fact and it’s incorrect, I’d like to know about it. Now, anything written with “my opinion” around it is not subject to that because you’ve said you’re basing it on your worldview.

I may go to a blog who’s author I don’t trust as far as I can spit (not very far), but knowing full well that I’m only there for entertainment value and to take everything with a shaker of salt.

So maybe what I expect out of bloggers is correct representation. Don’t pretend to be an industry professional if you’ve not worked in the industry. If you’re writing reviews based on your opinion, thanks for letting me know. If you’re just a high schooler with too much time, I’m okay with that. Just own up to what you wrote and accept that some people might disagree and others might prove you wrong.

From a personal point of view, I expect nothing from other blogs, until I become more familiar with them. With familiarity, comes the great, or not-so-great expectations.

If I surf onto a new-to-me blog, and find lots of posts featuring kittens and recipes, then I surf out, and never go back. On the other hand, if I find posts about things that interest me, and I like the ‘voice’ of the blogger, then I’ll visit regularly. For me, it’s as simple as that.

Audience Expectations

I think certain blogs are sub-consciously held to a much higher standard than others. For example, a post entitled Fucktard of The Week, on KKB, wouldn’t be considered to be out of the ordinary, but if that same title appeared on here, or the SB’s blog, there would probably be more than a few eyebrows raised. That’s because, by design or not, those standards have been set by the individual bloggers themselves.

If I surfed in and found lots of pictures of naked men plastered all over the place, I’d assume that the Ja(y)nes had been abducted, merely because as far as I’m aware, that’s never been their thing.

Me, I’m not comfortable with high expectations, my blogging is an enjoyable hobby, and the day I start to worry about what people expect of me, is the day I take up chess again.

Accountability

I think there’s a recognised double standard at work, when it comes to reader blogs vs ‘professional’ blogs. If you’re an author who wants to sell your work to the public, then, although you may consider your blog to be your private place, the reality is, you don’t have the same freedom as Jane Reader does, in terms of what you can say. OK, that’s slightly wrong, of course you have the freedom, but there are greater repercussions for you as an author, if you decide to let it all hang out.
Slightly unfair perhaps, but that’s the way the world works. Just ask Britney Spears.

The Persona Behind The Blog

I think Robin makes an interesting point about bloggers sometimes being performers.

I personally think that anytime, you put people in front of an audience, be it on a stage, or a public blog, there’s always going to be a certain level of playing to the crowd. I think it’s a natural compulsion, that all of us have to some degree.

What I have more of a problem with, is marrying the notion of bloggers as performers, with the idea that perhaps we don’t always mean what we post. The Pollyanna in me, rejects that idea totally. I’ve been accused more than once of ramping up the drama in an effort to obtain more hits, but I can honestly say, I’ve never once posted anything, controversial or not, that I didn’t believe, and I think the same can be said for the majority of bloggers in Romanceland.

KKB is considered a snarky blog, and that’s something I’ve created I guess, due to the overall tone of the site, and although in real life, I can be as sarcastic as the next person, that’s not the sum total of who I am. It’s just a tiny part actually, but I’m aware that people will, judge me by the words on my blog. And that’s ok by me, because afterall, they have little else to judge me by.

Now is a romance book blog the equivalent of a political commentary blog? On many occasions, it’s just as much of a blood sport it seems. ;) And I’m inclined to say that blogging on the more dedicated side is more like online, citizen journalism than putting out your Very Secret Diary for everyone to read (although there are a zillion blogs who are more like the latter than the former, my own included). But no matter what the original intent, blogs that feature news content (like DA and SBTB) as a regular part of their discourse have attracted enough attention to be considered sources by other outlets. It is ultimately up to the blogs’ owners as to whether they want to hold themselves to any sort of ethical standard, but their choices will determine whether or not their credibility as news sources and/or “expert commentary” will remain consistent in the eyes of their peers. That probably includes some sort of disclosure of ad purchasers or employment or payment for any entities in the industry.

As to my personal preference with respect to reviews on sites, the only things I ask is that the reviewer have actually read the story in question, and to disclose as to whether or not they either work in the publishing industry, or are an author or aspiring author. I’d like to know up front if the person writing the review has any industry connections that may affect their review.

So I'll have to think about that some more, i.e, do bloggers have a right to be wrong?

I think I’m viewing this in the same way Nora does.

The right to be wrong…well, we’re all human, that means we’re all going to make mistakes at some point. When it happens, whether it’s a factual thing or a misunderstanding, I would hope to see it addressed, I’d hope that inaccurate information was corrected.

That’s an easy “Sorry, wrong info! I apologize!” Versus intentionally lying about information what should be solid.

However, proof of intent may be another thing.

I’m being more black and white, I suppose. What I’m speaking of is making a claim to fact–i.e. XYZ Publisher to launch new line of Cat Romances! When it fact, XYZ Publisher is not, never claimed to be, but the blogger heard it from her sister’s pal’s brother and announced it. Or, it turns out it wasn’t XYC, but ABC Publisher who is launching the new line.

I’d expect the blogger to say whoops, sorry, I got that one wrong. Otherwise, I wouldn’t credit the next announcement of industry news on that blog.

I guess it's the academic in me, Monica, because I've spent much time as both a teacher and a student within the Socratic method, lol. One of the most difficult things as a teacher, IMO, is keeping your students from being able to peg you in terms of your personal views.

AHA!! That's why it escapes me! Now I don’t feel so bad. LOL I am a lousy teacher, but this explanation makes PERFECT sense to me now. And the Socratic method I understand, I just never had the ability to work within it. Guess that explains my C in Philosophy class, despite my love of delving into the topic. I need to have you chat with my Senior, who's going to college with teaching as her objective. *grin*

Which is, of course, a reader's prerogative, but it made me very aware of how much more invested some readers are in liking and approving of Romance protagonists than in other genres

I know one of the most consistant comments I hear, and it applies to me also, is that you become the heroine when you read. You want someone you can like, identify with and live vicariously through. So she has to have things about her that you admire and respect. Even her flaws and weaknesses you can tolerate if they remind you of your own.

Granted, thats for those of us who read totally for escapism and pure entertainment. If I want to be educated, I google or buy a “how too” book. If I want pure heartbreaking reality, I hang out in reality. If I want to live something wonderful, happy and easing to my spirit, I read a romance. And I expect a romance (not a novel with a few romantic chapters).

Women who have sex with strangers on the side of the road? I know plenty of them and I work with them pretty regularly…but they aren’t healthy of mind or body or spirit so it’s hard to romantize them…. those without the drug issues are hypersexualized due to abuse, out of control bi-polars, schizophrenics off their meds etc etc etc. So whatever, I can feel tremendous pity, but I don’t think it’s romantic.

Rapists? I can point you to a building with at least 12 who will never leave –because they’re GRI- Guilty by Reason of Insanity. Again, when you’ve had a one of them call you ‘pretty lady’ and follow you around, the whole ‘rapist as romance hero’ perspective shifts. Especially when they’re toothless and drooling. Argh….for me that kind of male in a book is like saying Ted Bundy was an over enthusiastic lover and Jeffery Dahmer had an eating disorder. It just doesn’t compute and I can’t make it….

Which is why I was very surpised when years after reading THTH, I found it was lauded as a good book. When I read it the first and only time, I took it to Goodwill the next day, mostly because, every rapist I know ain’t nuthin’ like that guy and none in RL change because it ‘feels right’. IOW, the character did not behave as I believe and observe humans behaving in this reality (Granted, somewhere else….maybe).

Can I see why other women love it? YES! Can I understand why others would think it was a great book? Yes, of course. Can I understand why some hate it purely because of the rape? Yep. I know why I disliked it…mostly because wasn’t an enjoyable read.

And I’m being honest. :)

I’m not sure, honestly, how I feel about the idea that a blogger should be held to a standard of accuracy and should admit a mistake when informed. For one thing, sometimes people who insist a mistake has been made are themselves wrong, and let me tell you that it can be a dicey thing to engage in an exchange in which you tell the reader that, lol. And I say that as someone who loves to dig in and argue. That has burned me a few times when things blow up way past the original difference — and this assumes that there is an easily discerned “correct” position.

So I’ll have to think about that some more, i.e, do bloggers have a right to be wrong?

As for bloggers who put opinions out that they don't hold personally, strikes me as odd. I don't think I'm wired to understand the nuances of why someone would put out an opinion they don't subscribe too.

I guess it’s the academic in me, Monica, because I’ve spent much time as both a teacher and a student within the Socratic method, lol. One of the most difficult things as a teacher, IMO, is keeping your students from being able to peg you in terms of your personal views. Which they are inevitably trying to do so that they can just relax and feed you what they think you expect. But since one’s job as a teacher (at least at the university level) is to foster critical thinking and analysis of multiple viewpoints, you want your students to be working to decipher many different types of assertions and arguments, to discuss their various implications and understand multiple positions and points of view (to promote intellectual empathy and analytical rigor).

Those habits have, I think, become so inculcated in me that I can see where floating views not one’s own can create really interesting discussion, especially when you’ve got that ‘choir’ vibe going in any particular community. So I definitely see the value of it even though I am not one who spends much of my blog time doing it. Sometimes I will float arguments I don’t subscribe to, though, just to see how people will respond and to help fashion counter-arguments. What can I say, I like the intellectual debate, lol.

I'll be honest and say that one the reasons I don't post more on DA is because I am usually in awe of the intellectual brain power in the discourse.

Well, I know you can’t force people to post, but I love all the commenting, even if I don’t respond to every comment that interests or engages me. I know what you mean, though, because there are definitely sites I don’t comment at because I don’t feel enough of an expert to add anything valuable. In fact, I feel like that a bit every time I have to write a blog post, lol.

have a whole theory about the genre is recuperating female power via the trope [rape/forced seduction]

Robin, can you blog this some time? I’d love to read it.

While there are certainly people who don't read certain books b/c of “morally objectionable” content, I think lumping rape into that category is a little unfair. For myself, and for many other readers, that's self-protection. It's not because I find rape morally objectionable (although, obviously, I do) that I refuse to read it. It's because it's a trigger issue for me, and I refuse to surrender my mental health to my pleasure reading.

ITA that moral objection is not the only reason some readers won’t read about rape, especially in Romance. But I know from experience that it is one reason, and I know this because I have been criticized directly for not standing up against rape in Romance. Once, on AAR, no less, I was likened to a member of the KKK for not rejecting Gaffney’s To Have and To Hold. I have argued with readers who believe that any author who uses rape in Romance is anti-feminist, even anti-women. That it’s irresponsible for authors to use rape in the genre. Now I’m more like you, Snarkhunter, in that rape is EXTREMELY difficult for me to read, and there are many books I just won’t pick up because of the way the rape is portrayed. But I don’t have a blanket policy about it, because some of my most loved books include sexual force. And also, because I differentiate different portrayals of rape in Romance and have a whole theory about the genre is recuperating female power via the trope. But that’s a whole different thing, lol.

As for moral objections generally, I will not read anything where live animals (not penises that have the spirits of animals, a la Nicholas) are used in sex play. I have a moral objection to that, and I’m not afraid to say it.

What I had to adjust to in Romance is the relative conservatism that — at least when I started participating in the online community — seemed to characterize the readership. And I think that in Romance there can be a very strong personal character to reading for many of its readers, which perhaps creates different expectations than in other genres. Which comes across in very strong reader preferences, and even the stated rejection of certain books, and especially certain heroines (which I think we could do many, many posts on;) ), based on their behavior or beliefs. I remember when Susan Donovan’s Public Displays of Affection came out and some readers said they would not read the book because Charlotte, the heroine, had roadside sex with a stranger on her way to meet her boyfriend, knowing he would propose and wanting to experience passion just once before that (and giving her virginity to the stranger). Of course, the “stranger” turns out to be the book’s hero, and the boyfriend the heroine’s dead husband, so relatively speaking, Charlotte wasn’t exactly a “slut,” but she came across that way to some readers, and they would not even give the book a shot. Which is, of course, a reader’s prerogative, but it made me very aware of how much more invested some readers are in liking and approving of Romance protagonists than in other genres. And yeah, I think it may have to do with that sense of the “real” you mention in your comment.

But on some blogs, there definitely is an accountability based on how that blog is sponsored. This has come up on eHarlequin a couple of times. Given the freedom to speak on a publisher’s blog or forum, their authors have, at times, forgotten where they are, and that for all intent and purpose, they are acting as ambassadors for the company when they open their virtual mouths. They may not have asked for that responsibility, but the fact that their names are on the publisher’s books and they’re speaking on the publisher’s site, their comments and opinions can be viewed as the voice of the company. And there’s an accountability that goes along with that.

Same goes for aspiring authors. If you’re submitting to a publisher and are blogging on their site, you best be talking as though you’re in a job interview. Because believe it or not, I’ve seen careers and prospective careers ruined for people who have forgotten that.