Against Instant Publishing
August 28, 2005
Although I and The New Pantagruel use web-based publishing software designed principally for blogs, with a hearty antiliberal spirit we reject the much-heralded and highly over-rated “anyone can comment” instant-pundit functions of the worldwide web and “blogs” in particular. It is an ongoing source of puzzlement to me why this anomalous choice–regarding this blog or others with similar constraints–has, to my knowledge, neither offended nor puzzled anyone, including the numerous bloggers who read and respond to me and tNP by email.
Perhaps it is because so many print-based publications that have developed an online presence have seldom–and only slowly–opened up comment functions and other “interactive” newfangledness. tNP has always intentionally imitated traditional print media in many ways, including the removal of the comment function. Perhaps because many bloggers know the travail of removing comment and trackback spam, they realize that many others simply don’t wish to deal with spammers at all and so disable “interactive” features accordingly. Optimistically, I like to think that many readers realize that publications like tNP are wise to slow down and carefully mediate their own small part of the “public sphere,” because this fosters and protects insightful reflection and writing–things that only come with time and effort. If we are “elitist” it is to protect and encourage quality. In this respect, I think we have been rather successful.
It is on that note that I wish to announce that “trackback” functions have been enabled on my blog for some time and will be enabled at tNP in the near future. We are also proceeding with the development of “Gargantua’s Mouth,” a multi-author group blog with full comment and trackback functions enabled–and closely monitored.
This is Against Instant Publishing in The Japery, a part of The New Pantagruel. Previously: The Play Called the Great PP | Next: “Bush,” the God Who Failed | TrackBack (0) | Comments (0)
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