Comments on: Arrogance & Writing in Self-Center Person http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/ Online marketing blog for advertising agency, in-house & PR professionals Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:32:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Gary http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/comment-page-1/#comment-2977 Gary Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:12:14 +0000 http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/#comment-2977 Business blogging is rife with self-center person. On toddcohen.com, the first page alone has name (not including headers, sidebars, etc,) 34 times, he uses "I" 48 times, and me (21), and my (28). The domain, header, logos are Todd or pictures of Todd, he even calls his podcasts "Toddcasts". All "Todd" all the time... In another, salesguruonline.blogspot.com, there are similar stats: I (61), me (14), my (35), but it's less obviously about the author and more about sales. It's very tedious to sort through self-promoting, self-serving blather on these sites and find something meaningful or truly insightful. Apparently, blogs are like microphones -- having one makes you an expert -- and I guess the attention is addicting for some people as well. Business blogging is rife with self-center person. On toddcohen.com, the first page alone has name (not including headers, sidebars, etc,) 34 times, he uses “I” 48 times, and me (21), and my (28). The domain, header, logos are Todd or pictures of Todd, he even calls his podcasts “Toddcasts”. All “Todd” all the time…

In another, salesguruonline.blogspot.com, there are similar stats: I (61), me (14), my (35), but it’s less obviously about the author and more about sales.

It’s very tedious to sort through self-promoting, self-serving blather on these sites and find something meaningful or truly insightful. Apparently, blogs are like microphones — having one makes you an expert — and I guess the attention is addicting for some people as well.

]]> By: Trisha http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/comment-page-1/#comment-2840 Trisha Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:03:42 +0000 http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/#comment-2840 Either way, you've definitely got your head screwed on straight! =) Either way, you’ve definitely got your head screwed on straight! =)

]]> By: Marty Weintraub http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/comment-page-1/#comment-2839 Marty Weintraub Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:04:45 +0000 http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/#comment-2839 @Trisha: I think you comment is outstanding. One aside, the technique is rather powerful in articles which ARE packed with facts, figures, backup, and external studies. Then, it becomes an entirely different animal than the "propaganda" editorial technique you correctly identified. Thank you for stopping by. @Trisha: I think you comment is outstanding. One aside, the technique is rather powerful in articles which ARE packed with facts, figures, backup, and external studies. Then, it becomes an entirely different animal than the “propaganda” editorial technique you correctly identified. Thank you for stopping by.

]]> By: Trisha http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/comment-page-1/#comment-2838 Trisha Sun, 27 Jan 2008 07:07:58 +0000 http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/#comment-2838 The only downside to this technique is the propensity to write in a passive voice and come off as factual where the information is actually pure opinion. Your average reader would not be able to pick up on the fact what you have written (in this post most especially) is not to be taken as gospel, because you have successfully sold opinion as fact - to the average reader. The critical thinker however, will notice that you have only referenced one other person, but not as a resource. You are not quoting studies or linking to references - which points to the idea you have not come to these conclusions via externalized research. This is technique, in essence, is a different form of propaganda, stemming from the <a href="http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/04/19/check_out_all_the_violence_here_or_how_i_jolt_you_into_submission_to_get_your_money.htm" rel="nofollow">magic words of marketing</a>. Whether you consider this to be a bad or good thing all depends on what you wish to do with this blog. Far be it for me to say the way you write is wrong - perhaps a bit deceptive, but given your demographic I'm sure they can understand your intentions and come to the same conclusions I did. =) The only downside to this technique is the propensity to write in a passive voice and come off as factual where the information is actually pure opinion. Your average reader would not be able to pick up on the fact what you have written (in this post most especially) is not to be taken as gospel, because you have successfully sold opinion as fact – to the average reader.

The critical thinker however, will notice that you have only referenced one other person, but not as a resource. You are not quoting studies or linking to references – which points to the idea you have not come to these conclusions via externalized research.

This is technique, in essence, is a different form of propaganda, stemming from the magic words of marketing.

Whether you consider this to be a bad or good thing all depends on what you wish to do with this blog. Far be it for me to say the way you write is wrong – perhaps a bit deceptive, but given your demographic I’m sure they can understand your intentions and come to the same conclusions I did. =)

]]> By: Mark Dykeman http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/comment-page-1/#comment-2761 Mark Dykeman Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:24:41 +0000 http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/#comment-2761 This resonates with me. I've read Jim Collins with interest. This resonates with me. I’ve read Jim Collins with interest.

]]> By: Marty Weintraub http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/comment-page-1/#comment-2711 Marty Weintraub Mon, 07 Jan 2008 01:58:26 +0000 http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/#comment-2711 @Gyutae: It's possible to write blog posts that are intensely personal, all about the writer's personal perspective, and still be selfless in the vernacular. Of course credit where credit is due is an essential concept. That said, I speak of the colloquial mechanism embodied in SAYING "me, me, I, me" without having to use the words. It's a powerful cocktail and makes for blog posts with tons of personality wrapped up in a modest tone. Writing this way makes the "I's" resonate when you DO use them. It's nice to have you stop by. @ Patrick, thanks for the perspective. @Gyutae: It’s possible to write blog posts that are intensely personal, all about the writer’s personal perspective, and still be selfless in the vernacular.

Of course credit where credit is due is an essential concept. That said, I speak of the colloquial mechanism embodied in SAYING “me, me, I, me” without having to use the words. It’s a powerful cocktail and makes for blog posts with tons of personality wrapped up in a modest tone. Writing this way makes the “I’s” resonate when you DO use them. It’s nice to have you stop by.

@ Patrick, thanks for the perspective.

]]> By: Patrick Allmond http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/comment-page-1/#comment-2710 Patrick Allmond Mon, 07 Jan 2008 01:06:51 +0000 http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/#comment-2710 Definitely 1000% true. This is a rule that all bloggers should live by. Even though you (*I*) am the one producing the content the posts and information should be about and/or for the person reading it. I read blogs so I can get something out of it for me. I don't read them to make you more money or you more productive. http://stopdoingnothing.com Definitely 1000% true. This is a rule that all bloggers should live by. Even though you (*I*) am the one producing the content the posts and information should be about and/or for the person reading it. I read blogs so I can get something out of it for me. I don’t read them to make you more money or you more productive.

http://stopdoingnothing.com

]]> By: Gyutae Park http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/comment-page-1/#comment-2709 Gyutae Park Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:15:50 +0000 http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/#comment-2709 Hey Marty, Great article, but I think you're taking it out of context. In Good to Great, Collins was referring to teams and giving credit where credit was due. However, in terms of blogging, "I" is probably the most important aspect because it's what makes any blog unique and interesting. Without it, all blogs would be the same. Hey Marty,
Great article, but I think you’re taking it out of context. In Good to Great, Collins was referring to teams and giving credit where credit was due. However, in terms of blogging, “I” is probably the most important aspect because it’s what makes any blog unique and interesting. Without it, all blogs would be the same.

]]> By: Marty Weintraub http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/comment-page-1/#comment-2708 Marty Weintraub Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:09:07 +0000 http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/#comment-2708 BTW, here's a post which makes a great case for why the word<a href="http://selfmadechick.com/2008/01/06/the-one-word-that-help-my-blog-grow-to-800-subscribers-in-17-weeks/" rel="nofollow"> "I" SHOULD be used</a> all the time. He He BTW, here’s a post which makes a great case for why the word "I" SHOULD be used all the time. He He

]]> By: Marty Weintraub http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/comment-page-1/#comment-2704 Marty Weintraub Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:07:19 +0000 http://www.aimclearblog.com/2008/01/03/arrogance-writing-in-self-center-person/#comment-2704 Thanks Nick. We appreciate your participation on the aimClear community. Thanks Nick. We appreciate your participation on the aimClear community.

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