Both bloggers and non-bloggers can plainly see that Doug's outlash against bloggers is only a cheap way for him to keep his job, to maintain his value to his publisher.
The Inquirer is wasting their money. They should let Doug go today and hire a blogger who will do work of equal-value and expertise for less money, or perhaps even for free.
If Doug has trouble searching Google for information because of blogs, as he complained, then a blogger who understands blogs and Google should clearly be his replacement.
The future of society is open source. There will be no walls, obviously, as everything in society is becoming networked. Blogging was simply part of this trend, but in the future everything, including private companies and organizations, will be open.
The new age of information and the networked world has changed everything from business models to hiring practices, and it will continue to do so throughout this century and beyond. See the books, below, for more detailed information.
You can read Doug's comments on this post, below or click here. Is he afraid of being replaced by a blogger, or simply unaware of blog-based publications equally as good or better than The Inquirer? You decide.
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
Not really on-topic, but stemming from it - why would Wil Wheaton get a three-book deal because of his blog? I don't see any particularly spectacular examples of writing there. I think he more got the deal because he's still a name of sorts, not because he's actually a talented writer (not that he's bad, just that he's run of the mill, like most of us.)
2 - John Mudd
His name probably has a great deal to do with his book deal, but without his blog, no one would have ever thought of him as a writer. It's possible that more people would read a column written by Will Wheaton than by Dave Mohney, though, because of Wheaton's popularity, even though Mohney's writing ability may, in fact, exceed Wheaton's.
3 - Doug Mohney
Dear Mudd--
1) It's Doug, not Dave.
2) So much for "informed research" and being out of touch.
3) Not to mention the other B'logger who went and echoed the wrong name.
4) So are you going to post a correction with the proper name, or just keep your spew as-is where is? Oooh, can't retract a REPEATED INACCURACY eh?
5) When did Blogs become as American as Apple pie? Silly human.
6) Letter to editor. Ever heard of it? "No, I'll post it on my Blog and it will magically B'heard!"
To borrow the English phrase... Twit.
4 - Mac Diva
I like the way you stand up for yourself, Doug. It reminds me of someone I know well . . . me. And, not everyone around here hates you. I'm adding the Inquirer to my source list for when I write about tech issues.
Tom, I met Wheaton and wrote a pretty sympathetic entry about him on my blog. He was just as smug as a hen who just layed an egg. He doesn't realize he is not a good writer. However, considering the troubles of many former child stars, the boy is doin' alright.
The publisher for Wheaton's first so-called book was one of the those 'publish on demand' setups, i.e., establish a certain number of pre-orders and we will publish that number of books. Perhaps that is what is going on with Blogger's three book deal.
5 - John Mudd
I'm glad you're so self-important, Dave, Doug, whatever your name is. After all, someone should think you're important, and while few, if any here probably do, they probably don't think you're quite as important as you think you are.
I won't waste my time changing your name, even though it is possible. I just don't think you're that important, or even deserving, considering the condescending tone of your post.
Don't take it personally, Dave. Or, do take it personally. Write a column about it. Although, if my opinion gets you that bent out of shape, perhaps you should consider the effects your opinion have before putting them in print.
Cheers.
6 - Mac Diva
Doug, if you think these people are being touchy, you should look at the Amazon reviews for books about blogs. They are often rancorous. What I feel is a phony sense of competition among bloggers may be the real downfall of the practice.
7 - John Mudd
This post has been updated for PageRank purposes.
Cheers.
8 - Doug Mohney
I'm so amused at the personal attacks that get read and processed by the same incestious circles of group think...
"I think Doug should lose his Job."
Would you say that to my face? My editor's face? Noope.
But on the Blog SoapBox, a long and winded rant with a couple of URLs makes you An Expert.
Gads. Just close the door to the closet of the fraternity already...
9 - John Mudd
Doug, you would be surprised. I have lobbied publishers and editors before to have incompetent reporters fired and re-assigned for what was simply bad reporting. I didn't feel that your column gave blogs or bloggers a fair shake and in this country I am free to voice, or type my displeasure of it. However, to prove my point to you and your editor, I'm willing to wager that if I were to write a column for your publication that I would get more readers and a better response. Here's your chance to prove yourself right or make me eat my own words. Please contact me or have your editor contact me if you are interested. By the way, I never called myself a blog expert. The media gave me that wonderfully gracious title.
Cheers.