Holden already posted about the study itself, but this piece about the study is such a splendid bit of wood that I had to pull it out for further discussion. By which I mean, Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ:
A majority of Americans do not read political blogs, the online commentaries that have proliferated in the race for the U.S. presidency, according to a poll released on Monday.
Only 22 percent of people responding to the poll said they read blogs regularly, meaning several times a month or more, according to the survey conducted by Harris Interactive.
In the first place, the whole story could have been “one in four Americans reads political blogs, which is … pretty damn good, actually, for a thing that’s really only been a big deal since 2003 or so (when First Draft went online, which as we all know is the date of the birth of the universe and all creatures within it). But no, it’s “most people don’t give a fuck.” Technically true, but … just as easy to go the other way, and with the rampant insecurity and bitchitude going on in journalism today, I gotta say, it’s not hard to see how somebody made that decision.
Then we have “even if people do read blogs,” they SUCK:
Unlike traditional, mainstream media, blogs often adopt a specific point of view. Critics complain they can contain unchecked facts, are poorly edited and use unreliable sources.
What critics? We do not know. The reporter doesn’t tell us. Apparently it’s one of those things, like “the sky is blue” and “Democrats are weak on national security” that is so obvious we don’t need to cite a source of any kind to just blurt it out there and attribute it to “critics.” And all blogs, apparently, are subject to all these complaints. Equally. At once. I take offense. First Draft contains no unchecked facts. In fact, we do our best to contain no facts at all, just insults and cock jokes. And ponies.
Seriously, it’s like TPM’s Polk award never happened. It’s like we don’t link to the gaggle transcript so y’all can see for yourselves if we’re making shit up. It’s like you can’t use your brainmeats to find out if something’s true your own self, just likein the rest of the entire world ever oh my god. You want to see poorly edited?Check this motherfucker out. Ain’t nobody in blogworld got a monopoly on “poorly edited.”
But but but but, blogs REALLY SUCK:
Despite the attention blogs can get, the poll said 56 percent of Americans say they never read blogs that discuss politics. Another 23 percent read them several times a year, the survey showed.
SO THERE, BITCHES. REUTERS UBER ALLES!!!!!
I need a nap now.
A.