http://www.bloggerheads.com/archives/2007/10/iain_dale_focal/ Tim Ireland on tabloids, media, blogs and politics Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:32:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.bloggerheads.com/archives/2007/10/iain_dale_focal/comment-page-1/#comment-25633 Lobster Blogster Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:36:41 +0000 http://www.bloggerheads.com/wp/2007/10/iain_dale_focal/#comment-25633 Ever heard the phrase:"Slowly, slowly, catchee monkey" ?I've just caught two over at Lobster Blogster :-)<a href="http://lobsterblogster.blogspot.com/2007/10/evenin-all.html" rel="nofollow">http://lobsterblogster.blogspot.com/2007/10/eveni...</a> Ever heard the phrase:"Slowly, slowly, catchee monkey" ?I've just caught two over at Lobster Blogster :-)http://lobsterblogster.blogspot.com/2007/10/eveni...

]]> http://www.bloggerheads.com/archives/2007/10/iain_dale_focal/comment-page-1/#comment-25632 Jherad Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:50:42 +0000 http://www.bloggerheads.com/wp/2007/10/iain_dale_focal/#comment-25632 It is kind of interesting watching how Iain's blog (and attitude to blogging) has evolved. I mentioned a while ago that it has become more of a megaphone than a blog, and he does seem to be intent on using it more as a vehicle of propaganda (and information control) than discussion.Iain has a large audience now, and (imho) is intent on keeping the appearance of a blog going, whilst massaging the comments into 'canned applause' in order keep the sheep believing that most right-minded people think like he does.Now, I'm bright enough to know that many political blogs, both on the right and left, frame terms of debate carefully, via article content, in order to lead readers down the garden path to an 'obvious' conclusion or philosophy. What sets the likes of Dale and Guido apart though is their policy on comment. On other sites, off-message comments are simply ignored and left unanswered, whereas it appears Iain applies a form of negationism. It isn't hard to spot however, which makes me wonder just why readers still take him seriously. Echo chambers can be quite alluring.I understand why you're so vehemently against his 'blog'. Trouble is, I don't know if your approach does much more than draw an accusation of stalking from him, along with a cackle from his congregation. It's like pointing out flaws with the news of the screws - you'll either be preaching to the choir, or to people who don't care. It is kind of interesting watching how Iain's blog (and attitude to blogging) has evolved. I mentioned a while ago that it has become more of a megaphone than a blog, and he does seem to be intent on using it more as a vehicle of propaganda (and information control) than discussion.Iain has a large audience now, and (imho) is intent on keeping the appearance of a blog going, whilst massaging the comments into 'canned applause' in order keep the sheep believing that most right-minded people think like he does.Now, I'm bright enough to know that many political blogs, both on the right and left, frame terms of debate carefully, via article content, in order to lead readers down the garden path to an 'obvious' conclusion or philosophy. What sets the likes of Dale and Guido apart though is their policy on comment. On other sites, off-message comments are simply ignored and left unanswered, whereas it appears Iain applies a form of negationism. It isn't hard to spot however, which makes me wonder just why readers still take him seriously. Echo chambers can be quite alluring.I understand why you're so vehemently against his 'blog'. Trouble is, I don't know if your approach does much more than draw an accusation of stalking from him, along with a cackle from his congregation. It's like pointing out flaws with the news of the screws – you'll either be preaching to the choir, or to people who don't care.

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