Blogs for whites only?!
In reference to the article posted on xxblog.com called “The African American Blogging Thing” available at http://xxblog.com/index.php/archives/2004/08/31/the-african-american-blogging-thing/ :
I don’t understand the actual argument; it seems the author is truly surprised that working-class women and blacks are not online. I know it’s a bit stereotypical, but if you’re trying to examine those in the population that aren’t blogging I think it is as simple as looking at those subcategories of America that have the least amount of time to sit around and blog. The author blames the women and the civil rights movements for the inactivity, when in actuality it is those movements attempting to advance both subgroups that are the only ones helping.
Besides, I do not think it is as detrimental to the general cyber-sphere as the author implies. The internet is still in its infancy and there is plenty of room for growth.
4 Comments:
I agree. The Internet, specfically blogging, is very new to many, and with time, you will see more diversity.
Exactly! I feel like we should just tell everyone to settle down and give it some time... build it and they will come!
That's great in theory, but isn't it disingenuous to think we can avoid responsibility by claiming that time will take care of the situation? Isn't that like saying "Hold tight people, eventually our schools will just naturally desegregate" rather than taking real action to fix the situation?
As far as "build it and they will come" goes, research has shown that people of different classes, abilities, genders, and races use technology differently. The reason so many girls don't play video games is because video games are creating by men, for men. So if you want "them to come," you need "them" to help build it too.
Great points gaurag, and thanks for your comments.
But I don't agree with your metaphor... Keeping with your comparison, I'm not saying we should allow schools to be segregated and simply tell blacks to wait patiently for equal rights. Actually what I'm saying is quite the opposite!
I tried to convey (in my original post) that people expect everything - positive results - far too quickly! It's like saying that the day after the civil rights legislation was passed that the movement was over; which could not have been further from the truth, revolutions (on and off-line) take time.
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