Blogging... and Opinions. Because Everyone Has One!
I find it both fascinating and a little strange how people I don't know all that well "generously" like to tell me all about what sort of content people like to read online... and what doesn't appeal to anyone.
This is typically information offered quite voluntarily, when someone learns that I am a writer, and keeper of several active blogs.
Apparently... I am missing the boat because "nobody" actually reads blogs, anymore.
Whereas part of me can attest to the fact that there's at least a subtext of truth in that assertion, blogging is still very much alive, thank you very much!
Which leaves me reflecting on the fact that there's a huge difference between what pundits in think tanks claim is happening, and what is actually happening at Street Level, USA (and the rest of the world).
As we slowly close in on the USA Presidential election, the whole idea of "truth" and "the facts" are very much part of the daily dialogue in many places.
Ironically, a lot of people still seem to confuse their opinion and facts, much like those two are interchangeable, in some way.
Which, of course, they are not.
Even so, "truth" seems to become more and more fluid and dependent on the perspective of the observer, in any given moment. Oh, wait... that's opinion, not truth...
Closer to home, a friend — who's definitely not ignorant or stupid — was sharing the infamous police body cam video that supposedly "proves" that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating people's pets.
Which is actually a lie.
So I had to do the background research to show my friend that the video is actually more than a month old, comes from the city of Canton Ohio — 170 miles from Springfield — and depicts a drug crazed US citizen who's mentally ill.
But somebody had to take it out of context and fabricate a story that would serve their opinion. The truth cannot be found anywhere near that story...
I believe it was William Shakespeare who stated that "Even the Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose."
I find it rather sad — and occasionally difficult — to navigate this world that is so often guided by lies and misrepresentations. Particularly in politics.
It's interestingly ironic that my journey here on Steemit started precisely because the "other" world of social media was getting so ridiculous and strident and combative that I just didn't want to be part of it, anymore.
And so, I started blogging here, instead of trying to argue with people on Facebook...
It was a good decision! I enjoy the relatively peaceful surroundings here... almost eight years (and two Presidential elections) later.
But that's just my opinion!
Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful Sunday!
How about you? Do you feel like people sometimes confuse their opinions with the facts? Particularly when it comes to politics? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!
(All text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is ORIGINAL CONTENT, created expressly for this platform — Not posted elsewhere!)
Created at 2024.09.15 01:47PDT
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I think there are trends and then absolutes. You can’t say nobody does anything rly. I think less people read long blogs these days but not nobody. For me it has to be on something I am actually interested in. I find it weird how ppl have such strong opinions on what must be done on these sites or what is ‘valuable’. It’s holding them all back Imo. I understand direct palgerising like literally stealing someone’s content and calling it your own otherwise I think the community should simply decide what they do and don’t like. When they become too controlling they ruin the sites. I’ve had ppl come at me for not writing stuff with my art but sometimes I just don’t want to. Sometimes you just paint something and you just don’t have a long essay to put with it, I do notice some ppl just write stuff for the sake of writing with art on here or photos. You can tell when there was something that needed to be said versus someoen wrote it because they felt they had to put some words to it Imo. I’ve also been criticised for sharing short videos which, actually take me a long time to make and some ppl love shorts. They are not lazy at all. I find it weird how judgmental ppl are on these platforms when it comes to content being in the exact for they personally like it versus accepting everyone likes different things. I do think that the sites should get better at hosting video tho. I wish d tube would get itself together
There used to be a sarcastic saying
if its on TV it's real
now we have people saying the same thing about the internet.
I used to enjoy ALF as i was growing up, maybe he could be the next US president?
Well, atleast few people like me still reads blog and have much interest on the message if it's interesting.
And about the media and their lies to fit in their agenda..., I think it's a general phsycho , we see that on daily basics here in Nigeria.