Small things can cause us to doubt what we’ve always held true, but we can’t let it get to us! Comments are still exactly what they were really intended to be- a way for authors and readers to connect on a personal level. Controversy is still for shock-value— when used as a tool, we have to keep in mind that it’s not real. Let’s not abandon “good” for “controversial”, but how about “good” for “real”.

Don’t be cynical, and don’t look at blogging as a “waste of time”… this too shall pass!

Danelle Ice (Homemaker Barbi)

I think blogs are great for people who like to write. A lot of non-writers were trying to blog because it was “good for business.”

I also think Twitter makes it easier for the casual blogger to share links and ideas with out the cumbersome nature of a blog post. I used to blog 3-5 times a week. Now I tweet all the time and do an occasional blog post on a big idea.

My blog audience is sparse, but blogging is a way for me to keep writing and building up ideas for future reference.

The principle of creating content has not changed, though there are more options for distribution today. The better the content you create, the better your chances at success.

I think you’re being cynical about being controversial. I think the crux of it is not the controversy, but the freshness of voice. There are plenty of people out there who are controversial and have no success, because they’re not also worth listening to. If you try to start unqualified controversy, you end up looking like a troll. But if you know what you’re talking about, can back it up, and still sound controversial — that’s a whole different ballgame, because you’re really adding something.

You’re also being cynical about commenting and blogging, but only sort of. You’re right to be skeptical of the tactics, and I’m 100% with you on the false confidence of jumping on the bandwagon of the flashy new tools without thinking long and hard about WHY… but you can push that too far the other way too.

Commenting and blogging is only as important as the message. There are new tactics, new norms, new technologies… but it’s all the same old stuff at the end of the day. Your suggestion to reinvest in the product is a smart one, but you do still have to communicate; just communicate honestly.

I don’t think your blog needs to be “interesting” or “have a twist” necessarily; the point is that you need to match your tactical execution to a strategy derived from your objectives.

It is totally valid to write a blog for your 12 friends. It is totally valid to write a blog to work on vetting your own ideas, and anyone who reads it and doesn’t like it can just go to hell.

But you’re pragmatic — and right — about a lot of this. Blogging IS totally different now. It ISN’T 2004 anymore.

But then again, what exactly what so special about 2004? Some of the early adopters are doing quite well, but the vast majority are not. Some “famous bloggers” end up working 100 hour weeks and pulling in low 5 figure salaries, anyway. There’s nothing magical or mysterious about any of this … it’s all BUSINESS.

The media business has been shaken up, and is still being shaken up, but the media business IS NOT the be all end all of the business world. The only thing I’m truly cynical about is the number of people who talk but don’t do. Everything else is OK in my book