Long ago in a land far away, bloggers supported each other not only in comments, but in actual posts. I know this is hard to believe, but it happened right here, on Earth.
For the past year plus, bloggers have swayed away from the beginnings of their crusade across the internet. When the first blogs appeared several years ago, they were seen as ways to write thoughts, suggestions, highlight posts, and give their own analysis on subjects. These blogs were great, they were starting to become competitors of big media in the United States. News was flowing through blogs so quickly, that traditional media decided they too needed to create blogs just to keep up with competition.
And so it began, the race for the quickest news breaking. But, little did traditional news realize what would come next out of blogs–the end of internet courtesy.
Image by All Things Michigan
At first, bloggers would read news from other blogs or websites, post a link to the article and write a short description, plus their own commentary. Soon after the creation of media blogs, others decided the need for pingbacks and trackbacks was no longer there. These bloggers decided it was best to act as if they, themselves were the ones reporting the news even though after little research it was quite obvious the real news was coming from one of the larger corporations like BBC or CNN.
Little did anyone realize the other thirst for news: the accurate, well thought out analysis.
Today, this is still happening but in a larger extent. Instead of disregarding pingbacks and trackbacks to only news organizations, it has extended to other areas on the web. No longer does the majority pingback the awesome picture posted on reddit or Digg. Instead, they steal the picture and place it on their own blog and resubmit it only days later in hopes they will gain the same exposure. The original source is lost soon after and the glory is passed from one source to another.
In terms of information, the very same actions have been taken. Instead of linking to the awesome post about cheese, a blogger simply steals the content, regurgitates it as little as possible, and hopes to receive the same fame. The process itself is immoral and disgusting. But it goes even further…
Blogs which are stuck in the past of pinging and trackbacking posts are seen as “splogs” by industry leaders. Yes, it has gone this far. One would think since they are the ones gaining the most exposure that they are the ones losing out most, but this is not so. In many cases, the industry leaders themselves are the splogs regurgitating without the use of pingbacks or trackbacks.
Original and unique content has almost come to an end. However, there is hope.
Readers have shown time and time again that unique content is what they crave. When a new blog or website is born with great information, they flock in droves to view what is new and great. This is the hope of the internet. This is the last great stand we as bloggers hold against the real ’splogs’. Shall we defeat them, or shall we give up and fall to the axis of evil?
Written: Nov 30, 2008
Bas - Istanbul Expat
November 30, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
Maybe it’s the end of intellectual ownership.
Armen Shirvanian
December 1, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
There sure is a large amount of redistribution of items that were news from one source at one time. One book I was looking at was talking about moochers and contributors, which matches up with my idea that one is either contributing to a community or taking from it. The process of absorbing the viewership from popular/newsworthy content, without adding substance to it, is not one that is sustainable in a fulfilling fashion, and so individuals tend to depart from this process after a period of using it.
ethan
December 3, 2008 @ 7:28 pm
Regurgitation and endless vomiting is all it is. Gone with the courtesy is the originality that was once enjoyed as well.
Shari Thomas
December 7, 2008 @ 11:13 pm
That is why all that I write is completely original and unique content. Yes, it takes me a little longer, and that leaves a little less time for “marketing”, but I value word-of-mouth, or referrals.
Personally, IMHO that our education system has much to do with the “steal, copy, paste, claim as your own” syndrome.
Texas Wanderer
January 6, 2009 @ 12:34 am
Well stated, Imp.