The LionStar Visits with Sito Negron on KHRO 1650am

I had a chance to be a guest on Music & Politics with Sito Negron on 1650am Wednesday morning. A big thanks to Sito for having me on and recognizing the importance of discussing blogs, their influence, and their place on the internet.

 

With the departure of Barbara Perez there has been a lot of chatter on the internet and on the other talk shows as to the reason why she left. During the chatter and discussion, the subject of blogs arose. Being a fairly prolific blogger myself, I thought I’d spend some time with Sito (editor of NewsPaper Tree found at www.NewsPaperTree.com) talking about the phenomenon of blogging.

 

Just to give you some background, blogging started in the mid to late 1990’s. The term web log was coined in 1997 by a guy named Jorn Barger. Another guy, Peter Merholz, shortened the term to blog, shortly thereafter. Originally it was a log of visitors to a website or a list of websites visited, depending on the usage and was primarily unique to the geek community.

 

But the concept of what we now call a “blog” has developed simultaneously throughout the digital world from people that used the concept of a weblog to create an online diary or journal. Being the voyeuristic culture that we are, more and more people started to read the online journals and eventually wanted to participate themselves.

 

This led to what is now the most explosive amount of information since the creation of the internet. Everyone wants to put their thoughts, feelings, opinions, and ideas on the internet, including yours truly.

 

But one of the greatest assets of a blog is also its greatest weakness…blogs are raw and unfiltered. Its like any conversation. Discussion is great and important, but sometimes raw and unfiltered discussion can be controversial, hurt feelings, or create dissention. Sometimes they can inform, motivate, entertain, and inspire.

 

But like any discussion, it is a two way street. Both parties have a certain level of responsibility. If the reader doesn’t like what’s being written, they can send a message to the author by not visiting the site any longer. Bloggers or Bloggists (“Blogger” is the name of an actual blogging platform so people are migrating away from that term) have a responsibility to maintain a certain level of responsibility and credibility with their readers. If they don’t, they lose their readers.

 

It’s a lot like talk radio. People notice the crazies or controversial at first, but it’s the people that have credibility with their audience, and the biggest audience, that end up sticking around. And like talk-radio, it is NOT meant to be a news source. Both talk shows and blogs contain information and are good sources for information but are largely editorial in nature. You will get strong opinions in both places. In fact, sometimes stuff breaks on talk radio and blogs. But you should know what you are getting into when you go to a blog.

 

There are a lot of legitimate criticisms about the blogging phenomenon and with specific blogs, including my own. My blog is not, nor do I assert it to be, perfect. But what I can’t stand is to hear people paint all blogs with a broad brush. I hate statements like blogs are trash, or they aren’t worth reading. That’s elitist talk, similar to saying that someone’s opinion is trash or not worth hearing.

 

If you have a bad experience with a restaurant you will do one of three things, a) nothing, b) complain, c) never go back to that restaurant. But most people won’t stop going to restaurants entirely. Most people won’t say all restaurants are trash or not worth visiting. Their criticism, valid or otherwise, will be directed at a specific restaurant. Some people will like the food, some people will hate it. The restaurant’s survival depends on whether they can have enough regular business to sustain the effort.

 

That’s a lot like blogging. The crazies and controversial get noticed, but the ones that stick around are the ones that build credibility with their audience. They entertain and inform, just like talk radio. They satisfy a hunger and craving just like a restaurant.

 

Blogging & Message Boards – There is a Difference

 

A blog is usually a single, or very few authors, and is based on posts. A post is usually an article-style or article-length piece written on any subject.

 

A message board is a little different. A message board is a place where there is more discussion involving several users simultaneously. The discussion is usually more wide open because there are more people in the room as it were, and the conversation is usually based on a “thread”. You can go into one thread, read what’s going on, join the conversation, and then go check out another thread. A great example is the forum hosted by local talk radio giant, Paul Strelzin (www.TheStrelz.com). There are a couple of crazies there, but for the most part, it is a great exchange of some of the most in-the-know people in El Paso. I know for a fact that there are a lot of elected officials, media personalities, and powers that be, that check it out. They don’t always post something, but trust me when I tell you, they are watching.

 

A little creepy now that I think about it…

 

Picture it this way, a blog is like a conversation between two or three people. Like a radio talk show that has a host, maybe a guest or two and one caller at a time. A message board is like a mixer. Several people all talking at the same time, in different groups, about a range of issues.

 

They are different and it’s important that people understand that crucial point.

 

Anonymity in Blogging, Message Boards, & Letters

 

One of the biggest criticisms of blogging and message boards is anonymity. Some people say that it is cowardly that posts can be written using a fictitious identity or screen name.

 

I think that to some degree, that is a valid criticism, but I must say that most posters on forums like the Strelz post responsibly. It’s pretty well self-policed by the users. Trust me, we have no problem challenging one another!

 

It’s also easier to be more candid about things when you don’t have to fear reprisal. That’s not being a coward. Reality, especially in a small town like El Paso with several political cliques, you almost have to sometimes.

 

But that kind of practice isn’t something new in this country. Many of our founding fathers were world-class ghost writers and spent a lot of time writing under a pseudonym. Ben Franklin wrote as Mrs. Silence Dogood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silence_Dogood) Google it or check out any middle school history book and you’ll be amazed. These guys, some of whom are now on our currency, often hated each other’s guts and wrote some really personal shots. Most of the time, they saved their best stuff for good ole’ King George.

 

Although the El Paso Times doesn’t publish anonymous letters to the Editor, I know that it’s a pretty easy thing to do if you want to have a letter published under a different name. Whenever I’ve had a letter published, all I had to do was fill out a form online, enter my name, email address, and phone number and that’s it. Seems like it’d be pretty easy task to make up a fake name, creating a new email account takes about five minutes, and you’d only have to remember the name you used when the Times calls to verify. So if someone wanted to hide their identity when writing a letter to the Editor, it’s not like its rocket science or something.

 

Owning Your Words

 

If you author a blog, you have to be responsible for your words. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have to say what you think or feel. It just means you have to be prepared for the consequences, and I am okay with that. If you talk about someone in your blog and they don’t like it, expect a nasty phone call, email, or cold shoulder. You probably won’t be on their Christmas card list anymore either.

 

The thing about my blog is that it can get pretty rough here, I know. But I don’t write ANYTHING that I wouldn’t say to someone’s FACE. I might be many things, but a chicken shit isn’t one of them. Anyone who knows me if well aware of the fact that I have no problem telling an elected official, candidate, off-spring of a candidate, political operative, board member, radio show host, department head, lobbyist, party hack or even my parish priest (sorry Father Leo) exactly what I think.

 

It’s cost me my job and affected my career, but you have to brave enough to speak truth to power.

 

Rant About Courage (Not really related to the rest of this post)

 

Maybe I took it a little too personal on the radio on Wednesday, but I have a problem with people calling in and insinuating that someone is a coward because they “hide” behind a screen name. I proudly served my country for seven years and did two combat tours before I was old enough to buy a beer. I’m not saying I am some kind of superhero, just that I did my part for God and Country. I was scared out of my ass in combat. I did my job and probably even cried afterward if I remember right. So having survived that, I am not in the least bit scared of writing my blog, hurting someone’s little feelings, or getting a political payback (okay, maybe payback worries me a little).

 

Getting Back to Restaurants & Talk Radio

 

Visiting a restaurant is voluntary, no one forces you and your life doesn’t depend on it. Neither is going to a blog.

 

But just like selecting your favorite restaurant or talk radio show, it’s all about trial and error. You like some right away, you hate some right away, others grow on you after a while.

 

At any rate, El Paso has some of the best restaurants, talk radio shows, and blogs around. Sample as many as you can.

 

Buen Provecho.

Confessing a Secret I was “Desperate” to Keep

Ok, I will admit it. It has taken me a really long time to realize it, and even longer to admit that I have a problem. But I clearly do.

 

Sometimes it’s just easier for me to admit something here, to all of you, than it is to open up to those close to me. But in order to start the healing, I have to start somewhere.

 

I love it. I have to have it. I will do almost anything to get it. I had to go without it for a little while and I thought I’d never make it. I found myself looking all over the place to get me a fix. I tried video stores and the internet. But it was just never enough.

 

The addiction started a couple of years ago. I didn’t even want to try it at first, but peer pressure is tough. I was told, come on, try it just once. You will love it. It’ll make you feel sooo good!

 

So I tried it. I thought trying it just once wouldn’t hurt. I mean, you can get addicted the first time can you? I thought it would make me cool. It was an easy way to hang out with some hot chicks.

 

I tried to hide my secret for so long, not letting anyone know about my addiction. I enjoyed it alone and never told anyone about my weekly habit. My family just thought I was in my room, watching sports or something, but they never knew the real truth. My dirty little secret.

 

What would my family and loved ones say? The shame of my parents finding out seemed unbearable. I found myself willing to do anything to keep my secret. You might say I was “Desperate” to keep it. 

 

Luckily, this past Sunday, they came back to me. All of them, Bree, Susan, Lynette, Gabrielle, and Edie. I missed them dearly!

 

But now I am reading to confess it to you all, my Dear Readers. Maybe I can start on the path to recovery if you all will support me in this battle. I am now read to say it loud and say it proud…

 

I LOVE DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES!!!

 

The writer’s strike is over and these women have returned to my Sunday nights. All is right with the world again!

 

 

 

Ssshhhhhh! This is our little secret right? You won’t tell anyone will you?

Pope Benedict XVI Meets with Victims of Clergy Abuse

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI went off the script and met privately with a group of victims of sexual abuse by priests during his first visit to the United States.

 

The meeting marked a crucial first step in beginning the healing process for Catholics who’ve been abused, and those of us who haven’t been abused but are tired of the Church trying to cover-up the scandal.

 

As a Roman Catholic and former Alter Boy, I was raised to respect the cloth. But like many people, I learned along the way that clergy are people and therefore capable of making mistakes and sometimes horrible deeds. Is it all of them that are guilty of abuse? No, of course not. Its only a very small minority, but the Church has made a monumental mistake in how they chose to deal with the situation.

 

The Church should’ve engaged the issue immediately and made an example of the offending priests to show that it would not be tolerated. Not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because a Sheppard has a duty to protect his flock!

 

Bishop Ochoa should be a proactive leader of his flock and deal with the issue head-on. El Paso has thousands of faithful and devout Catholics. Dealing with the issue won’t turn away the faithful, it will galvanize us. It will let us know that our faith in the Church and it’s hierarchy is not misplaced.

 

Here are the numbers on sexual abuse (according to NBC Nightly News):

 

11,000 allegations of abuse by 4,400 priests over a 50 year span. So far, the Church has paid billions in monetary damages.

Speaking of Religion…

Am I the only one that is a little bothered by the government going in to Eldorado, Texas and snatching up all those kids so clumsily?

This is America people! Didn’t the Pilgrims come here to ESCAPE religious persecution? And where the hell is the religious right on this one? They don’t seem to want to touch this with a ten-foot Bible.

 

Here’s my take on it. Sexual abuse should not be tolerated…ever. Forcing someone to marry when they should be worrying about finishing the 7^th grade, who’s going to be voted off American Idol, bugging about a new cell phone, or bootlegging music off the internet behind their parents’ back, is completely wrong! Let them be kids. Prosecute the scum bags to the fullest!

 

BUT, if there are consenting adults that CHOOSE to enter a polygamist marriage in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I think they should be allowed to.

 

It’s their funeral. Personally I can’t understand why a guy would want more than one wife. That’s too many people telling me what to do. Can you imaging that guys “Honey-Do” list? Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Birthdays alone would be enough to drive a man insane.

 

But there should be a couple of requirements. First, all parties have to consent to the marriage in writing. Second, if they CHOOSE to be in a polygamist marriage, then they should not be able to receive public assistance. If you can’t afford the lifestyle, we shouldn’t have to foot the bill.

 

Just my two cents.