Ignorant Historian

Okay, here’s the idea I thought about while traveling home from California. It’s partly inspired by one my favorite assignments when I was in middle school: to write a point/counterpoint on a particular subject. I did this for 8th grade history about whether or not women should vote, and my teacher said that he actually believed me when I was writing about why women shouldn’t vote! I find that forcing yourself to study both sides of the argument either makes you realize that you were wrong or helps you to develop your point to make a stronger argument.

Anyway, I won’t necessarily be doing this on any regular schedule, but I think it will be a great way to try to understand both sides of whatever issue that I’m addressing. Each topic will have three points: Point, Counterpoint, and Conclusion. I will attempt in the Point and Counterpoint sections to be as fair to the argument as possible so that someone who takes that stand would agree with everything I say. In the conclusion part I’ll actually tell you what I feel about the subject and offer some personal color and hopefully some balance to the issue.

I hope that this will prompt a meaningful discussion the issues. If you have something that you think I should address, feel free to let me know!

Now that I’ve thoroughly confused you, I’m going to get started. What better topic with which to start such a venture on a blog than blogging? Here goes!

Point: Blogging is a worthwhile activity.

Though blogging is a relatively new phenomenon, it is an important part of the modern culture. Blogging has several benefits both for the blogger and the blog reader allowing them to be better human beings.

Blogging provides the author of a blog an outlet to express his emotions and to think through what he is feeling, much like journaling. The added bonus is that he gets feedback on these emotions which will help him realize he is not alone or maybe even that he is only looking at one side of the situation.

Because blogging is a form of writing, it allows the author to enhance his writing skills. Blogging provides an arena to practice writing as well as the opportunity to read the writings of others which can further improve your writing skills. Aspiring authors can write blogs not only to improve their craft but to draw attention to their unique style. This type of writing allows the writer to not only write but to hear feedback about his writing.

Blogging is also a great way to promote causes. The writing in cyberspace may possibly be read by those locally, nationally, or internationally. The audience can receive the writing and consider joining or supporting the cause discussed. Thanks to search engines, posts can be targeted to those who are looking for more information about the subject at hand thereby making an impact on the global discussion of the topic.

To blog is a great hobby as it is free or low-cost and can take as little as a few minutes each week to several hours, depending on the level of commitment. This type of flexibility allows the blogger to pick up where he left off whenever he has freetime once again. Since there are no special tools needed apart from a computer connected to the Internet, it can be a hobby that can be tested without fear of wasting money on equipment that will soon be discarded.

By blogging it is possible to create or maintain a community of friends. Through this online media, it is possible to meet people that are like the blogger himself or even those that he would have nothing to do with in real-life. By connecting with others, the blogger is being a social being and actively particpating in the human race. Blogging can also be a means to keep in contact with friends that are no longer geographically close.

There are many benefits of blogging, not only to the blogger but also to the blog reader. Hopefully blogging will be an outlet of many for years to come.

Counterpoint: Blogging is not worthwhile.

Conclusion: Blogging is a worthwhile activity, within reason.