Arieanna at ‘blogaholics’ commented recently about the semantics of blogging, scolding herself for using the word ‘content’ too frequently and lamenting that the word ‘post’ by inference means less than

Arieanna at ‘blogaholics’ commented recently about the semantics of blogging, scolding herself for using the word ‘content’ too frequently and lamenting that the word ‘post’ by inference means less than

Using higher status words can be self-aggrandisment and use of the lower status words self-deprecation. Both uses have their place depending on the context.

“Content” though is jargon…

What is writing if not a careful choice of words?

When somebody starts making you say things using more syllables, I usually watch my wallet and/or back.

Though “content” is a pretty repellent term, granted.

Tweet! Tweet!

The OED defines a journalist as:

a person who writes for newspapers or magazines or prepares news or features to be broadcast on radio or television.

Outdated perhaps but it works for me.

Feel free to redefine the terminology for you though ;-)

Arieanna writes Smartmobs: “Some suggest it might help people afraid of “writing” get into writing in a more conversational way. But I say we’re deluding ourselves with words that demean what we do”. The words bloggers use to self-reference need…

Does talking about “blogging”, “posts” and “content” intimidate the very people that the self-publishing revolution hopes to enlist?

Or is there something about those terms that’s a little friendlier than the ones they replace? I’ve talked to people who are terrified of the idea of writing for publication, even self-publication. “Writing” is something that “Writers” do, while blogging might feel more like a casual conversation.

It might well be that a divide emerges between people who just want to participate in that casual conversation, and will continue to call it blogging, and those who want to be held to a more exacting standard — and who want it to come with a whole ‘nother nomenclature.