[Mitch]

Bethany Halford needs your thoughts on an opinion piece for C&EN regarding chemistry blogs. So if you are reading this, by definition you are at least a chemical blog reader and maybe a chemical blogger too and eligible to contribute your thoughts to her article.

Bethany makes her request as the 44th comment of a 4-day old blog post at thechemblog. I doubt most people are use to navigating that deeply into old blog entries, so here is her comment.

Comment by Bethany Halford
2007-01-09 22:16:40

Since Kyle’s graciously provided this open thread, I was wondering if you all could help me with a little experiment in science journalism: reporting via the comments section of a blog.

So, I’m writing an opinion piece on chemistry blogs, and I’d like to know two things from all you bloggers:

1) Why do you blog?

2a) For all of you who write a blog under your own name, why did you opt to do so rather than use a pseudonym? And does your adviser/boss/employer know about it?

2b) For all of you who write a blog under a pseudonym, why did you opt to do so rather than use your real name? And does your adviser/boss/employer know about it?

Commenters without blogs should feel free to chime in, although if you’re commenting anonymously, it would be helpful if you did so under a name other than Anonymous.

If you prefer, you can contact me personally at b_halford (at) acs (dot) org

Thanks, Bethany Halford (Associate Editor, C&EN)

Link to Quote: http://www.thechemblog.com/?p=360#comment-1889

So if you have something you want to say and help contribute to her article, drop her a line at the e-mail listed above or simply leave it in the comments section of thechemblog.

Note 1: I'll probably send something, but I won't leave it in thechemblog's comment section.
Note 2: Egon's response: http://chem-bla-ics.blogspot.com/2007/01/why-do-i-blog.html

Edit 1: Decided not to submit anything.
Edit 2: So, I did decide to answer.

Mitch[/size]

[Beth Halford]

Thanks Mitch.

[Mitch]

No problem.

[Beth Halford]

Why did you decide not to comment?

[Mitch]

I just didn't think anyone would be interested in what I had to say. But, I'll just answer the questions anyways here.

1) I initially started blogging to generate more traffic to Chemical Forums, because I still think Chemical Forums is a much cooler website than any silly blog. But, now I've ended up actually enjoying blogging and the sense of community between the other bloggers and frequent commenters. It is always fun to throw a post on my blog relating something I found cool in the literature, or about my research, or just something interesting chemically related I found on the internet. Plus, it is an addictive form of procrastination.

2a) Using my real name keeps me more honest, reflective, and judicious with what I write. Anonymous bloggers can get away with trashing a paper or ripping into a professor without the fear of reprisals, but public lynchings add little to the professional conversation when there are other ways to make the same point. My boss is vaguely aware that I have an internet presence.

[Ψ×Ψ]

heyyy.  not all anonymous bloggers are interested in generating scandal!  can't we all just get along?

[Mitch]

Of course not you. I'm just saying they could if they wanted too.

[Donaldson Tan]

Haha.. Mitch is so cheeky..