In Defense Of Blogging

Just a quick thought about blogs in general.

For the most part, I started (and continue to maintain) this record for the cathartic release it allows me. I'm more than happy to share my thoughts with whoever happens to stumble across it. If anything, the hits from Spain, Chile, Canada, and Australia have made me realize that the world is a much smaller place then when Magellan tried to circumnavigate the globe.

Regardless, I've come to realize that our musings have the potential to unintentionally become symbols for something much larger than what we ever thought was possible.

Take, for instance, four anonymous bloggers in Smyra, Delaware. Their blog railed against a local councilman, Patrick Cahill, and alleged, among other things, mental incapacities and homosexual tendencies on Cahill's part. He sued Comcast Cable, charging defamation and demanded the release of the four blogger's identities. The respondent, Public Citizen (a modern day Publius of sorts), maintained that his First Amendment Rights were equally valid despite the complete lack of utility his state contributes to our republic. And yes, that includes Joe Biden.

So, the case made its way through the court system and was heard before the state's Supreme Court. In a victory for the First Amendment and the right to say anything, no matter how stupid, useless, or hateful, Public Citizen won.

The second story is more sobering and, in fact, sent chills up my spine when I first read about it a couple of days ago.

I haven't researched it enough to know names, but the basic facts are these:

Some guy with a blog, apparently a college kid, sat down to talk about how he had missed several classes the previous week. He typed that there was somebody at the door; turns out to be his sister's ex-boyfriend asking for some items he left behind. He asked if he could wait for the sister to return home and our blogger let him against his better judgment. Turns out to be this guy's last post because the ex killed him and his sister upon her return.

The police didn't have any suspects until they stumbled upon this kid's blog and confronted the ex-boyfriend. Since the time of death more or less coincided with the blog's time stamp, he quickly confessed.

Rather Poe-esque, if you ask me. Not to be morbid, but it would make a great story called the Tell Tale Blog.

Anyway, I've provided the links to both blogs previously mentioned for your curiosity.

http://stupidandwrong.typepad.com/stupid_and_wrong/2005/week31/index.html


http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=ToTo247&tab=weblogs&uid=261268578