baratillo @ cubao : www.baratillo.net

I was just having a chat with a friend regarding this particular TV show of Korina Sanchez intriguingly titled “Beware of the Blog”. No I did not watch the show and it would not be fair for me to comment on it without seeing the video. Let us say that hopefully (i) It was balanced (ii)Since it is about blogging a number of bloggers were invited (PCIJ Bloggers would have been ideal guests) and (iii) It was not sensationalized.

Now having said that lets go back to the title Beware of the Blog. Hmm. What do you think? It actually reminds of three phrases in Latin:

Carpe Diem (Seize the day)
Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware)
Caveat Lector (Reader Beware)

And then it also reminded me of a conversation I had not so long ago. And it when like this:

You are my friend
But I have no respect for bloggers.

Hmmm. Valid observation on a case per case basis but not as generalization I think. What people sometimes forget is that Bloggers and Blogs are as diverse as the snowflakes that fall to the ground or as fishes in the sea. Yes bloggers are fish in a sense that they have all things a fish must have in order to survive in the sea - fins. But aside from that depending on the environment and the inherent nature of the fish things are different. Sharks and clownfishes. And even among the clownfishes and sharks there are different kinds.

The Blogging Community is a Concordia Discors - A Discordant Harmony. And I like it that way such things make ideas grow and flourish. But going back to the three Latin phrases. Carpe Diem/Seize the Day (A phrase that entered my minds first after watching Robin Williams’ film Dead Poets Society) and speaks of making most of the moment because life is short and fleeting. And in a sense maybe that is why some bloggers well blog. Caveat Emptor/Buyer Beware a concept I heard used often during a seminar on practical law several several moons ago. A time when Betamax was Queen and Marcos was King. And it talks about how we should be careful about the things we buy.

And lastly Caveat Lector/Reader beware. A phrase I stumbled upon while researching for a little project of mine deceptively called a master thesis a few years back. And it talks of how a reader of a back should be careful when reading, perusing and digesting the content of this book.

Beware of blog in Latin I think is Cave Blog or Beware of Blog. Although , I believe that the more appropriate term is Caveat Lector. And this apply not only to blogs but to all things eaten by the mind. In other words do not fall everything hook, line and sinker. And this is not only applicable to blogs, but to newspapers, TV and radio programs and people as well. Question everything or at least be critical.

1) Question the credibility of the speaker/writer/reporter/blogger? Does he or she have the authority to speak on this. What are his or her credentials What is his or her reputation.

But not all is about the person.

2) Question also the thought or the idea. Is the post, report or article credible?

a) Does it present the facts. Are they accurate
b) Is the analysis balanced
c) Are the arguments and counter arguments valid
d) Do the facts or evidence support the arguments
e) Is there any other explanation for the event discussed. Were all things considered

Even without going to the author or author’s reputation by testing the idea one can gauge if one is to believe it or not or even worth one’s time.

And in the case of blogs: If one finds the post defective or one finds the post offensive or one finds the post promoting anger or one finds the post damaging to one person’s reputation. There are several things one can do.

One can stop reading the blog.

But in any case it is never Cave Blog or Beware of Blog but rather Caveat Lector or Reader Beware.

Like in all forms of media
Blogs are diverse so never assume nor rely on stereotypes.
Like all forms media it is prone to abuse by sensationalism and even unbalanced writing.
There are counters and actions to be taken when dealing with blogs.
And it is always Caveat Lector.