Disappearing bloggers

Because I've had two long periods without blogging, with just a short return in between, there seem to be so many police blogs that I used to read that have either disappeared completely or haven't been updated for months. It's just kinda depressing.

I know that there are lots of cases where officers have been found out and forced to stop blogging or worse. Particularly when the whole blog has disappeared it is as though it belittles that officer's experiences and their account of them. Those officers have invested a lot of time to let us know how hard they work in their jobs, the emotional effects of this and how they are attacked from both sides for and because they are doing their job and for and because they are not permitted to do it through constraints of accountability and paperwork. These are insightful and illuminating pieces of writing, written under freedom of speech and protected by copyright. Under these rights the individuals in question should be free to have their writing published wherever they wish under their pseudonym. Just like my disgust if ever I see the burning of books, the forced disappearance of these posts is a oppressive way of preventing the reader from choosing what they know and learn.

Its about time management (SMT/ACPO/Government) read these blogs with a view to seeing what the problems their (often frontline) officers are facing, and start to come up with real solutions, not brushing their issues under the carpet and moving those officers on who try to explain why everyone is tripping up over the huge mound in the middle of it.

When I say real solutions I mean long-term planned out answers to problems, not quick-fix keep the peace for five minutes patch-ups.

Anyway I don't know where that rant came from and to anyone who has just not blogged for a while because they're busy I know the feeling! But I just hope that those who are forced to stop blogging know there's a community of people online who feel for them and will miss them.

Blogging without obligation

Thanks Dickiebo for introducing me to this. It's very interesting with regards to the power of users over their blogs and vice versa.

Elektra states "After coming across what seemed to be the 4000th or so post on someone's blog starting with "I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile." I decided it is time to rethink what makes a good blog and the expectations that have come to be part of it. I am thinking that no one should utter those words again . . .and with that thought I give you Blogging Without Obligation"

Blogs and social software are hailed as giving the user more power over webpages, opening up the possibility for the non-technical to create and maintain sites and to interact with other internet users, but in her post Elektra shows that along with the fame having a 'good blog' brings, it also brings some obligations and expectations, which is in danger of turning and enjoyable hobby into a tying chore, and reducing the quality of posts and thus the blog itself.

So when I don't post for a month it's to keep the quality up...ok?...any takers...

Wow, a month without posting!

Doing a PhD and being a graduate teaching assistant is hard work! I'm settling into it now though and am less nervous before each teaching session and less tired after it - partly because I feel a bit more like I know what I'm talking about.

Because I'm more relaxed I feel like I can actually start doing something about the PhD because its really just been teaching up to now. I'm really glad to be getting the teaching experience though even if it takes away some research (and blogging) time, one of my colleagues said that doing a PhD is extremely lonely so I'll be glad to have that social teaching side (though I might not always think that when I have tight deadlines!).

Things may be looking up for Chunky too, she's got an interview next week (eek!)