Oh, and I see you've got one of those screwy comments software programs -- where it moves so damned slow that people instinctively hit "POST" a couple of times and wind up with multiple postings, making themselves look inept.

It pains me to say this -- because I'm on your side politically -- but the reason your blog has a low readership and attracts few comments is that your work isn't very engaging.

Sorry to be the one to break the news, especially since we're on the same side of the political/philosophical fence. It's just that some people are made for writing, and some people aren't. You obviously fall into the latter camp, which is why you're probably best off sticking with the comments threads over at Reason's Hit & Run.

And before you throw any kind of fit about this post, keep in mind that when one chooses to write for the public -- which is what happens on a blog -- then one is fair game for criticism. It comes with the territory, whether you're a skilled professional writing for a major daily newspaper or merely an amateur plopping out thoughts on some obscure blog.

I think one reason I feel compelled to write this here is that I've become disenchanted with the blogosphere lately. I used to have high hopes for it -- that it would democratize the world of commentary, that it would empower people, etc. But I've come to the sad realization that there's a valid reason real journalists and columnists get paid to do what they do: they're good at it.

After a couple of years of living in blog-land, and giving my best effort to be a supporter, I'm not sure I can take the noise-to-signal ratio anymore. Your blog is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. There's no need for me or anybody else to waste our time here. It's time for a lot of us to give ourselves a reality check, and get back into a 1999 frame of mind -- i.e., to realize that professional writers, reporters and critics are PROFESSIONALS for a reason. The marketplace has put them where they are -- at the top -- for a good reason.

That's a hard concession for me to make, but I've come to the reluctant conclusion that it's simply the truth.

Anyway, your comments threads seem so damned empty, I guess I just wanted to help fill some space so you don't feel entirely horrible about the time you've wasted with this blog.

(I'll post this onto a more recent comments thread as well, since this thread is just another one of those old ones that you always link to in your Hit & Run posts.)

It pains me to say this -- because I'm on your side politically -- but the reason your blog has a low readership and attracts few comments is that your work isn't very engaging.

Sorry to be the one to break the news, especially since we're on the same side of the political/philosophical fence. It's just that some people are made for writing, and some people aren't. You obviously fall into the latter camp, which is why you're probably best off sticking with the comments threads over at Reason's Hit & Run.

And before you throw any kind of fit about this post, keep in mind that when one chooses to write for the public -- which is what happens on a blog -- then one is fair game for criticism. It comes with the territory, whether you're a skilled professional writing for a major daily newspaper or merely an amateur plopping out thoughts on some obscure blog.

I think one reason I feel compelled to write this here is that I've become disenchanted with the blogosphere lately. I used to have high hopes for it -- that it would democratize the world of commentary, that it would empower people, etc. But I've come to the sad realization that there's a valid reason real journalists and columnists get paid to do what they do: they're good at it.

After a couple of years of living in blog-land, and giving my best effort to be a supporter, I'm not sure I can take the noise-to-signal ratio anymore. Your blog is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. There's no need for me or anybody else to waste our time here. It's time for a lot of us to give ourselves a reality check, and get back into a 1999 frame of mind -- i.e., to realize that professional writers, reporters and critics are PROFESSIONALS for a reason. The marketplace has put them where they are -- at the top -- for a good reason.

That's a hard concession for me to make, but I've come to the reluctant conclusion that it's simply the truth.

Anyway, your comments threads seem so damned empty, I guess I just wanted to help fill some space so you don't feel entirely horrible about the time you've wasted with this blog.

(I'll post this onto a more recent comments thread as well, since this thread is just another one of those old ones that you always link to in your Hit & Run posts.)

Micheal moore is a idiot and so is PETA their absolutly stupid and rediculous only a nit wit would have anything to do with them