So when I got a call asking me to go on a blogger panel I was delighted. Trouble is, the Coren show is not an easy gig.
Being a talking head expert is pretty easy. Nobody cuts you off or even challenges you -- so long as you sound reasonably sane and speak in brief coherent sentences you are fine.
But on Coren it's a whirlwind round table and it's uncut; what you say goes on the air. Say something dumb and it's out there for the world to see. But say nothing or wait to speak your turn and ... well, you won't say much at all.
So as you speak you're trying to think ahead and be interesting but not too crazy (why oh why did I compare cannibal polar bears and politicians??? Now that was crazy!!!). You have to cut in and say your piece being serious but not too serious and if you play a game or stretch a point you will be jumped on. It's exciting but exhausting.
Of course, the topic, blogging, is one I think I know reasonably well. I do blog and have broken a few (albeit minor) stories that the mainstream media has picked up. But is a blogging panel worth repeating every month or so?
Probably; bloggers do have a differing perspective. That said tonight's panel was all political bloggers and the blogosphere is much broader than politics -- there a bloggers on every imaginable topic. (Seriously, do a search on 'cat blogs' -- there are thousands of them -- some nice and some nutz -- see, for instance, "http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com/cgi-bin/seigmiaow.pl": "Does your cat look like Adolf Hitler? Do you wake up in a cold sweat every night wondering if he's going to up and invade Poland?").
But for a first run the show was exciting and fun -- will I be back? If asked yes -- if not I will try to take my banishment with my head held high -- I can always just spend my time watching polar bear videos... . (and I will avoid Nazi cats).
James Morton
1100-5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
416 225 2777
www.jmortonmusings.blogspot.com
5 comments:
Seig Miaow? Sorry but that makes an obsession with polar bears seem normal.
I happened to catch the last half hour of the Coren show tonight, and was pleased to see you on as a guest. It always seems to me that Coren favours guests who are outspoken and controversial, but he doesn't suffer fools gladly. Your views were intelligent and well expressed, and he treated you with the respect you deserve, so I think you should be proud of your performance.
Coren is a mouthy old fool, why bother?
You owe me one for that. I suggested you because I couldn't make the date.
well, bigcity. as you will see, i mentioned your blog on the air!!!!!
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