Sunday, March 16, 2008

One Of The Best Columnists In The World Describes Blogging As An Aid To Open Ended Thinking



Maureen Dowd: Journalism is an imperfect art. I always think of it as liquid history; we're trying to write for history, but it's like that quiz show where you try to put as many things in your supermarket basket as you can in 30 seconds. Blogs have made my life difficult, because with everyone trying to have an opinion, it's hard to think of anything original to say -

It's like now we're in a whole nation of opinion writers, so what makes yours special?

The bloggers have done some great investigative work, and some hilarious work -

It's like the Wild West. But that's what makes it exciting.

AC: I think back to the article in The New York Times Magazine where a White House source lambasted the "reality based community." Austin Chronicle Interview - Coffee Tawk With Maureen Dowd 11-11-05

MD: I love that quote. I use it all the time.
* * * *

Having grown up in New Mexico in the 30's and 40's I understand the reference to THE WILD WEST. In some relevant ways the Internet is analogous.

(Earlier this month I proposed a definition for "Open Ended Thinking" as a term for inclusion in an Internet Dictionary Site. After notifying me that my term and my definition had been accepted for publication on the Internet Dictionary Site, and supplying me with the Link for them, the definition was then deleted without any further notice.)

At least, however the "term" remains - as an undefined term with an invitation to submit proposed definitions at the Link originally provided to me.

* * * In an homage to "MoDo" I have included the symbolically stimulating:
"Open Ended Image - Gulf Coast with Maureen Dowd Cleavage." * * *


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