Wed
Feb 13 2008
04:29 pm
Blogging 101: Information Value Hierarchy
By: R. Neal

After reading countless blogs, I've come up with "R. Neal's Information Value Hierarchy", listed here in decreasing order of value.

1. Facts
2. Analysis
3. Opinion
4. Feelings
5. Your cat

Facts: Nobody can argue with facts. Well, they'll try.

Analysis: Trying to make sense of the facts, to answer the question "what does this mean?"

Opinions: Theirs is right and yours is wrong. Except, informed opinion backed up with facts and analysis can sometimes be persuasive, especially coming from experts on a subject.

Feelings: Nobody cares about your feelings. Don't just say "This pisses me off!" Explain why using facts and analysis. Convince people why they should be pissed off about it, too.

Cats: Would somebody please get those cats a freaking cheezburger?

Adapted from a presentation on blogging I gave a while back

Topics:
Mello's picture

I am waiting on the paperback to be released

Submitted by Mello on Wed, 2008/02/13 - 7:28pm.

R- don't you also find value in asking specific questions within the blog?

R. Neal's picture

That's an excellent point.

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2008/02/13 - 7:35pm.

That's an excellent point. Questions should be somewhere on the list. Not sure if it should be before or after "gumption to go find answers", which you are pretty good at.

captainkona's picture

Can't answer for Neal....

Submitted by captainkona on Wed, 2008/02/13 - 7:36pm.

...But if you're referring to challenging information on a blog that's presented as "fact", absolutely.
This is very important. It keeps everyone honest and exposes shills posing as pundits.


"The mind is like a parachute, it only works when it's open."

captainkona's picture

;)

Submitted by captainkona on Wed, 2008/02/13 - 7:32pm.

Heh...

Facts: You always know you have a fact when they tell you you're wrong but can't explain why.

Analysis: Is rather simple these days. "After further review, you're a misogynistic pig".

Opinions: I would agree with them, but then we'd both be wrong. ;)

Feelings: Albert Morris!
Feelings, nothing more than feelings,
trying to forget my feelings of love.
Teardrops rolling down on my face,
trying to forget my feelings of love.

Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it.
I wish I've never met you, girl; you'll never come again.
Oh, sorry. Got a little fuzzy there.

Cats: Great play!.

Good list. Facts must always come first.
And in presenting the facts, solid citation must be provided.
A reasonable cross section usually works. I will often post a link to the Washington Post, then a link to, say, the Arizona Sun-Times which is a decidedly more conservative source. Avoiding of course, sources of low to no credibility such as the Moonies or anything owned by Rupert Murdoch.

Though we have our opinions, the Idea is to spark enough curiosity and provide enough information that a blog reader can do what they're supposed to do...Verify Everything Themself.
Never just take someone's word for something. Not mine, not anyone's.


"The mind is like a parachute, it only works when it's open."

R. Neal's picture

provide enough information

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2008/02/13 - 7:37pm.

provide enough information that a blog reader can do what they're supposed to do...Verify Everything Themself.

Another excellent point.

(And your corollary, never trust anything you read on a blog until you verify it yourself!)

Pam Strickland's picture

Cats: Would somebody please

Submitted by Pam Strickland on Wed, 2008/02/13 - 8:48pm.

Cats: Would somebody please get those cats a freaking cheezburger?

RufusKitty favors tuna and salmon, and for some odd reason whole wheat bread.

pgs
Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

Justin's picture

Sorry... lol

Submitted by Justin on Wed, 2008/02/13 - 8:52pm.

Sorry... lol

Brian A.'s picture

Rankings

Submitted by Brian A. on Thu, 2008/02/14 - 2:45am.

Often I think cats should be No. 1 or 2 on the list--depending on the blog.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

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