I’ll admit that I tend to read political blogs a bit more than is healthy. But you often find 2nd tier stories being talked about that you might miss from the MSM. The one thing they ALL have, however, is some level of dissent. Look around the Soccersphere and, well, we don’t.
No, I don’t think soccer blogs need to be like their political big brothers with vitriol being spewed from left and right. However, a little dissent can be a good thing. There is some incredible writing out there from soccer bloggers and a lot of good ideas. But with all that is going on right now, there’s no way we all agree with each other. Yet I find very few posts where a soccer blogger says ‘So and so had this idea and while I agree with some of it, I think this might be a better option.’ The beauty of this is it adds insight and further ideas to the debate AND gets the debate in front of more readers and bloggers.
So I was thrilled to see D at the DCenters being a true dissenter. Debate the ideas. If you don’t agree with some, well that’s cool.
And that’s what I’d like to see more of: Make the case. Even if I think you are wrong, at least you will have offered concrete steps which are implementable actions, not platonic ideals. Why and What are great places to start, but recommend the How. That’s the challenge for all of US Soccer at this point.
Damn straight. Don’t hold back when you have an idea – if you care enough to write about it, make the case for it. Does that open you up to dissent – sure it does and that’s a good thing. The risk is some may fall into fits of anger and start to attack the bloggers themselves (like many political blogs do). I hope we’re smarter than that, because healthy debate can be a good thing.
With two different carnivals coming up this Monday, we’re going to see a lot of interesting ideas floated from a lot of different blogs, some of which have been published within the past few days. Many of you are bound to disagree with some of the things talked about – so say so. We all just need to make sure we keep the debate civil lest we fall into the same trap many political bloggers have or some posters on other *cough* ‘Big’ sites.
Are you game?
July 27th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Maybe the carnivals, if they become popular, will help with that. Carnivals are a great way to get bloggers reading each other, which helps with discussion. There was a lot of argument about the Zidane thing, anyway. And it was not exclusive to soccer blogs either, which was quite interesting.
When I get time to write a few more posts I may have a few bombs to throw about sexism in soccer. I’m sure that will be fun.
July 27th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
human – yeah who would have thought a headbutt would generate debate. But as you noted – seemed the exception, not the rule.
Can’t wait until Sunday – should be interesting to see what the carnivals have in store.
July 28th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
By the way, which political blogs do you read?
July 28th, 2006 at 2:14 pm
HAHAHAHA I think Soccer Dad is going to stay as ‘apolitical’ as he can lest he drive away 49.99999% of his readership 🙂
July 28th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
Fair enough. 🙂
July 28th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
Ah… 49.9999% of your readership would disappear… meaning that 50.0001% of your readership agrees with you. I accuse you of being a liberal pinko bleeding heart commie, with the Candlestick, in the Library!
Anyways, thanks for the nice words in this post. You make me blush. But yes, disagree and break away from group-think, I am in favor of that. But also agree when someone else is right, and build the right memes. Marketplace of Ideas, hoo-ah! Or something.
July 28th, 2006 at 11:46 pm
Actually it was the rope in the Hall … with Miss Scarlett, of course.