In what will hopefully be the last introductory post to this blog, I will attempt to define what will be my typical ground rules for what and how I post. So, with no further ado, here are The Four Rules of Posting
- Nothing is beneath me
Many of the things on my list require that I start from a very low level; as an example, this website. I will often approach items with no prior knowledge, and cannot afford to eschew those things that may help me, just because they lack a certain snob appeal. Is FrontPage the easiest application for me to use to create a web site? Fine, FrontPage it is. Is “Art for Dummies” the most comprehensive way to get an introductory glance at art? So be it. I don’t care about lowbrow, highbrow, or middlebrow, just the quality of the tool.
- I am not an expert
In no way should anyone take anything I post as anything other than the opinion of a know-nothing boob. If ever I use someone else as a means of supporting my opinions, I will duly cite the source and let you interpret it for yourself. In the words of Gary Giddins, speaking about one of his fellow jazz critics,
“….He has spent more time in clubs than almost anybody else I know. If this is a conclusion that he comes to, he has the right to say it, and you have to give him respect even as you disagree. I don’t feel that way about some guy who owns eleven records and once went to a show at the Village Vanguard.”
I’m the guy who owns eleven records, and I’ve never been to a show at the Vanguard. [update: I have since been to a show at the Vanguard.]
- Educate myself, entertain the reader
While the blog is intended to be an area where I can record what I learn, I am not a teacher. I doubt very highly anyone will actually learn anything from what I write. But, by reading about how I am learning, someone might be able to find a starting to point to learn on their own. These posts will not be about how to use FrontPage, or how to appreciate art, but rather about one person’s experiences using FrontPage and learning to appreciate art.
- Post with purpose
Nothing is more tedious to read than one sentence “musings” from people you don’t know. There will be a reason for each post, and each post will relate to one of the items on my list. In fact, the 81 items on my list will each become blog categories as posts are entered for them. Each post will be composed and of length enough to complete a thought or convey an idea. This means posting will not be daily, more likely once or twice a week.
There they are. I may add more later, but the four rules above describe how and what I will be posting. I will also be adding a FAQ at some point in the near future, but for now, this will have to do.
So, what’s next? The main project I’m working on at the moment is this website. Therefore, while I promised no more introductory posts, unfortunately the dreaded “meta-blog” posts must be forthcoming. If you don’t want to read anymore of the blog posts about how cool it is to update, maintain, and edit a blog, check back in a few weeks when I return from Argentina.