In my day job I often spend time listening to talkback radio (please, yes, send me much pity ). It's unavoidable. One of the reasons I delayed starting a blog was that I've found they often exhibit some of the worst characteristics of radio talkback. There's been some discussion around the Australian blogverse the last week or so that has brought this back into focus for me and I've been trying to work out where this blog sits and whether the comparison itself is a fair one. I should say that I live in Brisbane and the local talkback radio here is generally reasonable - certainly in comparison to the Sydney market where a few 'niche' markets served by radio 'shock jocks' probably provide better numbers than the entire Brisbane radio audience.

Anyway. People are passionate, which is a good thing. Passionate people are exciting to watch and listen to. And as an ex-journalist I'm strongly of the opinion that 'everybody has a story' and for people with heightened curioisty (like me) those stories are invariably worth listening to. When passion and talkback radio mix however, it often leads to a lengthy, one-sided rant that fails to present any self-examiniation. This shits me because people think they have the answer, which they're happy to share and think the answer to taxes, illegal immigration, race riots in Sydney, the road toll in Queensland etc is simple and they have the answer. If only the government would do this; if only the government would do that. This is a big bugbear of mine because I believe government is a tool the communoity has established to best solve some of its problems (not a perfect tool but the best one we have), so people should be looking at what government can do, what the community can do, what business can do. And what they can do as an individual, rather than pointing to one magical solution.

Blogs are more democratic than talkback radio. Generally there's no producer sitting pre-screening responses to blog posts. There can be a stronger dialogue back and forth and a better sharing of ideas. Often there isn't and although that makes me nervous it should be okay because in the end blogs should be a strong, individual statement about what someone thinks. Readers should be assaulted by numerous ideas vowing for memspace in their head. But I sometimes get the shrinking sense that some people don't seek alternate views actively enough; they have their collective whinge, seek solace in the agreement of others and go happily on their way having their pre-concived notions reaffirmed. 

I guess the bottom line is that extended rants on blogs happen. Just like talkback. Just like group e-mail lists. And I'm sure they'll happen here too.

Okay, so the layout is ugly and the title is pretentious. But I'm new to Livejournal and I've been pretentious a very long time. So, get over it. There's hope to be had that this thing will look prettier as I go along (collecting the appropriate bells and whistles). But don't hold out for fundamental changes in my nature.

Like a lot of good blogs, I envisage that about 86% of the posts will be about the 'three Rs' - writing, reflection and rants. I've got some thoughts for some regular topics but let me see if I can get them done at least once before I start making too many promises.

Anyway, welcome to HogeTown.