Blog Sniping

The Internet is a many splendored thing. It really and truly amazes me that there is such a huge potential for communication and discourse. And that it is mostly used for flinging mud.

Although, really, who does not like a good mud fight?

I submit to you, my readers (Hi Grandpa! Hi Mom!), the following interesting discussions that are happening right now (or recently) in the wine blogosphere:

… And Who Regulates the Bloggers – by Anthony Dias Blue, Editor of Tasting Panel Magazine (Page 4, July 2009)

Rats, the “Established Media” did it Again – by Erin McGrath, Editor of Vintwined

Leave Me out of Your Tail Wagging, Finger Pointing Ego Contest – By Jeff Lefevere, Editor of Good Grape: A Wine Manifesto

Anthony Dias Blue, bloggers and the exposure package – By Tyler Coleman, Editor of Dr. Vino and published author of multiple books on wine

A Controversy Akin to Shakespeare Meets Chop-Socky – By Kevin Keith, Contributor to Under the Grape Tree

Paper Based Wine Magazines: We’re Still Standing – by Steve Heimoff, West Coast Editor for Wine Enthusiast Magazine and editor of his self named blog

Social Media is a Tool People - A Tool! – by Shana Ray, Social Media Consultant and founder of Breath(e) Media

When Blogs Go Bad – by Steve Heimoff, West Coast Editor for Wine Enthusiast Magazine and editor of his self named blog

In response to “When Blogs Go Bad” - by Shana Ray, Social Media Consultant and founder of Breath(e) Media

Beware of Wine Bloggers – by Amy Corron-Power and Joe Power, Editors of Another Wine Blog

“Karma Police, arrest this man…” – by Katie Pizzuto, Editor of Gonzo Gastronomy

Personally, I think this is some truly riveting discourse. Much better entertainment than Harry Potter and The Half Blood Price (you mean there are TWO more movies still to come??? Sheesh…). I love every minute of it. The more discussion the better! The more opposing points of view the better! The new age of information dissemination has a long way to go before we figure out what works, who to listen to, and where we want to get our information. I still read the New York Times (whenever I can) as well as about twenty magazines. In addition, I also read hundreds of blogs DAILY. And of course I watch the most fair and balanced as well as trusted voice in news, The Daily Show hosted by John Stewart.

Professionally, I have no intention of getting involved. It is my job to understand and relate to both bloggers and “traditional” media, even as that line is being blurred with every word published online.

It takes all types...

I was searching around Twitter tonight, following people in the wine world. PR people, marketing people (yes, there is a difference), wine makers, importers, retailers, bloggers, enthusiasts, drunks, winos, college kids... ok, maybe not college kids. My point is that while I was looking around at what people do and say and think in the 140 character description they are allowed to have I found this:

"I hate wine bloggers!"

It was so interesting! This is probably the first person I have seen on the vast empty space they call the internet that hates wine bloggers. Of course, some very important and professional write reviews and writers do not particular care for bloggers (Steve Heimoff for example), but they do not hate them. From reading Steve's blog I do not think he does not like blogs and their bloggers. He makes the point that he does not think that blogs will be the next grand moving force of the wine industry as the occurance of Robert Parker for instance. I agree with him for the most part, but I think there will be a small minority of bloggers (which may be quite a few since there are SO MANY BLOGS) that become as important if not more important than print reviewing media outlets.

But that subject has been beaten to death by the wine blogging community, so let me turn to what interested me: http://wine-ing20.blogspot.com/

When I saw this I cracked up. It is a wine blog which has the professed purpose of annoying and insulting other wine blogs. It is written by Over Oaked, Over Extracted, and Flabby Chard, or at least it was at one point in time. Does not seem that anyone is keeping up with the writing.

But it does make one laugh doesn't it? The anti wine blog wine blog? Makes me wonder how many more there are out there.