10 things Pakistani blog readers should know

Before ripping a blogger apart in the comments section remember a few things like-reading the blog!

1. Blogs can be casual, formal or anything in between. So while writing, the blogger can interrupt the readers with an "akhhh thoo" if he wants to, without having to suffer tons of meaningless comments. It’s a blog, not a featured article in Foreign Policy magazine.


2. Blogs are opinion-oriented. They may or may not be backed by hard facts. A blog or ‘web log’ does not necessarily have in-depth analysis that will impress readers. If that is what you need, you might want to start reading Time Magazine or Newsweek.


3. A blog is not a divine revelation. God has nothing to do with it. It should be criticized if required, but getting personal with the writer is not right. Bloggers don't appreciate personal remarks. However, any thoughts on content are more than welcome, no matter how unpleasant.


4. If a blog writer writes a post criticizing former President Musharraf, that does not mean he loves the Bhuttos and Sharifs, or hates Musharraf. It means he wrote a post on Musharraf! - full stop.


5. Don't tell blog writers that their post is one-sided. They already know. It is absolutely legal in the blogging world to be subjective. Bloggers have the right to refrain from the art of hypocrisy and speak their mind. How else would you tell bloggers and politicians apart?


6. Tolerance. If you do not have the ability to listen to divergent thoughts, blogs aren't meant for you in the first place. Blogs are for people who seek fresh thoughts and ideas. Disagreeing with blog posts is good, trash-talking them makes you a bad reader. Yes, take offense.


7. Read the blog before you comment. Titles can be misleading! Skimming through can make your comments nonsensical. If some blog writers really annoy you, try holding a stress ball when you read. In extreme cases, you can also use a punching bag. Also - civilized people mind their language on public forums.


8. If you have reached this point, my effort in writing this post has paid off. Treat yourself with a snack! Yes, this is an interesting, educational post.


9. Acceptance. Blog writers can write random sentences, just for fun. If the tone of a post is casual, might as well make it interesting to read. Refer to the previous point.


10. Give feedback. If you actually have a constructive feedback to give, do not hesitate to reach out to the authors. They want to improve. They hate personal attacks but value positive suggestions. Meaningful debates in blog comments fuel the writers.