There’s no reason or incentive for bloggers to share anything. Most of them are so very impressed with themselves. They think that simply by virtue of having/writing a blog that what they have to say is of tremendous relevance and importance.

Most of it is not.

“Judgment and opinion are dangerous. Any music critic or book critic who sets out to champion things is an idiot. I used to tell people who came to work with me in the music department of the newspaper, ‘Nobody’s interested in what you think about something or feel about something. They want to know what took place, when, and where, and what it was like.’ You’re not to help trustees raise money, or advertise standard repertory, or to form public opinion, or promote local composers, or defend the public against them, or teach music appreciation, or spread enlightenment. All these things you do accidentally, but your main business is to report the musical life of the community.”

Thomson was 85 at the time of this interview, which might account for his rather cantankerous reply. I’m wondering, though, if in light of the current discussion, his brand of music criticism would make it in today’s print media environment.

“I find that I put a lot more faith in those who have either had a print journalism background or those who are currently active in the field of print journalism.” Right on, Charles! I can think of one blogger who has become a self-proclaimed expert on orchestra management yet he’s never managed an orchestra in his life. Yikes!

I’m concerned that so many people – perhaps mainly younger people? – give much too much weight to something just because it appears on-line. To paraphrase Gertrude Stein: “A blog is a blog is a blog.”

Bill in Dallas