RightWingSparkle blogger Kathleen, a very nice lady I met at Justice Sunday in January, is experimenting with video blogging. (By the way, Kathleen has a blogging gig with the Houston Chronicle. Groovy.)
I’m thinking about doing this myself, and I believe more bloggers should try it. Not only is it a great way to get more people to link to your blog (Kathleen kindly mentioned me) but it helps personalize the blog.
Feedback requested. Would you want to watch an occasional video blog post at LBC? If you “read” video blogs, let us know what’s out there and what’s good.
Perhaps video blogging will remind readers that there’s a real person behind this blog, risking unfair and sometimes nasty criticism from anonymous Internet freaks surfers. The negativity is, I must admit, vastly outweighed by the kindness of strangers.
I implore you, can’t we all just get along? Do it…do it for the children. 
Addendum: Video commenting?
{ 26 comments }
I don’t know how this will turn out. I suppose some people who have the knack for it will make it a real success; others are better off sticking with print.
But what is exciting about it is that the “talking heads” will now have competition. The “dinsaour media” is about to see another of its franchises go extinct. (’Hey, what makes those guys on TV so special–just because they’re on TV? They aren’t any smarter than the rest of us–and now we can prove it!’)
(Meanwhile, I eargerly await–may I make bold to say, the world eagerly awaits?– the day when commenters will be able to add their comments by video. . .)
It would love to see some video blogging from you, Ms. Barber. I think you’re right. Criticisms might be a little less rude if people see the person behind the opinions. After all, in real life what makes us get along with a person is their character, as revealed through the way they treat others. Opinions are somewhat indicitive of character, but not completely. I’m noticing in college that I’m able to get along and be friends with a lot of people–conservative Christians like myself as well as agnostics, liberals, etc. etc.
I would love to see you do a video blog. It would show people just what a sweet lady you are. (At least, I’m assuming you’re a sweet lady; you may not be though
I personally don’t care for vlogs. Wasn’t there a discussion about reading here and several comments about becoming a society devoid of a love for the written word?
I don’t think it would help humanize the author. From what I’ve seen over the years, people who will slam a person on a blog for their content aren’t interested anyway and in general use it for more inane fodder, like even more personal attacks. I could be wrong, but over 10 years dealing online watching it occur is difficult to forget.
I’m sure you would do a wonderful job, but I will always prefer the written word over a podcast or vlog any day.
I wouldn’t do it. It would give those anonymous Internet “freaks” a face and if one of them happened to run into you in the street…
I read this blog for your writing and ideas. I have no interest in seeing you talking. I don’t even watch Michelle Malkin’s videos and rarely watch the talking heads on tv.
Ouch!
Criticisms might be a little less rude if people see the person behind the opinions.
Well, not in my case, at least. . . :*
Do it. But keep a balance between written word and video.
I rarely watch video blogs as they often take too long to load and I am usually trying to “sneak in” a read or a check between activities.
Hmmmm…too fat, too ugly, and a lousy voice. Yeah, I’ll start vlogging right away….
I think that you should give it a try, what do you have to lose? Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, et al became famous when people associated their voice (and face) with the news that they reported. It may take you into avenues that you haven’t previously imagined.
La Shawn, I love to read your work. I do enjoy “Hot Air”, but You have a way with the written word that I don’t believe video can improve upon. That being said, if you decide to do it, I’ll watch.
I’m all for it, La Shawn. As one of the most articulate and intelligent of bloggers, you would do well on video.
And at the risk of being called a male chauvinist, I’d like to point out that the conservative video blogs seem to have all the attractive ladies, so you would fit right in with that company.
Just a suggestion, but try making a demo, watch it critically, then let a few people whom you trust to critique it honestly watch and give you honest feedback. Then watch it again yourself. Then decide if this is something you want to put out for the world.
You might be marvelous at it and you might not. Everyone has their own talents. I hope you are good at video, because I think it would be pretty interesting. But I just keep thinking of all the homespun business ads on TV, done by business people who think they are really great on camera – and aren’t.
La Shawn:
As a GUY, I can’t say I wouldn’t like to see you “in motion”. It might bias the political opinions you express, but it sure would be “cool”.
After all, if I didn’t like it, there would be something wrong with me.
But feel assured – between the “cool” I would be thinking clearly about what you were saying – most of the time.
PS – the person who doesn’t like the Michelle Malkin videos is just a “spoiler”. They don’t know they are missing a “cool” person, and someone who has a great message and is just a great stand up comic.
I say, do it! Do it, Ms. Barber, do it.
You’re beautiful because you speak the truth. And nothing could be more clear on video.
As long as you go into it with your eyes open and no illusions.
You are going to be judged. Even if people don’t say anything, they are still judging. There’s no getting around that.
Actually, it’s the ones who don’t say it, but you know they are thinking it.
At least the ones who say it are getting it all out in the open —the gloves are off, and we don’t have to pretend.
I’m talking about appearance.
People are going to judge your hair and makeup.
Whether they say anything or not. Sometimes not saying something …says it all.
It’s just human nature.
I’d say as long as you don’t go on video in a bathrobe and curlers…..you’ll do just fine.
Actually that would be funny, as a gag, wouldn’t it? Do the bathrobe and curlers thing !
You should do it La Shawn. You’re beautiful and intelligent. Go for it.
Yes, that would be great. I agree with Kathy of post #8
If you can deliver in video half as well as you write, then it would rock!!! I think you should go with a weekly video blog so you have more good material to work with. While I love Hotair’s daily videos, sometimes they have to scrape the bottom of the barrel for material.
Okay. You’re cute. You’re smart. You’re (overly) sensitive. Sure. We would like to see if you can ‘take it to the stage.’ I mean come on. If Kevin Federline can ‘rap’ at the Teen Choice Awards, surely Ms. Barber can video blog. And the feedback should be quite interesting. You’re goona do it and I can’t wait.
video blogging is ok but I prefer the written word. Viewing vblogs is time consuming. It takes longer to load. If you’re 2/3 through the video and something makes you want to go back and view something earlier in the video, it’s much harder to backtrack than scrolling back up through the printed blog. In Kathleen’s video she names several bloggers and suggest that you google them to locate the video. What if you don’t spell it correctly? Googling it can be time consuming. Whereas in the printed blog, chances are the blogger will at least spell correctly. If they’re as good as you La Shawn, they will link it right there in the blog so one click will get you there.
I viewed Kathleen’s video on my lap top. I could see it fine but without my earphones, the audio quality was not that great.
On the other hand, one can receive more communication through a video. The inflections in your voice, facial expressions and other “body language” can add a lot to what you are saying through your words. I would carefully view your video, La Shawn, to pick up any nuances that would help me understand who you are and where you’re coming from. And yes, I would also enjoy seeing that smile “in motion.”
Overall, I still prefer the written word over the “talking heads.”
A video blog isn’t my preferred way of getting information. I can read much faster than listen.
That being said, I like the idea of getting to know my favorite bloggers a little better via a video blog posting or other means. I know what the Powerline guys sound like and know what Charles Johnson looks and sounds like now. It adds a little to reading to internally hear it in their voice.
I would definitely tune in to a video blog by you. Go for it!
I didn’t mean that you wouldn’t do a good job–I saw you on tv. But I enjoy reading what you have to say more than watching. Actually, if anyone is a good writer, that’s enough for me.
vlogs are enjoyed by people with high speed internet. Those of us who lack access to high speed will always be left out. But those who can enjoy it, go for it! Just because I’m walking I don’t fault those of you driving Jaccuzis or whatever those cars are called.
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