no problem on the response. Sometimes I’m quicker than others depending upon what else is going on.

Do I think that Google is trying to take over the world? hmmm – well I’m no mind reader but I’m not quite sure that they goals are that lofty. To be honest my opinion of Google is one where I love a lot of what they do in terms of the technologies that they produce and a lot of their ethos (for example I like the way they treat their staff, I like some of the community projects that they do) – having said this I’m always a little suspicious of big corporations and worry that they (and smaller ones) will abuse powers that they have.

I guess it’s the same with any company though – they can do good or evil – it’s just that Google does so on a pretty massive scale.

I don’t envy their task of managing it all on some levels, the responsibilities must be massive.

Thanks, for the speedy reply, Darren.

I am happy to see your site is not a fully automated thing spitting out computer generated responses. I accept your point on the making money from blogs stuff- your site is abot making oney from blogging, and therefore that does not mean that all blogging is an attempt to make money. Fair enough.

However, do you think google is aiming to take over the world? It seems every site you go to these days has google ad links. Good on them for building a mega corperation, I guess. But is it ethical? I mean accepting money from an organisation that allows the communist CHinese government to censor web searches, promotes the pornography industry, gambling, and all sorts of other seedy stuff on the net?

anyway, just a thought.

thanks again for replying to me,

Missy Taylor

thanks for stopping by.

Let me tackle your questions one at a time:

Is it just a sophisticated tool to hide advertising and marketing?

I guess like any medium it can be used that way. The same thing could be leveled at shoddy newspapers, magazines or other types of websites. Some blogs do, without a doubt, get used in manipulative ways without any ethics but most of us declare our interests.

I am sorry if this sounds cynical but I cant see that bloggin is helping make the world a beter place- at least not as it is portrayed on this site. What’s with all the celeb links?

The celebrity links in my sidebar are links to other blogs that are a part of the network of blogs that I belong to. Blogs come in all shapes and sizes and talk about virtually every aspect of life. For some people celebrity and entertainment news is important to them – as a result there are blogs on that. There are also links in the sidebar to blogs on topics like being a mother, living with diabetes, autism or cancer as well as blogs on hobbies like scrap booking and quilting. I wouldn’t aruge that every blog will suit every person or that each one is ‘life giving’ for each reader but I think most people would find some blogs that fit with their own views and that are helpful.

at a quick glance I counted around 30 links on this problogger site offering how to make money or advertise. There is no law against that, but is this whole blogging thing a cover for making money?

This is a blog on the topic of making money from blogs – as a result I have a lot of content on that topic. Some bloggers choose to make money from their blogs while others do not. This site was set up as a resource for those wanting to do that. I should say that it’s also read by a lot of bloggers who just want to improve their non money making blogs as I cover a lot of stuff that is not specifically on money making.

I don’t think it’s a ‘cover’ for making money. Most bloggers who do make money from blogs are fairly transparent about it and declare their interests.

there, my first blog response ever- maybe my last too! (not sure if bloggin has censorship or not!)

I don’t censor comments that are genuine and relevant to the topic at hand like yours. I like this type of interaction and I think you’ll find most bloggers are willing to be questioned and interacte with.

I do have a ‘moderation’ for some comments to help me fight ‘comment spam’ (where people use comments to promote their own dodgy sites). That’s why your comment took a little while to appear.

Blogging for me is about conversations around a huge variety of different topics. As I say – ProBlogger is a blog on making money from blogs so it might not be the best one out there for you to make a sweeping judgement about blogging on. What I’d suggest you do is head to google and do a search for ‘a topic that interests you blog’ and see what it turns up for you. There are millions out there of all shapes, sizes, qualities, topics etc.

I read the article online about bloggin and came to your site. I am a bit cynical actually! I know nothing of blogging, but it seems to me a cheap and manipulative way to make money. Is it just a sophisticated tool to hide advertising and marketing?

I am sorry if this sounds cynical but I cant see that bloggin is helping make the world a beter place- at least not as it is portrayed on this site. What’s with all the celeb links?

at a quick glance I counted around 30 links on this problogger site offering how to make money or advertise. There is no law against that, but is this whole blogging thing a cover for making money?

there, my first blog response ever- maybe my last too! (not sure if bloggin has censorship or not!)

Missy

Congrats on the mention and being the “face” of Australian blogging.

I don’t find that the main benefits of newspaper articles are traffic – the main benefit is general awareness and the occassional consulting/speaking gig.

Blogging certainly does have a fascination for the press :)