In response to this lazily written piece by Bill Thompson about whether blogs are losing their appeal, and specifically addressing his point that “the earliest bloggers have been at it for two years now…” I replied:

Two years, Bill? Where did that number come from? Instapundit has been at it for two years - but he’s a relative newbie. Is that who you meant, when you said “the earliest bloggers”? What a generalisation! A little bit of research would have revealed that the earliest bloggers have in fact been at it for four, five, even six years and more. Based on this article, I’m starting to wonder if the BBC is past its prime - I mean, how many poorly-researched op-ed pieces masquerading as journalism can one company churn out week after week?

Also, when you submit something to the BBC via a handy form like that, it should return an acknowledgement page or statement rather than shunting you straight off to the main page of the category. Otherwise, how are you meant to know that it’s been sent?

On a related self-chastising note, I really should be quicker off the mark, or more committed, or something, but it’s just too flipping hot. Sorry.

I ranted briefly about this article on the UKB-Discuss list on Saturday night, and thought about writing here, but instead opted to go and sit in a cold bath and read an article about Nick Cave from last month’s Word Magazine. Then Sunday swung around and instead of making carefully constructed and clever arguments here, I went swimming in the sea.

And then this morning I discovered that Twom had expressed - far more eloquently and lucidly than I was capable of last night, in my brain-boiled state - what I was going to say.

So go there. I’ll just sit here and sputter hot expletives. He can make the convincing arguments. Let’s everyone stick to what they’re best at.