Hello folks!
I’m back!
I’m also trying to get some opinions, views, caveats and threats to use for one of my papers for the November Society of Biblical Literature meeting in San Diego. Here’s the blurb on the paper, which will be in the Blogging and Online Scholarship session on Monday, Nov. 11, 4:00-6:30 pm:
May Contain Nuts and B.S. (Biblical Studies):
The Politics of Academic Legitimacy Online and the Need to Properly Theorize the Category “@%!#*! Loonie”
Blogging provides many biblical scholars with a simple and fast way of presenting their academic views to a general public, even if there is little prestige or formal recognition for serious, academic posts. The benefit seems to lie in the quick networking of ideas and the building of relationships between scholars. The medium also allows scholars to easily play the role of accessible public intellectual, something badly needed in a world that has devalued advanced education.
The Internet’s lack of censorship guarantees a high level of academic freedom but it also subjects scholars to an equally high level of non-academic freedom. Not only is there a complete lack of peer review, the likelihood that any serious post may attract unwanted attention from those with no understanding of the subject matter or fringe theory or doctrine to promote is very real. With most bloggers allowing readers some freedom to comment without moderation, discussions can be easily sidetracked into tangential or completely off-topic exchanges that can get acrimonious very quickly. Disallowing or vetting comments … Continue reading
