For the last month, I have been largely absent from blogging.
I guess I lost my voice because it was tied up with family illness, fires destroying San Diego County, family traumas, listings coming in, family stresses--and last minute travel arrangements to Las Vegas for the NAR Convention.
Some of you may not remember the Milli Vanilli scandal so many years ago, but it was a silly incident where the lead singer lip-synched the Milli Vanilli music during a concert. It was a embarrassment to be remembered, and is surely recorded somewhere in the Rock Star Annals.
That gaffe came to mind during a recent conversation at Active Rain's Las Vegas get-together a week ago in Las Vegas.
During one of the many titillating conversations, the subject of "ghost blogging" came up.
When asked about the advisability of having someone else write one's blog articles, almost everyone in hearing range--including some August Bloggers--said it was an absolute no-no. Almost all agreed that real blogging require so much time, thought and effort--and demanded the real voice of the author. Conversely, an ersatz author whose material is written by another is nothing short of a fraud.
And if ghost writing is to be used, some said, it should be disclosed to the readers.
Perhaps I am a bit priggish about the purity of a blog (weblog or journal or diary) reflecting one's own voice, but I struggle with having someone else's canned content populating my blog--or that of Active Rain's.
While casually perusing Active Rain's Localism earlier this evening, I discovered a well-known ghosted blog's material manifesting itself here.
Is there a difference between plagiarized material and "purchased" blog material? Is being busy or simply "successful" reason enough to hand one's voice over to a hired hand?
If so, I struggle with my own stupidity in not having hired a writer to slip in and write for me during my recent absences.
And perhaps he, she or it could have told my story better--and advised you better about my San Diego communities, lifestyle and real estate conditions in my own market area.
Somehow, I think not.
Thoughts?
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