At the Table with Grandma

There are certain topics that continue to pop up on the blogosphere. Over. And Over. And Over.

It’s like getting stuck at the dinner table next to Grandma with Alzheimer’s.

“Honey, did I ever tell you that academics are very liberal.”
“Uh, yeah, Grandma, you did. Just earlier today.”
“Yes, dear. They are full of what I call “group-think.”
“Oh, I never heard that one before. Could you pass the mashed potatoes?”
“And there are not enough women political bloggers. Did you know that?”
“News to me.”
“Did you know that academics are liberal.”
(Let the self-mutilation begin.)

I’ve been very down on academic writing in the past. I’ve felt that blogging was a much more creative enterprise, and the rules of academic writing were squelching original thought.

But you know what is lacking in blog writing? A bibliography. These recurrent topics need some sort of back reference, so that we don’t keep repeating ourselves. i.e. If you think that women don’t like politics, then refer to Matt Ygelsias’s post from last year (just as Kiernan did). There have also been many other posts exploring alternative reasons for women not doing the political blogs (they are writing them, you just don’t know about them; women don’t want to waste their time; ol boys club; older blogs were male oriented; women don’t like conflict).

I’ve been continuing to follow the chicks in the blogosphere discussion, and I might put together a bibliography of my favorite posts on the topic. The liberal academic discussion lost me awhile ago.

UPDATE: No, it’s not going to happen. Too lazy. But if someone else has compiled a list of the best blog post on women in the blogosphere, I’ll be happy to link to you.