Wrong!

"A lot of bloggers seem to be socially inadequate, pimpled, single, slightly seedy, bald, cauliflower-nosed, young men sitting in their mother's basements and ranting. They are very angry people. OK – the country is full of very angry people. Many of us are angry people at times. Some of us are angry and drunk. But the so-called citizen journalism is the spewings and rantings of very drunk people late at night."

These were the words of wisdom of Andrew Marr, a Scottish journalist, author and broadcaster in a speech at the Cheltenham Literature Festival recently. He was giving a talk about how modern technology is rapidly changing the way people receive news and current affairs information.

I enjoy Andrew's work but I think he is very wrong to take such a misguided pot shot at the world of bloggers. As a relatively new blogger, let me answer these charges head on:-

Socially inadequate : possibly after too many drinks but, en route, the life and soul
Pimpled : 30 years ago, perhaps. Not now.
Single : not since 1989
Slightly seedy : certainly not!
Bald : OK, guilty!
Cauliflower-nosed : No
Young : Sadly, no
Ranting : During working hours only
Angry : See ranting
Very drunk: Occasionally, however, I would never drink and blog.

So Andrew, please don't tar all bloggers with the same brush. And I look forward to hearing the feedback from the cauliflower-nosed fraternity on those ears of yours...