Comments on: Security Blogs and Politics

By: joat

joat — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:34:15 +0000

It’s not just politics. Sex, religion and taxes are also dangerous topics to blog about (though my wife does take some online ribbing from me). I tend to come side with LonerVamp in that I occasionally deviate from security and admin topics. I also try to keep work out of the commentary as employers tend to be overly sensitive about specific subjects.

The thing to keep in mind is that your readers will always be surprised when they meet your as the image in their heads rarely has anything to do with what you actually look/act/sound like, including your actual views on politics, religion, and sex. LV once thought I was about 25 years younger than I actually am. (LV: BTW, I never thanked you for that.)

By: Alan Shimel

Alan Shimel — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:47:16 +0000

Michael- your right I purposely try not to get into the political thing and even privacy issues I only comment on rarely. However, I do try to keep a mix of non-security stuff on my blog, because I think it is good for people to have a little insight and flavor into what makes you tick. Thats why the subtitle to SSATY (stillsecure, after all these years) is writing on work, kids and network security.

By: LonerVamp

LonerVamp — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:46:12 +0000

I think it all depends on just how “journalistic” the writer wants to be. This is the biggest problem, to me, with the “blogosphere.” I could write complete lies on my blog if I wanted to, and what is to really distnguish between your blog and mine, especially if I make mine all pretty and official-looking?

Anyway, keep in mind that some bloggers are not as strict about sticking to only security. Most people want to speak their mind and self-publish and it is natural for us to express, purposely or accidentally, our beliefs.

I keep a blog myself, and while I talk about a lot of security issues, I also talk about unrelated things like my life, job, beliefs, friends, or just news going on that my family may care about. I do that because, well, it’s my blog. I’m not out to be a popular security writer with tons of hits and affiliates and comments…and other people may feel the same way.

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 06:44:13 +0000

Thanks you.

Please also remember your international readers, like myself from Australia!
It’s not like we don’t care… well OK… we really don’t care!!
Can we now move onto the content that is relevant to security?

Thanks.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 22:48:19 +0000

Good post Michael,

I have to say I’m getting tired of all the non-infosec “privacy” stuff as well as politics. Yes, I know our rights are eroding. Yes, it stinks. But it would be nice if the politics and privacy / infosec and risk posts ratios were a little closer to 1 on some blogs written by people I really like.