Unruled Notebook

Here are some replies on this aspect of science blogging that I have received over the past year from some of my research students, friends and colleagues in my institute. The list comprises of about 50 people including 3 women, all are Indians living in India at present and either have a Ph. D. or are pursuing an engineering or science degree. Almost all of these people have visited this blog at least once and had agreed whole-heartedly with me personally that science blogging is a nice thing to do (there were exceptions for other reasons – see the replies for the second question below).

BTW, if you happen to be one of those who can identify your reply here, be assured that I am merely collecting here the reasons for lack of science blogging in India and if possible, do something about it. If you think your outrageous or reasonable reply has “gone public”, kindly read the rest of the post. You may take solace in the kind of replies given by others. :)

1. Why I don’t (science) blog

(trust me that this question is posed to capable people whom I know over interactions to have the potential to share a lot of their expertise)

• Too much time is involved in doing it.
• I am not sure I can do it daily. I can give you some of my stuff. You can use it in your blog.
• It is not my priority in life although I agree I anyway keep doing equally pointless things.
• It is not my priority. Doing research and publishing them in archival journals is my goal.
• It is not my professional activity and I don’t like that as an hobby. Too much work.
• I am not a good writer.
• Actually I would blog, if I could just do copy/paste blogging (meaning, simply linking and/or quoting other websites and blogs). Original writing takes too much time and effort.
• What is the point of writing in the internet. It will give bad publicity.
• I don’t want to write original stuff in the web. It will be copied and abused.
• I am not sure who will read these stuff.
• I think I cannot write for the reader client�le of science blogs.
• I have a question. How will people find my writings in the web? (the conversation with this person DID continue after this; I explained about how a Google search can get blogs also and what feeds are)
• Actually I am a good reader of blogs and sites. Not a writer. And not a commenter either at those blogs (read replies to question 3)
• Too much of my research time is wasted in trying to write popular essays in science (used in blogs).
• At this point of time in my life I think I am not prepared to do something like this (the person who said this is about 40).
• Too much domestic duties. No time to write (this is by a guy, not a gal).
• I am not confident I can write a clear essay on a science topic. I can discuss but am not sure I can write.
• It is just a youthful fad. Young guys like you, who have lot of enthusiasm, should do it.
• I am not good in English. I can talk but fear to write.
• If I am wrong about what I write, I will look like a fool.
• It is cheap popularity.

2. Why I don’t read Blogs

• What are blogs? How are they different from web sites? I do browse a lot and read web sites.
• Too many links. Very distracting. Don’t know what to click and which one to read.
• science blogs? where are they on the web? how to find them?

3. Why I don’t comment (asked to those who know how to read science blogs)

• My name goes public. I don’t like that. My reputation as a scientist may be damaged.
• Too many requirements like name, email and web ID to fill in before commenting.
• I usually don’t want to end up fighting on issues, that too in public.
• I am not good in English. I can talk but fear to write.
• If I am wrong about what I write, I will look like a fool.
• Waste of time.

Thats sums up certain things for me. But, does this allow one to conclude that science blogging in India is yet to have its time? I await my reader’s response, to see their perspective.

Update: Selva and Bora have given their take on this issue in their Science blogs. Thanks guys for spreading this discussion in other parts of the World.

Tags: science blogging, Indian science blogging, academic blogging