Credibility through Adversity

 An interesting thing I've noticed in following political blogs is how the right kind of adversity can also build one's reputation. People don't like arguers, but they respect opponents. In fact, opponents are often preferred to run of the mill supporters, because they provide both motivation and material. Mentioning a blog discussed yesterday, Megan McArdle recently started bringing up another blogger named Kathy G. Kathy never posted on Megan's blog, she instead posted a long rebuttal to a post of Megan's on her own blog. She attacked Megan's ideas, was a little snide, and in general didn't deliver a particularly damning point.

Megan not only countered, but has since referenced her blog again, and not really in any sort of critical light. It was really interesting to see this, because it flies in the face of how one might think to build up links. Kathy posted nothing on Megan's page, not even in the comments section (several people do this to advertise their own links, and seldom get promoted to one of the main posts).

(I'll warn you in advance, this is all speculation of mine. However, think about it in terms of what might make the most gripping reading for people who flip and scan information. I don't have it all hammered out, but I think there's something to it).

I think the key to all of this is here in Seth's blog: drama. Kathy started an intellectual debate with Megan, but didn't resort to outright ad hominem attacks (though there was a bit of a veiled ad hominem attack). This raises the tension at the blog, creating some (but not too much) drama. So Megan, in this new "storyline", if you will, is interacting with this other blogger, and in a sense welcoming her into the community she's a part of. Kathy's arguments were completely spurious or vicious, so they could be dealt with. That gets her blog introduced. Now, this other blog is out there, and Megan is interacting with it, probably knowing Kathy will be a future sounding board for her ideas.

How is this useful? I would suggest that to build an audience, you do so by saying things that are attention grabbing. If you have a good argument against something you've read on another blog, voice it! Comment in the comments section, and if you have a readership, give an even longer rebuttal on your blog. Certainly don't be mean or a name caller, but give a thought to be useful opposition. It might be the best thing you can offer a blog you've run across.