I've written before about how I get most of my news from reading other blogs. I get a wider variety of sources and better explanations/discussions of news topics than I can from newspapers or TV news. I also read news that isn't being covered by major media.
The influence of blogs on what news is being covered and how blogs have made it more difficult for major media to ignore some stories has been a recurring theme in many blogs I read. I think there's another, more subtle, influence blogs are having in breaking down stereotypes.
The only stereotype that I feel has had any effect on the way people treat me is the assumption that because I live in Kentucky, I don't wear shoes, keep the washing machine on the front porch, just barely graduated from 6th grade...as if everyone from Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and such states live like the Beverly Hillbillies (before they moved to California.)
Blogs such as Instapundit (TN) and Ipse Dixit (KY) and other bloggers from these states can't help but make people view citizens of these states a little differently than they had before.
When you begin reading a blog post, you may not know the author's gender, race, location, education, or age. You read the thoughts of the author, the other things are irrelevant, all that matters is whether they make sense and can support their opinions with facts. I believe that this exchange of ideas without the influence of prejudice or bias will do as much or more to breakdown stereotypes of all kinds than any affirmative action program has ever done.
Posted by marybeth at August 22, 2004 06:31 PM Blogging