In the comments on Brad DeLong’s blog, someone offered a humbling comparison of the influence of NYT columnist David Brooks versus that of the collective writers of Obsidian Wings. There just aren’t enough emoticons:
Who knows what Brooks believes. But people believe him. Conducting an informal survey (and taking liberties with the notion of data) shows that drivel sells. In a survey of Google Hits its DavidBrooks:ObsidianWings–127,000:33,000.
Honestly, that’s better than I would have thought. I mean, he’s in the NY Times. We’re not an especially well known blog. Even more humbling: 2020 of our hits are from pages on this site. And there’s more inflation from sites that blogroll us–e.g. over 2000 of our hits are from Crooked Timber, for some bizarre reason.
Yeah, but there’re lots of “David Brooks” out there that aren’t NYTimes columnists, so I bet you could knock down that 127,000 figure by at least a few thousand. Sure you have to add in his non-electronic readership, but how big could that number be these days? ObWi’s right on his tail.
Let Me, For One, Be the First to Boost “Obsidian Wings”
Obsidian Wings appears to be depressed: Obsidian Wings: Humbling Reality Check: In the comments on Brad DeLong’s blog, someone offered a humbling comparison of the influence of NYT columnist David Brooks versus that of the collective writers of Obsidia…
And here I was, thinking I was going to become a media goddess. Another illusion shattered. I’m going to go off now and stamp my tiny feet with rage.
Internet Fame: A Modest Proposal
INTERNET FAME: A MODEST PROPOSAL….Edward_ at Obsidian Wings laments that a Google search for “Obsidian Wings” nets only 33,000 hits compared to 127,000 for David Brooks. Actually, though, that strikes me as pretty decent, considering how long Brooks …
Internet Fame: A Modest Proposal
INTERNET FAME: A MODEST PROPOSAL….Edward_ at Obsidian Wings laments that a Google search for “Obsidian Wings” nets only 33,000 hits compared to 127,000 for David Brooks. Actually, though, that strikes me as pretty decent, considering how long Brooks …
Internet Fame: A Modest Proposal
INTERNET FAME: A MODEST PROPOSAL….Edward_ at Obsidian Wings laments that a Google search for “Obsidian Wings” nets only 33,000 hits compared to 127,000 for David Brooks. Actually, though, that strikes me as pretty decent, considering how long Brooks …
That strikes me as odd. I get 50,000 hits and my site is way less popular.
Hilzoy you are going to be a media goddess. You just have to start small and build up your worshipers.
And here I was, thinking I was going to become a media goddess.
I’ll worship you!
to all the team of obsidian wings, don’t despair: as my dear mother used to say, it’s quality that counts, not quantity!!!
seriously, keep up the good job! your site is one of the best, especially for a foreigner trying to understand americans (if such a thing is possible)
Kevin Drum suggests using comparisons with the amount of Google hits for Brooks as a measure of [blog] fame:
127,000 results in a Google search = 1 Brooksie
Obsidian Wings therefore = 0.26 Brooksies
But what are those Brooks links? Mostly Brad DeLong describing how bad his articles are surely.
seriously, keep up the good job! your site is one of the best, especially for a foreigner trying to understand americans (if such a thing is possible)
Best of luck with that one, loulou! We scarcely understand ourselves.
Funny, I was thinking along the same lines. But in brash American fashion we claim to clearly understand ourselves in wildly contradictory fashion.
I dont pretend i will ever succeed in that migthy endeaviour (i am not even sure i can understand myself, much less my mate but i think thats a common problem for men, and naturally my fellows french), but it doesnt mean it is not worthwhile to try (especially regaurding my mate).
More seriously, it was a very good thing for me to discover this blog and some others (like tacitus or the mighty fafblog). Even working in an international landscape, and having been to Canada or England several times, i went to the states only once (and it was in Virginia and South Carolina with a rugby team). As such, many things i took for granted about the States, the actions taken by their government, their history, the opinions of the people and their every day life and so on, were either wrong or dumb. I dont pretend my point of view about your country isn’t still wrong or dumb, but at least i dont take those things for granted anymore.
To finish this already too long post, i will say that in all your disagreements, you are good ambassadors for your country as nothing is more frightening than total deshumanising uniformity. So a big thanks
It’s official.
http://www.googlefight.com
to spoof a line from hilzoy’s post
boo hoo hoo
You’re a good ambassador for France, loulou…thanks for the comments!
This puts you head and shoulders above a great many of us, I’ve got to say.
Mr. DeLong has a very complimentary and flattering post about Obsidian Wings today:
Kevin Drum and James Joyner have thrown their two cents in. Congrats, edward_. You’ve inspired a new measure of blogging prominence. hilzoy, you’ll be a star in the media firmament yet.
I think you’d want to be aiming a lot higher than the NYT editorials, in terms of quality. Someone in the comments at the linked DeLong post noted that “Bob Herbert is often quite good”. The problem is that “often” is too low a standard, if occasionally you put out verifiably shoddy work.
I dont pretend my point of view about your country isn’t still wrong or dumb
Frankly, Lou Lou, I wish this country had the same humility toward the French. Not that I don’t disagree with some choices by your leadership — surely I do. Not that I don’t despair over some choices by your countrymen (and women) — surely I do that too. And not that I have not had the stereotypical “bad day in Paris with the rude French waiter” — indeed, I daresay that pretty much describes each of the days I’ve had in Paris. (Not that I didn’t, despite it all, fall in love; and, for the record, the Loire valley & elsewhere in the countryside have always been quite different experiences.) But there is too much division between so-called old Europe and the U.S.; too much arrogance and chiding on both sides.
Now, however, a confession: I secretly hope for more bitterness. Why? Well, the last round of “Freedom Fries” and “I hate the French” nonsense resulted in a huge drop in demand for certain French wines — resulting in cheaper prices and quite a boon for me. The happy effect: many happy evenings. (Though, sadly, also an equal number of not so happy next-mornings.)
von
p.s. And the food! The food! I could live on Bouillabaisse! And foie gras — don’t tell me how it’s made! And truffles! Steak frites! Any culture that produces such wonders (both wonders of high and low cuisine) . . . .
Von,
a very funny point is that many of my friends thougth the same thing: if americans don’t buy our wine, we will have more to drink and prices should go down.
Alas, we were wrong: prices have risen despite freedom wines and the like.
Its early in the morning in France now, i am trying to cure a hangover induced headache so i must say that my first reaction to bouillabaisse and foie gras was not as enthousiastic as it should be. When i am better i will write you about food!!