I do not write that many posts about the process of blogging, and I have already done one this morning, but I feel the need to do a second.
As some readers here will have noticed, I have begun a new series of posts under the generic title “Richard Murphy's view on...”.
Having chosen that generic title, I have then drafted these in the third person because they are designed for sharing and as a means of accessing some of my thinking on particular subjects, as well as related reading lists. So far, most have linked to more than 20 other posts on this blog.
However, that choice to write in the third person, as if I am writing about myself, appears to be upsetting some people, and they have suggested that these should be drafted in the first person, or as explicitly personal opinion, instead.
I can see the argument for both approaches, and before going much further into this series, for which I have around 90 titles listed at present, I would like some guidance from you as to which approach I should use.
Might you therefore be willing to complete this poll, which might help me decide?
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I don’t care (as long as the intro makes it clear how/why the 3rd person is used, which at the moment, it doesn’t – although you did explain this at the beginning of the series. A bit of boilerplate text saying, “Richard has used AI to analyse his writings on this topic, hence the use of the 3rd person “he”, rather than the 1st.
Every day, someone arrives fresh, knowing nothing of what you have already explained.
KUTGW!
Thanks
I thought that you did these as a thought experiment and let AI sum up your views as an ‘objective’ source to present your ideas? I thought that was quite clever, since AI is not affiliated to any political party or world view (but then again, at the design stage, maybe it is and it could be).
That is what I am doing…
Perhaps they need a note explaining that instead
Thanks
As a thought experiment I think it is a great idea and I totally get your reasoning. To some of us who have followed your writing for very many years it feels a bit weird but I understand that preaching to the converted is not your top priority so go with what you feel works best. Your blog is and always will be the first thing I read every day.KUTGW
Thank you
I had exactly the same response as PSR – that these were AI generated summaries – and that I’d prefer it if that was made plain with a generic heading.
That anyone should actually write about themselves in the third person feels frankly weird.
Love the series BTW, great stuff to share and very much needed.
KUTGW
Thank you
I very much like your personal style, and especially with this blog, the interaction and the learning that I have obtained through it.
Having that ‘third person’ style writing does remove that connection, but if it a summary of blog pieces and previous essays, then that would probably work better.
Basically, do what works best, to get the messaging across in the most effective way to whichever audience will be receiving it, in the language and format most suitable.
Thanks for all the effort that you and your team put into all this work.
Thanks
Hello Richard.
i voted for ‘I do not care. Do whatever feels right’.
As a daily reader of your blog, the third person style seems, frankly, completely weird and alien to me.
However, I don’t think this series is at all aimed at daily readers and commentators. It’s aimed at people who have no idea who Richard Murphy is, in my opinion.
I do agree with others that there needs to be some ‘boilerplate’ beginning saying they’re AI generated summaries.
Saying this, I think it would be a bit strange to move away from third person now, no matter how weird regular readers find it. I’m sure regular readers can survive it.
Noted
If you dont do it someone else will.
I sometimes ask Claude to answer a question in the style of Richard Murphy .
Its answers are very plausible.
Interesting
So, third party then?
I voted for ‘in the first person’ but my experience of feedback on my own writing (fiction and non-fiction) is that only reasoned arguments are useful. People have their own prejudices. 50 people may say ‘Bill is a weird name for a detective’ or ‘writing in the third person is weird’ and you are none the wiser.
My argument is:
1. Writing about yourself in the third person is pretentious. Specifically, it pretends that someone else is writing about you. If that ‘person’ is AI, there is no criticism or approval; just repetition, so nothing is added. In that case, especially if you approve the AI version, it’s not as if you are writing about yourself, you are.
2. Readers may understandably ask: Why is he writing in the third person? They may conclude: He has something to hide. Or they may decide: He is a rule breaker — and I like original thinkers! Either way, being struck by an unusual style may, as AV suggested above, prevent the reader fully engaging with the content.
3. For me, the bottom line is: Do you feel there is an advantage in writing in the third person? If not, keep it simple. If you do, and that advantage outweighs any assumed negatives, to hell with the critics! 🙂
KUTGW