I have to wonder how progressive "blogging for progress" really is. It's a nice thought, but who does it reach? Sometimes it seems like the only people who read these blogs are the tiny chunk of American teens who vote and care about politics, who are already interested in the things discussed on the site. I'm going to take a guess and say that most of the 1077 guests currently online saw the site through fastweb, and are hoping for a scholarship. At least half of them will probably be turned off by the so-called progressive content (which really, I think it is progressive, only, we may be preaching to the choir) and leave. Then a good chunk of those, like me, will sign up, but rarely (if at all) post.
Then comes the question of, for those who do post, what good are they doing? Is blogging really an effective way of engaging yourself? It's definitely better than nothing though, I must admit. Engaged users are definitely better citizens than I am.
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I share some of the same concerns about the site. I don't know how progressive I am, but I write about what concerns me on a daily basis. I have to admit I found the site through FastWeb and am trying for the scholarship, but I have become a bit addicted to posting. The exchange of ideas is important here (debate is lacking in today's society, I feel), but you're right in that we need to do more than just be mouthpieces. It's also easy to post about hot button issues like abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, etc., but there should be more to blogging than opinions on hotly contested political issues. Anyway, hopefully if nothing else this site will spark some dormant brain cells and get people riled up to do something.
I feel the same way you do, and I must admit that I also found out about this through fastweb. However, I like many other people posted the url on my facebook and xanga sites. Plus many other people sent press releases to their local newspapers. Things like this help to spread the news, and hopefully the site will grow.
*~Heidi~*
I'm not a teen, haven't been for a few years now and I'm here. I've been around for a while and I've noticed a *lot* of new people signing up, posting to their own blogs, and commenting to others. I see a lot of new faces (or names as it were) every day. I've also seen many PU blogs (some of my own included) appear in Google, be posted to other websites, etc. We don't blog expecting those blogs to make a difference on their own... we blog expecting that those blogs will lead to engaging conversation, new ideas we hadn't previously considered, and bipartisan efforts that will eventually pave the road to progress.
PU, unlike many other blogging site, isn't about how crappy your day was... it's reaching the teens and young adults (some older adults on here as well) and getting them to think about something outside of their own crappy day... and it's worked quite well thus far. Sure, I see a few posts about crappy days (have even posted my own blog on my crappy (literally) day), but the majority of the posts are from teens and young adults that have something to say about world events. PU gives those that would otherwise be ignored a way to voice their opinions and interact with others in an environment far more meaningful than Myspace (not that I'm against Myspace either).
"We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us." -Marcel Proust
I have started this because of the scholarship. Though i dont see how they can expect people to be as "comitted" as they want. most of us in for the scholarship are in school whether it be high school or college. We have busy lives and can't possibly keep up with the others who are not in school or not working. It's just not possible. Any tips?
Most everyone here is in college or high school... and I believe that in order to win the contest school is a requirement. I may be wrong, but it makes sense to make sure winners are actually in college or will be attending. My point is, we're all in the same boat busy life wise.
"We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us." -Marcel Proust
I found this site through Google news, a couple of blogs here were listed along with news stories from the main-stream media.
I stuck around because I like to hear other people's views and ideas, sometimes it really makes me stop and think about my own views and even reconsider my stance on some issues.