Alex12

The Department's response (above) to comments from the public is rather bizarre. Why are you guys even asking questions like "What are the key elements of a blog"? Did someone just grab the nearest intern and ask "How do we look more internet savvy?" Look at some popular blogs or forums if you want to know how to build a good one! Examples: - Slashdot.org - BoingBoing.net - Whirlpool.net.au On the technical aspects (and questions like "Do you read and engage with other government blogs?") the answer is that virtually ALL government websites are so poorly designed and so unhelpful that I try not to use them. ALL government "search this site" functions ALWAYS return absolutely nothing of any use. On blogging as an organisation: Blogs are written by real people. They are not a medium for issuing press releases. You will need to nominate one or two people to represent the Department via the blog. We're not stupid, we know that there are real people behind this blog and the department and we also recognize that real people make mistakes (and hopefully fix them when they're noticed). If you're actually serious about the DBCDE blog, accept that you're going to mess things up occasionally, fix them as soon as you can and we'll respect you for it. Leave the propaganda and politicking aside for a bit and focus on getting stuff done for a change. Labor is going to criticize the Liberals. The Liberals are going to feign outrage at Labor. Both major parties are going to ignore the Greens as much as possible, regardless of whether their ideas are useful or not. We know that this is going to happen and we'll read the papers if we're really that interested. The job you're doing to too important to get bogged down in party politics and you've ggot more than enough outlets for doing that already, so please just let this blog (just this one) be about Getting Stuff Done. Next: please, please, PLEASE ask for help when you need it. Again, we know there are real people behind this initiative and we're REALLY aware that the Department has some...issues...understanding the internet (see: internet filtering policy). There are literally thousands of us out here who will help you guys get your heads around difficult subjects. Hey, we'll do it for free if it means you stop coming out with non-starter ideas (e.g. internet filtering policy). Lastly, please also consider getting representation on OTHER sites as well. If you're serious about engaging with people, go to where those other people are. Forcing them to come here looks like an exercise in vanity. The discussions you want to have with "the people" are already happening on sites like Whirlpool.net.au and since you're late to the party, its only fair that you join an existing conversation rather than trying to start one of your own. Again, don't be afraid of going to external sites. ISPs and other IT suppliers have official representatives on Whirlpool because interacting with the public in an open (but moderated forum) works. When those reps mess up, they correct themselves. It happens. We respect them for acknowledging their mistakes. Cheers, Alex12