N.O. Pundit

The Delta

For those of you who got through high school math and chemistry, you will probably be familiar with a concept know as delta. It is represented as a triangle (Δ), and is always associated with a variable, typically x. The two symbols are conjoined (Δx) and are pronounced "delta x".

Δx stands for the change in x over a specific time period or event. The change might be in temperature (during an exothermic chemical reaction), or in Cartesian space (Δx is one of the bedrock concepts used in differential and integral calculus).

So if x stands for what a fair person could conclude as a factual accounting of an event, and Δx stands for the (less than factual) position espoused or reported on regarding x (usually by the legacy media, but it could be academia, government, political parties, celebrities, etc), the "job" of the blogosphere is to expose and correct the Δ. The greater the Δ, the greater the blogosphere rush to expose it.

Hugh Hewitt in Blog writes of the four big Δ's that the nascent blogosphere cut its teeth on, and the "blog swarm" each created (Hugh does not use the term delta): the Trent Lott racist remarks affair; the Jayson Blair/Howell Raines/New York Times affair; the John Kerry/Swiftvets/Christmas Where Again? affair; and the Dan Rather/Fake But Accurate Memos/Bush Drinks TANG For Breakfast affair. In each case there was either an omission of reporting (largely the first two), or a distortion of reporting (largely the second two). NB: no links for the above topics; go to google yourself and find the umpteen gazillion links each topic has generated.

Other Δ's:

Batesline.com threatened with lawsuit for copyright infringement. The Δ? Big Media Company has its head up its ass and doesn't understand fair use excerpting and linking (or does, but does not know how many fingers I'm holding up on Thursday due to imminent blogosphere pummeling)

Eason Jordan. Basically top CNN guy says coalition forces in Iraq are intentionally offing journalists. When challenged, he backs down, and expects the seditious slur to quietly be forgotten. The Δ? The statement is a grotesque lie. Before the blogosphere, omission of reporting would have "solved" this kerfuffle. Jeff Jarvis here and here; Michelle Malkin; Captain Ed; and many, many more.

Here's a fun one: Nick Coleman and Powerline. Look here and here. The Δ? Looney Tune mistakes his reflection for respected trio of bloggers. Throw in penis envy for added comic relief.

AP reports Bush rally booing former President Clinton on hearing about his bypass surgery. The Δ? There was no booing. In fact, when President Bush mentioned Clinton's condition, the crowd cheered enthusiastically when Bush asked them to keep Clinton in their thoughts and prayers.

UNSCAM. The UN Oil-for-Food program to help Iraqis ends up helping everyone but (are these oil vouchers still good?). This is one story the legacy media wants so badly to go away. The Δ? The UN is an utterly corrupt snakepit, yet it's reported on as the world's last, best, hope. Blecch. Bloggers are certainly keeping it alive, and good Congressmen like Norm Coleman and Henry Hyde continue the investigation. One journalist who deserves a Pulitzer prize for here investigative reporting is Claudia Rosett. Not one pajama-clad salivating moron has put forth better reporting than her. One of the most entertaining bloggers who, alas, has hung up his PJ's is the Diplomad, who not only did some fine reporting on the Oil-for-Palaces scandal, but also ripped the UN a new one for their UNrelief efforts in the aftermath of the tsunami.

Ward Churchill, Mr. American Indian Pretend! The Δ? He looks in the mirror and sees Nick Coleman.

This list of course can go on quite a bit longer. My point is simple: the blogosphere seeks the Δ for one reason: to expose it and correct it. No Δ, no blogosphere impact. Or perhaps more accurately: no Δ, no "blog swarm" and "opinion storm". Blogs are great for online diaries, recipes, economic forecasts, of course. Blogs can report on world changing events. But that doesn't make them remarkable. The neural net, semi-conscious, self-aware aggregate is the truly remarkable thing. Seeking the Δ for the blogosphere is now an autonomic function.

Posted by nopundit at February 16, 2005 12:15 AM