I'll preface this by saying that I haven't read Mr. Bock's article yet. If I swing by the book store tonight, I'll try to find it.
Houseblogs are important for several reasons in my opinion:
1) They are a portion of our home's historical record. If we do a good job, we should have every reason to expect that our homes may still be here in 100 years. A future owner may actually care about the what & why things were done to the house. I'd dance with joy if I discovered Mr. Boswell had kept a detailed journal about the building of the Devil Queen.
2) Houseblogs as a whole offer a lot of hard to find information about home restoration projects. I've learned more from houseblogs than most of the books I've read. I've received emails from people all over the world (if the US, Canada, and Austriala are the world) asking for practical, how-to advice.
3) Houseblogs are like a support group (Hi. My name is John, and I've had an old home for 3 years. I no longer have hobbies, money, friends, or good hygine. I'm obsessed with my house. I need help.). Not everyone takes on projects like ours. Sometimes when you are frustrated with your project, it's nice knowing you aren't the only one.
4) I have friends and family all over the country. They like knowing what is going on with the house. It's an easy way to keep them informed.
5) Writing about the Devil Queen helps me think through my projects before I begin. I also profit greatly from the ideas, tips, and feedback I receive from all you folks.
From what I've gathered from your post, Mr. Bock seems to have a somewhat dismissive view of houseblogs. While our amateur efforts and the obsessive photography may not be of vital interest to a home construction professional, it is of the greatest interest to me. Once again, I can not stress how much I've learned from the rest of you. I like step by step pictures of everything. Before and after pictures are nice, but it doesn't show me how to do it myself.
While most of us have only been blogging about our homes for a year or two, sites like Enon Hall lead me to believe that houseblogs can and will be around for quite a while.
I think Jon got it right on. In addition to that, I feel a bit alienated sometimes by magazines like OHJ and shows like TOH. Don't get me wrong, I like to look at the pretty pictures but I look at them and say, "There's no way I can afford to do that". When I read other house blogs I think, "Yea, I can do that"
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I would much rather see TOH spend 6 months (or longer) restoring a small Craftsman Bungalow with just 4 guys, than to watch them spend $300,000 gutting and modernizing a 3000 sq ft old house. How does it help me to watch someone put a $15,000 “lighting package” in to their kitchen.
I think the author of the article may feel a bit threatened by blogging. We give away more for free than they can sell.
I also have not read the article yet, but am not surprised by it. Basically, the world of blogging is uncovering some niche markets that have been ignored for years. For example, restorations for the novice. Houseblogging fills a different niche than OHJ. However, it is a niche that OHJ could have expanded into years ago. I have bought maybe 1 magazine of OHJ, simply because it wasn't/isn't useful to me. I'm guessing their authors might be a bit disappointed to realize that people like us, people involved in restorations, actually find houseblogs more useful than their magazine. Who finds their magazine useful? The rich? Contractors? Completely different group than the people who read my houseblog. My housblog has connected me to ranch lovers around the country - something no magazine (excluding atomic ranch - which focuses only on mid-century MODERN) even touches. Where else can I get information on updating and loving a ranch? I've encouraged other ranch owners that I randomly find on the net to start houseblogs. I get excited every time I see a new ranch blogger - because I know they're going to provide me with tips, advice, and a community that understands my restoration with little/no money obsessions!
I'm off to find the magazine this afternoon. I was a subscriber but my subscription ended last issue. But, it sounds like you have hit the nail on the head - our articles aren't much different than those in their magazine.
It's a bit funny to me that he would have mixed emotions when many of us housebloggers link to their magazine....and frequently turn people to their posted articles. I would think we compliment them well.
One big difference though is that I am often frustrated by old house magazines because: 1) of the lack of concrete "how to" details - although OHJ is better than most it still is desperately lacking; 2) the unrealistic scale and budget of their restorations; 3) the fact that their opinions are often appear swayed by their advertisers. The very photos you say he mentions are the ones that tell me EXACTLY how something needs to be done.....what products to use & not use.....and what doesn't work...what questions to ask....all based on actual- non-professional-within a budget-not for profit experience. All that and there is an actual "face" & personality behind the post. I'd take my favorite blogs over a magazine any day of the week 
All of you are exactly right. I really appreciate your supportive perspective. Please seek out the magazine and read the article for yourself. I don't have a scanner or I'd scan it in and post it. I could do a whole post responding to each of you, but I'll summarize here. I'd love to see posts from all of you if you get a chance to read the article.
John- I have so much admiration for your devotion to the Devil Queen. I love reading about your journey, and I agree wholeheartedly with you about the support network. Y'all do keep me going on a regular basis.
Gary and Laurie- You're exactly right- maybe these publications (and the big businesses/contractors backing them) are threatened by the quantity and quality of our content. I am frustrated by the articles that I read about restorations with "lighting designers", "window treatment specialists" etc. Who has the money for these things? We've really had to limit ourselves to continue to afford what we are doing to the Nightmare.
Stuccohouse- I agree wholeheartedly. I've tackled tons of things that I would have never been able to do before thanks to the wonderful how-to information that you've all provided to me. Thanks so much to all of you for reading and for writing. Please keep the comments coming!
It's easy for Johnny-come-latelys, isn't it? I haven't read the article and I agree with the comments above. Especially one of John's points - my blog (and several others I know of) actually started as an email "newsletter" I sent out to friends and family on a weekly basis. The blog was just a natural progression. Sounds like that guy's ego needs to be checked.
Thousands of viewers? I thought it was the same 80 people twice a day plus the ones who want to know "What does Crack smell like?" Boy, he didn't research very well!
I know the perfect little girl to scream in his ear!
On a side note. I was contacted by the Chicago Tribune through a referral from another houseblogger via email. They wanted me to call them for an interview. Not one to actually seek publicity, I emailed them my # and told them when they might catch me home. I haven't heard back. Guess they don't want my interview on their nickle. I'm sure we will all get to see this artical soon.
Hi Gary, I'd be happy to supply the recording device if we want to get that little girl screaming in his ear thing going. And I had to laugh at thousands of readers myself- I think most of my hits are just me checking obsessively for comments.
I spent most of the day playing phone tag with the same (I assume) Chicago Tribune reporter, and finally caught up with her about 6 pm tonight. We just spoke for about 20 min, but I'll be intersted to see what she uses of the interview in her article. She was very nice and professional. Glad to hear someone in the print media is interested in what we have to say.
Mr. Bock clearly has a bee up his behind over the fact that us bloggers are cutting into his advertising dollars...
Real DIY'ers are looking to houseblogs as a less biased source of information. We write because it gives us pleasure, not income. We're here because we enjoy the company, and sharing our trials and tribulations with our neighbours.
We make it easy and free for anyone with a computer and an internet connection to visit our blogs -- we place our trust in people we've never met that if they don't agree with our viewpoints or method of illustrating our passion through words and pictures, they will move on and respect our rights as self-publishers to free expression.
Mr. Bock doesn't respresent a publication that reflects these ideals. OHJ survives on advertising, and is therefore dictated by it. He asks why 'we feel compelled ...to post it for all the world to read'. I might ask Mr. Bock why OHJ feels compelled to print the most outrageously expensive restorations undertaken by his advertisers and their high-end associates for all the world to read.
..oh, excuse me, that would be all the world who are willing to PAY to read.
You SHOULD be scared Mr. Bock, very scared.
This statement -
Or is it the ego boost of having your own show where an audience of thousands follows your project in installments as if it were on TV?"
made me laught out loud. Um, Pot...Kettle...Black?
There is something inherently narcissistic about writing for a public audience, whether it's a blog or magazine or a book. Any writer believes their own thoughts to be fascinating enough that other people will go out of their way to read them. For someone to write an editorial criticizing the desire of someone else to do the very same thing they are doing themselves (albeit in a different medium) is total hypocricy.
Blogs are very democratic. Just about any schmuck can start up a blog; but it takes a lot of eduction and connections to edit a magazine. Color me unimpressed.
Wow - I was thinking of subscribing, but now I'm not so sure!
What's this about deprecating housebloggers for their use of abundant photos?? I have to say that I've done a lot of projects and gotten a lot of ideas by *scouring* houseblogs and looking at their photos. It also gives me an idea of what I realistically can and can't accomplish (or rather, will or won't accomplish).
Also, OHJ tends to do the "ideal world" renovation/restoration. Yes, their kitchens are gorgeous and true to period, but where's the damn microwave? And toaster oven? I need those things!! And hello, where are the electrical outlets?? Housebloggers show real world, practical remodels.
I think all of us could go on forever about this unfortunate editorial. I think we should get a hold of a scanned copy, send it to every houseblogger we know, (and those we don't) and mount a letter-to-the-editor campaign.....
Had to laugh. Went to Barnes & Noble this afternoon to get a copy of the issue. I didn't see OHJ on the shelf and they usually carry it, so I asked the person that works there. Keep in mind I live in a city filled with old houses. The sales person's quote "oh, we don't sell many of that one. I don't think we carry more than a few copies each month." She steeered me to American Bungalow instead. I guess it will be harder to track down that article than I thought
Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm on vacation so I don't have time to respond to you all, but thank you so much for your perspectives (which agree with mine completely!) Maybe we should work out a formal response to his editorial and send it in to the magazine. I'll try to get a scanned copy of the article up on the blog next week (unless anyone else can take care of that for me in the meantime). You're welcome to email me at amanda dot l dot forster at gmail dot com if you want to discuss the logistics of that further. I'll have limited internet access until the fifth, so if I don't get back to you quickly, that's why. Please keep on blogging, with LOTS AND LOTS of pictures. I LOVE pictures!
Ironically, OHJ started out as a xeroxed `zine way back in the late seventies.
Matt, nice to hear from you. That is definitely interesting!
I'm arriving late to this discussion, but had to throw in my agreement. How ridiculous of Mr. Bock to criticize us for writing about our experiences and opinions when that's exactly what magazine columnists do!
I've learned so much and got so many great ideas from other bloggers and commenters to my blog. Before the houseblogging "boom" I felt like I was flailing around with no clue what to do. All the old house magazines were about gloss and big budgets. I needed practical advice! I found some at the OHJ forums, but Houseblogs.net is way better! Mr. Bock and his associates are just jealous.
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