明星博客去伪存真 赵薇“三真”空间是正面教材
Sohu Entertainment
13 Mar 2008
Zhao Wei’s blog shows three methods to check the authenticity of a blog
According to [The Mirror], seventy percent of the artistes’ blogs are not written by the artistes. Instead, they asked someone to update the blog on their behalf. So, how can one know which blog is genuine or not? On 23 Feb, Zhao Wei’s official blog was launched, and until 13 Mar, there have been eleven new updates, with more than 22,000 posts left by fans. The site’s visitor counter clocked more than 8.2 million counts. Zhao Wei’s blog has attracted much attention because the blog was updated by herself; she wrote all the blog updates herself; and she also uploaded her own photographs. Zhao Wei’s fans have grown accustomed to visiting the site at every hour to either chat with Zhao Wei, or simply to leave an encouraging post.
In this article, we shall use Zhao Wei’s website as a reference for all fans to know what a ‘real blog’ should be.
First check: Judge by the way the blog updates are written
Zhao Wei’s Paris tour photograph
Fans need to train their eyes to spot the content and style a blog update was written, to determine if it was indeed written by the artiste themselves. If the blog related to personal feelings or some objects found only in the artiste’s house that is not related to any movie they are currently filming, then it is likely the artiste wrote the blog. For example, in Zhao Wei’s blog, she commented about how she had recently grown more reticent. Also, she wrote down how she felt in her previous Paris trip, and her excitement on staying in a hotel penthouse. Zhao Wei also uploaded several photographs that she took during her European trip. The content and style of the blog entries also reflect Zhao Wei’s straightforward personality. Others cannot imitate such intimate thoughts and photographs, and it is clear that Zhao Wei wrote the blog entries herself.
Second check: Judge by the photograph uploads
Zhao Wei’s self-taken portrait
If the blog contained self-portraits or photographs taken during everyday life, it is clear that the artiste is maintaining his or her own blog. However, if the blog contains screen photos or event photos, then the authenticity of the blog has to be questioned. In her blog, Zhao Wei kept uploaded photographs of her European trip. She also uploaded photographs she took with her handphone, such as the scenery, her own room, or even in the car. In addition to the photographs, Zhao Wei also wrote some of her own feelings. It was as if Zhao Wei wanted to bring her reader with her on the trip; to understand what Zhao Wei is feeling.
Third check: Judge by the time of the blog updates and entries
Any entry on the blog would contain the time and date of the update. And it is definitely a sure way to ascertain if the artiste had indeed posted the entry. If a worker made the update, there is no need for the worker to correspond or communicate with the fans. It is because the two-way flow is out-of-scope of the work. Besides, it would be easier for fans to realize that a worker, instead of the artiste, did the updates. If the artiste frequently replies to the fans’ posts, or visit the fans’ blogs, then it is clear that the artiste is updating the blog himself or herself. In addition, looking at the update time would also be a good gauge. The artistes are usually very busy during the day, and would have little time to visit their own blogs. Hence, most of the entries should be done at night. In Zhao Wei’s blog, she frequently replied to the fans’ posts. Also, she would log into the fans’ blogs if they left their website address. Hence, the fans would feel that there is zero distance between themselves and Zhao Wei.
From the recent visitor list, it is clear that Zhao Wei also visited her fans’ blogs.
Zhao Wei often replied to the fans’ posts.
Zhao Wei chatting with her fans.
A star’s popularity is a double-edged sword. Although getting a third party to maintain your own blog is nothing, it would have a huge impact for the fans. It is because in the fictitious world of Internet, being true would endear the fans towards the artiste.
Translated by 小妹子