Interview with Blogger Eamonn McDonagh

By The Pakistani Spectator • Apr 21st, 2008 • Category: Interviews • No Responses

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?
I am from Ireland originally but now live in Argentina. I work doing this www.discourse.com.ar
El Nuevo Pantano is mainly a way of letting off steam about things that annoy me, mainly to do with international politics.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write?
Not really, at least not in terms of style. As regards content, while my basic opinions haven’t changed since I started blogging they have become a bit more nuanced in cerrtain areas.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
Corresponding with excellent people I’d never otherwise have come into contact with.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?
I leave comments on some blogs when the spirit moves me and I like receiving them too

What is your favorite book and why?
Fiction: “Los Detectives Salvajes” by Roberto Bolaño It opened up a whole new series of trails in Spanish-language fiction for me and it’s a captivatingread in itself.
Non-fiction: “The Philosophical Discourse of Modernity” by Jürgen Habermas. It’s a mine of ideas on many political and philosophical questions that interest me and a great source of rbettuals for
fashionable stupidity.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
Is my blog successful? I don’t know. It’s true that one can become rather obsessive about one’s blog though.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
I think they may have a certain limited role in maintaining civilized links between citizens in zones of conflict. Not much more than that.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?
http://normblog.typepad.com/normblog/
http://www.sluggerotoole.com/
http://elcriadordegorilas.blogspot.com/
http://lisagoldman.net/
http://www.drinksoakedtrotsforwar.com/

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
I came across a famous philosopher in my local book shop last year and the post I wrote about it continues to get visitors.
http://eamonnmcdonagh.wordpress.com/2007/07/25/zizek/

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
Pakistan is an opportunity that has not yet been fully realised, it should have become, and might still yet, soemthing like Turkey. As regards the people, I don’t know many but I became great friends with a guy from somewhere near Gilgit on my MA course in the UK

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
Well, it influences my other lives by reduciung the time I have for them and and distracting me from them as I constantly think of what my next post might be about.