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Crawford Kilian

I'm a relative newby too, and had similar thoughts as I explored the genre. See my post "Metablogging" at http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/ckbetas/2003/07/index.html

Since writing it, I've belatedly realized that we all evolved from the "pointers to other spots" -- I now call them "hunter-gatherers."

David Giacalone

Hello, Sherry,

Have you noticed that there are pithy Comments and Feature Comments?

Back in mid-September I tried (tongue-in-cheekily) to come up with nominclature for the various kinds of weblog formats [check out
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2003/09/13#a266 ]. Of course, at that time, I was still willing to use the ugly little four-letter word "blog," but it is exactly the evolution to things other than being merely litle pointer logs that makes the word so inappropriate.

Peter Merholz, who first shortened "weblog" to "blog" said "I like that it's roughly onomatopoeic of vomiting. These sites (mine included!) tend to be a kind of information upchucking." http://www.peterme.com/archives/00000205.html Well, Peter, we've come a long way from that humble format. On Oct. 10, I added an Afterthought to my posting on Blogger Jargon, about creating a Language Legacy, and I'd be interesting in your thoughts you might have on it. http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2003/10/01#a307

Back to your essay: Just as very few people with busy jobs actually write weblogs with "features" or mini-essays, very few people with busy jobs actually read such features (or get back to them later). The weblog with brief commentary will probably be the most prominent format and users will find the sites that best suit their needs and interests. Like you, I want to hear a personal voice behind the information being imparted -- without that personality, I'm not likely to return.

The more that I think of it, trying to fit such a broad array of formats into the single terminology "weblog" doesn't make much sense. Having easy-to-use website software, that happens to be frequently updated and to use reverse chronological postings, is simply not a very coherent concept around which to draw conclusions about format, usage or impact. It's like trying to draw conclusions about all telephone calls or all tv shows.

glenn

Very good post. I will say that I agree with you on most points. I have gone on record many a time declaring my abhorrence for Politi-blogs and love for Navel-Gazing (I call them Everyday) blogs.

Since you're relatively new beware of falling in love with your hit counter. It's a sad, sad addiction. I check my at least 10 times a day. I've noticed that my mood affects my writing style and when I get moody & introspective my hits go down. When I'm moody and funny they go back up.

I'm pretty moody :)

Beanie

Gazing at one's navel while writing about law school...good thing I can touch type. :)

caleb

It's the seeing through someone else's eyes I go for. Gives me delusions of power. I try to write the way I want to read-- big content, few words. We are all busy people here, I imagine.

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