Why Blog?
The term “weblog” was coined in December of 1997 when Jorn Barger launched robotwisdom.com. Everyday he posted an eclectic list of links to sites on the web that he found interesting, newsworthy, or just plain funny.
In 1999 Peter Merholz shortened “weblog” to “blog” with the following post: “For What It’s Worth I’ve decided to pronounce the word ‘weblog’ as wee’- blog. Or ‘blog’ for short.” The short name stuck.
However, the concept of a blog, as a place to post frequently updated links to other content, actually goes back to the origins of the World Wide Web. In fact, the first web site (http://info.cern.ch/), built by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN was the also the first weblog (in content if not in name). This web page, updated monthly (I think), offered news about the development of that thing we now know as the web and offered links not just to “interesting” content but to any content accessible via a brand new invention called the web browser.
Other forerunners of the modern blog include NCSA’s original “What’s New” page (June, 1993) followed by Netscape’s “What’s New” page later that same year. All rightfully called weblogs in that they provided frequently updated list of links, with little commentary, to other sites of interest.
Eventually, individuals started creating their own blogs. Many continued to be little more than link collections, but others became more editorial and personal. People started using this newfound publishing platform to create online journals or diaries and chronicled their day-to-day activities and interests. Some blogged (our noun has become a verb) on a specific topic or passion—ranging from astronomy to detailed descriptions of the comings and goings of an upstairs neighbor to a list of all the food they ate each day. Others just posted anything that popped into their head.
There was a time when a person who enjoyed reading blogs could read all of them on a daily basis. (The oft-used blog convention of having links in the left hand column comes from Cameron Barrett’s camworld.com who used that area to link to all the other blogs he was aware of.) This was about to change. In July of 1999 Pitas.com launched the first blog publishing tool for the non-geek. A month later bloggers Meg Hourihan and Evan Williams launched blogger.com the second blog publishing tool and it was a hit. Blogging went mainstream and the number of blogs, and the diversity of subjects covered, grew exponentially.
Today blogs are an online phenomenon that spans from its weblog roots (simple to links to interesting content and online diaries) to an alternative to mainstream journalism to a platform for political communication (both the Bush campaign and the Kerry campaign maintain blogs.) No one knows for sure, but the number of blogs in the blogosphere has been estimated to be anywhere from 200,000 (Christian Science Monitor) to 4.21 million (Perseus Blog Survey). Google turns up over 45 million pages that mention the word “blog.” But even if the exact number is unknown, it’s safe to say that there are a bunch of them.
Which brings us back to the title of this post. With so much stuff already out there, so many pointers, so much information fighting for our attention why on earth would one feel the need to add to all that noise? Why blog?
The answer to this question is probably as varied as are the blogs you’ll find out there, but for me it is simple: I want share a bit of myself with the person reading these words right now.
My friends and family are spread out across the United States and around the world and I don’t see any of them nearly as often as I’d like. (Even the ones in the same greater metro area.) I want to use my blog to . . . well . . . see them more often. I want to bridge the physical distance, to facilitate a virtual dialogue. I plan to use this space as a journal, a diary, and an ongoing conversation with those I care about. I plan to tell you . . . stuff. What I’ve been up to, what books I’m reading, and what movie I saw last weekend. I want to let you know how work is going, what I’m pissed off about this week, and what I’m looking forward to.
I may occasionally post links to stuff I find interesting, but that’s not my primary goal. (In fact, if you see peebo.net devolving into a link fest, remind me of this post!) I’ve got nothing against a link-blog, BTW, it’s just not what this site is about. On the other hand, I would love to be able to link to other blog posts written by my friends and family. I think it would be great if you, the reader of this, created your own blog so I can get a window on what’s happening in your life. (It’s easy start blogging. See the tips at the bottom of this post.)
Also, my blog is not meant to be a substitute for other forms of communication. For example, I have discussions with some of my friends via bulletin boards. (The expats know who they are!) I’ll continue to take part in those exchanges because they are fundamentally different from the purpose of my blog. Those are two-way dialogues—a way to argue and exchange views. Peebo.net is more of a monologue—a window into my little world. (However, feedback and suggestions are more than welcome.)
By now you’re thinking this is purely narcissistic exercise, right? To some extent I suppose this is true. Unlike my friend Dave H., I find myself unable to keep a regular journal. So, this exercise is an outlet for me as well—a place to store my thoughts and record my activities, a searchable diary, my own movie database, a record of what I’ve read. And although my blog is out there for anyone to see, it’s not intended for strangers. (No offense to any strangers out there.) I’m not looking to make new friends or impress the masses with my incredibly interesting life. [That was irony.] I just want to stay in closer contact with my friends and family.
So this post is getting long… but that’s ok, right? Unlike a phone call you can read it later when you have time. Or you can skip the bits that don’t interest you. Maybe you’re reading this weeks or months (or years?) after I posted it. No problem. Catch up on your own schedule.
Also, unlike an email a post doesn’t ask for a reply. (But please do reply if you feel like it! If this exercise results in my getting more email from my friends, then I’d consider that a bonus.)
So that’s it. The peebo.net manifesto! Stay tuned for a string of potentially boring, but hopefully interesting, communications from your friend.
Best regards,
- Peebo.
Recommended Blogging Tools
Blogger.com – perhaps the simplest, most straightforward publishing tool out there. No technical knowledge required. Just sign-up and you can be blogging in minutes.
MovableType – For the geekier blogger (like me) moveable type is highly customizable but requires that you have access to a web server and some familiarity with the underlying technology.
(If anyone has other recommendations, send them to me and I’ll post them here.)
Links from this post
Weblogs a history and perspective
Archive of the first web site (and weblog)
NCSA’s original What’s New page
Netscape’s original What’s New pages
First use of the term “Weblog”
Jorn Barger Has Left the Building
Peter Merholz’s reference to his original “blog” post
You, too, can have a voice in ‘blogland’ – Christian Science Monitor
My Blog Definition
Blog – (Orig. “weblog.”) (1) A regularly updated online journal with links to interesting or noteworthy information found in the World Wide Web; (2) an online journal or forum, usually updated frequently, containing personal or mundane information; (3) An online journal or diary powered by a publishing tool that requires little technical skill to operate usually of a personal nature and updated frequently—often containing links to other content available online; (4) An online publishing platform with content that is frequently updated; (5) An online journal often with a single author or unified editorial voice; (6) An emerging 21st century communication medium characterized by personal information sharing amongst family, friends, or peer group.