If I play too long with Weblogs, will I get splinters?
Challenge me on blog trend observations
By Jay Small | Mon, 09/13/2004 - 11:05am
I observe, but can't prove, the following trends in the Weblog environment (I refuse to call it the "blogosphere") in recent months. Am I right or wrong?
- Subject-matter-expert bloggers (designers, technologists, tradespeople, academics etc.) seem to be slowing down, in terms of frequency and depth of posts.
- Political bloggers seem to be accelerating, logically, during the U.S. presidential campaign season. More posts, more analysis, more commentary, and yes, more vitriol.
- Blogs that aren't inherently political in theme nevertheless take on political topics more frequently and adamantly now than at any other point in the short history of the format.
What do you observe?
Comments
I would generally concur.
I would generally concur. However, I find it sad that depth would drop. As frequency slows down, one would expect that the subject matter experts focus on adding to the dialogue instead of just pointing to the same resource.
With the US election upon us, it makes sense that politics would taint more blogs. I would expect that to subside after the election, as people will return to their subject matter.
I also agree that blogs are
I also agree that blogs are currently becoming more political. I think it is greatly due to this being the first presidential election since the maturation of blogging. I have found myself adding political comment to my blogs, although I never intended to write about politics.
As for the slow down of frequency and depth of posts of expert bloggers, I have witnessed the same. I believe It's mostly because these people had something to say and said it. I used to subscribe to Bicycle Magazine and canceled my subscription because the articles were becoming repetitive. The magazine had little more to add to any of its topics. Although blogs I have found that have become stale have in no way exhausted the scope of their topics, I believe they have exhausted the scope in which the authors are experts. Gaining additional knowledge, unfortunately, is not something one can do at the same pace with which he can write blogs.