(stream of consciousness follows) Much ado about blogging this week with a New York Magazine article that goes underneath the covers to reveal what makes the blogosphere tick and the sinister underbelly of the elitist bourgeoisie (not really, but I am trying to use the word, "underbelly" as often as I can during the month of February)
I haven't read it yet...and I'm not sure I will get to it. It's all quite boring and even juvenile to me. I'm so disinterested with the whole debate about A-listers, blogger have and have-nots. I don't need Jaffe Juice to be considered anything other than a trusted and respected resource with high value content.
Steve Rubel reminds us the following:
1) There are bloggers that can come out of nowhere and join the so-called elite group of top-ranked bloggers. Look at TechCrunch. It is rapidly rising up the charts.
2) A blogger with two readers can become a reader with thousands in an instant and then fall back down to zero and then back to thousands again two months from now - or never again. Does that mean he/she is unimportant? Not.
3) Finally, this so-called A-list changes constantly.
I would also add another 2 points.
4) One person's A-lister is another person's Geek Patrol. It's all relative...
5) ...and besides, let everyone enjoy their 15-seconds, 15-minutes or 15-posts of fame. It's called first mover advantage and in every medium known to man or woman, there are typically a few larger publishing organization that monopolize the presses and ad rates...
...wait a second, isn't that exactly what the blogosphere isn't supposed to be? Could it be that the blogosphere is not that different to the rest of the world? Could it be that the podosphere will ultimately emulate the blogosphere, which in turn mimicked the periodical world, in which New York magazine lives? Is the circle finally complete?
Perhaps and perhaps not. Gawker rules in its domain. But will it control the world? Or at least the blogosphere? The tyranny of line extension and diversification teaches us to be exceptionally good at a finite and focused amount of competancies and to avoid losing focus from that which powers us to be differentiated and coveted.
Every blogger deserves their celeb status and let them revel in it (for it may indeed prove to be fleeting) To be sure, during this time they will be excessively targeted in attempts to depose, discredit and criticize them. That's just the nature of the beast, the conversation and the access.
All I can say is pity the fool (thanks Mr T) that underestimates the blogosphere in general - the A, B, C - Z list inclusive.
The articles will come and the articles will go, but the blogosphere will continue to grow...and above all, the entire community itself will prevail as an A-list unto itself.
PS The same thread will play itself out in the podosphere in weeks, months and years to come. Like Yogi said, "deja vu all over again"
PPS To any blogger looking to move up the rankings, grow their audience and climb the list, I would just say....be true to yourself; focus on your content and be patient. Stay the course. Who knows...you might be on the cover of New York magazine one day; or you might purchase a copy of New York magazine one day; or you might use a copy of New York magazine to wipe your ass because you've run out of $100 bills.
