Bloggers Knew!

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | 9/15/04 | Kathleen Parker

[Calusa]

All these discussions with the Killians and others took place after the blogosphere had worked its magic, beginning when www.freerepublic.com suggested the documents might not be real.

[Calusa]

I think this author really speaks to new American Heartland light wit and incredible aplomb. Dan You're fired.

[tomnbeverly]

Really... I get my news from Freerepublic now and I welcome the media of Liberty's Century... It beats shouting at the TV hahaha

[Always Right]

When did we become 'bloggers'? It seems this term has been widely used the last year or so, but I don't recall it being used much before then.

[chesty_puller]

Your link doen't go to any article.

[martin_fierro]

How about linking to the actual article, rather than to the author's bio.

[keysguy]

Britt Hume actually did a segment on his show last night but "forgot" to mention FR.

[Calusa]

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/kathleenparker/kp20040915.shtml

[tentmaker]

...
All of which brings me to my premise that the blogosphere isn't just a challenge to journalism in its currently stagnant state, but a potential boon to problem-solving of a higher order. The beauty of the blogosphere is that it is self-igniting, self-propelling and self-selecting, a sort of intellectual ecosystem wherein the best specimens from various disciplines descend from the ethers, converge on an issue and apply their unique talents.

Though virtually newborn, the blogosphere has blossomed exponentially in a matter of Earth-time seconds, from a few random voices to a mighty and diverse chorus of sometimes spectacular talent. Bloggers are the Big Bang of the Information Age.

It seems, therefore, not unreasonable to hope that as this new galaxy expands - with the best and brightest emerging as natural evolution commands - bloggers might apply their immense energy and collective intellect to solving an array of human problems.

Let's start with Iraq, shall we?

What a great article!

[MrConfettiMan]

>>It seems this term has been widely used the last year or so, but I don't recall it being used much before then.

You're right, it is a very new term that's only been in the lexicon for the past year or so and it's being used to death. Frankly, I'm sick of hearing about blogs. Blog, blog, blog. Sounds like a frog fart or a frog belch. Free Republic has been around for what, seven years, eight? And that's just on the 'net. It existed on Prodigy before Al Gore even invented the internet. Anybody can create a blog. Over the past week, how many bloggers have signed up here creating vanities linking back to their blog pages hoping to generate traffic back to their site? I hate the word blog. It's overused and overrated just like Julia Roberts and George Clooney. /rant

[Calusa]

I can't say I agree with her point of view 100%, but I enjoy her wry wit. And her views always make a lot of sense. I think I've read every one of her columns for the last couple'a years.

[Calusa]

I see your point. I'm really not sure the term applies to FR myself. I just thought to offer up the mention of FR for discussion. I read somewhere that some worry the FR is going too mainstream.

[Mike Fieschko]

I'm really not sure the term applies to FR myself.

It doesn't.

FR is a bulletin board.

The advantage of blogs is that they are a network.

The advantage of FR is that it allows many eyes to comment on something. There's an expression in computer coding: 'Many eyes make all bugs shallow.'

But FR is by and large, self-contained.
<brFR has its function, and blogs have theirs. Each fulfills needs, but different needs.

[MrConfettiMan]

The only time people worry that FR is going "too mainstream" is when a news story is really hot and there's lot more traffic (read that as new member sign-ups) on the site than usual. In terms of new member sign-ups, FR has had its up and downs over the years and they typically line up pretty well with hot political news stories (2000 Election...), though admittedly with FR's name being more prominently featured in the MSM lately there is likely to be more sign-ups than during previous periods.