Newscoma

I’ve been thinking a lot about blogging over the past few weeks and how things have changed since I started doing this. I’ve talked to several bloggers, and then I read this by Busy Mom, and I realized I wasn’t alone.

1. I’ve recently thought about hanging up the blogging thing. My community has changed, and I’m not sure what I think about that.

Despite the fact that it may look like I have already done so, I probably won’t.

However, I do admit to being discouraged by several things, including a sharp increase in online smug self-assurance and righteousness in the name of “discussion”.

When I started blogging, things were a bit different. I was gainfully and fully employed, I thought it was the coolest thing I’d done in awhile and it was groovy. I really had no preconceived notions about what would happen because I was living in the moment. And, then again, there was Brittney Gilbert at NiT that brought a community of people together. Funny and poignant, Internet evangelists, political junkies and a cast of characters that came together as she guided the new boat through the choppy waves of the Tennessee blogosphere. Those relationships have pretty much stayed pretty strong, be it online or blogging relationships that evolved into real friendships. We had a sense of each other. We came together despite geographical location and it was of the good.

Times change and because we don’t have the original NiT anymore (although I am a friend of Christian Grantham who had to weather the storm after Brittney’s departure), it was different.

Morphing into the future, there have been efforts to regain the steam that drove a unified network of bloggers in Tennessee, but none have, or ever will I suspect, garner that sort of community again. As I don’t live in a metropolitan area, I’m not given the option to go to the new phase of tweetups, geek breakfasts, social media gatherings without several days of scheduling and planning, I commend that this things are happening and that they are very powerful in establishing community.

The issue that I go back to is what Busy Mom said. I thought about hanging this thing up. It was in the cards a few weeks back but then I went to BarCamp Nashville and I realized that it was my responsibility to have fun and feel relevant with my online presence. I did, however, think of putting my hat on the rack and keeping the computer in its’ bag. I have, however, started to have a good time with it again because I realized that blogs have peaks and valleys. The online community changes and it’s good to know that rolling with the tide isn’t always a bad thing.

This goes for Newscoma as well.

Last week’s blogger brouhaha that occurred when a Memphis businessman and blogger was nominated, and then dissed in a meeting got me to thinking about the state of the Tennessee blogosphere. And it was Jackson Baker who said this:

Which brings me to the Ross controversy, which I haven’t weighed in on up until now. I have from time to time over the years tipped my hat to the independent blogging community. Though most blogs are oriented to point of view rather than to objective journalism per se, the best bloggers have made enormous contributions to news coverage and thoughtful consideration of the public weal. Everybody else — the CA, the Flyer, the TV and radio stations — have had to take note. Increasingly, blogs break important news, and no self-regarding “traditional” journalist can risk not having several blogger URLs on their computer bookmark lists.

And then Michael Silence wrote in his weekly deadwood column this:

And once again, we learn how rapid and responsive online networking can be.

Both journalists validate that as bloggers, we are making a difference. Be it as entertainment value, social change or just being a part of a community, I was reminded that I am still part of an online community. A sad fact that I’d forgotten for some reason. It was good for me to read Busy Mom to see I wasn’t alone. And Say Uncle hit the whole Joe Brown controversy on the head quite well.

Our evolution here in Tennessee for each and every blogger is personal and very real. And we are part of this state whether folks want us here or not.

So there is the story. Take it for what’s its worth. Hell, I’m just a blogger. Wanna see a picture of a turtle?

I have no idea.

I’m waiting. Aren’t you?

While you are waiting, have a Goo Goo and wait for the polls. OR, you can put Busy Mom in jail. You know, this is awesome. (Homer’s favorite blogger. Yeah, put her in jail. Damn you, Homer.)

Help her out. It is, of course, of the good.

It could be another six weeks of primary ugly. Or not. And, you know, put Busy Mom in jail.

It is of the fun. She needs some do-re-mi for a good cause.

I would love to sit here this morning and tell you that Homer, the sis, has a favorite blog and it’s mine.

But, alas, it isn’t true.

I haven’t seen much of Homer lately due to an insane baskeball/softball schedule of the oldest niece and I’ve been a nutbar due to work (although we had a lovely afternoon yesterday which was all sisterly and so lovely that I almost couldn’t stand it.) Homer brought to my attention something about being on the peripheral sidelines of the blogosphere and I had a couple of reactions. She didn’t catch the importance of what she said, but I did when it came to readers in this digital age.

Now, I have met Busy Mom a total of one time and liked her immediately. She’s really cool, and quite honestly, she immediately reminded me of my sister. I told her that Homer loved her blog, we smiled about it and then we both went on our way at a bloggers meet-up the summer before last.

My conversation yesterday went something like this:

Homer: “I commented on Busy Mom’s blog a while back. It was the first time I’ve ever done that other than here one time. She’s really good.”

Me: “Neat. She is cool.”

Homer: “She’s nice. She sent me an email back. I didn’t expect that.”

Me: “That’s really groovy. What name did you comment under?”

Homer: “Well, being that you’ve christened me Homer, I commented under Homer. She figured out it was me. I honestly thought it was really neat she knew I was Newscoma’s sister.” Looks at me like I have something hanging out of my nose.

Me: “Okay.”

Homer: “Her blog is the best. It’s my favorite.”

Me: My head shot up and I looked warily at my beloved sister. “Doh.”

Homer: “Don’t get me wrong, yours is pretty good, I guess.”

Me: “Doh.”

There are two lessons here. The first one is that non-bloggers appreciate feedback from the authors of blogs they read. It really is something that we should all do and I’m the worst about it. Non-bloggers read these things and I can remember feeling all weird about commenting back in the day. I remember when Atrios sent me an email and I felt on top of the world about it. Busy Mom made Homer’s day, but in all honesty, she’s loved going to BM’s place for a long time. She relates to her and this is of the good.

The second lesson here is that I’m going to have to hit her like we used to do when I was in sixth grade and she was in third grade. I believe when you hit someone on the arm and leave a bruise, it’s called giving them a frog.

Heh.