Once upon a time in a blog land faraway there lived a host of vivacious characters known as bloggers. We had parties right here in Bloggingham castle. Writers were born. Authors were published. Artists carved out names for themselves in the vast wall of space known as the Blogogsphere, displaying their talents for all to see and enjoy. We memed a lot. And cheered each other on. Linking was prolific and effective for blog building and expanding networks - until Blogger slapped our typing hands and said "slow down, little Bloggers, you're getting too smart." I loved that my reading list for the day was written by friends. You can't say that when you choose a dusty book from the shelf of normal life. People shared their deepest darkest and brightest brave. We were a community of caring people behind thriving webpages full of ire and fire. There were learning curves, too. And mischief-makers sometimes...but even in the rarity of the occasional meanness, it was nothing compared to the vileness of what we see on social media pages today. If someone started something testy, another blogger would raise the bar higher, jostling with well chosen words and a sense of kindness that I miss in the world.
There's much talk on Facebook about how we miss the old days, the old community. It was a safer place to be. One of the "oldies" (you know who you are) said to me earlier today that he missed the glory days of blogging. I've heard that sentiment many times of late. We are weary of wailing politics and memes that don't mean anything.
Just so you know, Bloggingham is still my home. The yard is a little overgrown and the moat needs cleaning, but Homer and I still wander aimlessly through its ever-changing landscape and hold court in the dungeon when things go awry. I have a feeling that ten years from now, maybe sooner, Facebook and Twitter and Instagram will be the "old" communities, and will have morphed into something unusable and complicated. But we won't long for them the way we seem to be rambling on about the good old days in the Blogosphere.
I don't know if you still have a blog, but if you do, I hope you'll drop in from time to time.
I really need to clean out that dungeon. There may still be a few old bloggers in there.
Join us for Blog4Peace Nov 4
I'm still here, too. So is Kwizgiver. We both update often.
ReplyDeleteDon't sweep me out, please!
ReplyDeleteI see you Gal! I see you Kwizgiver!
ReplyDeleteYou are both to be commended for keeping your blogs rolling along.
And great blogs they are.
Mark - I KNEW that was you underneath all those spiderwebs.
ReplyDeleteAre you hungry?
I'm still here too! Love Bloggingham.
ReplyDeleteMimi, all of us who blogged in those glory days are feeling the same thing, as if that bright energy we shared back then has faded. It has, perhaps by the awfulness of politics these last couple of years, and what it has done to us all. I feel weary, the weight of climate crisis, starving bears and whales, weighs on my spirit. The rising of the young is the hope on the horizon, but it is sad they have to bail the boat we adults all bored such holes in...........unknowingly by we common folk, but very knowingly and culpably by governments and corporations. Sigh. Anyway I am still hanging in, speaking up for the bears and the whales and the children and hoping that transformation of consciousness I have awaited all my life may yet happen in time. We live in hope, hanging by our toenails. Thank you for doing what you do. It matters.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteYou are a strong voice in the world.
Meditations - We are so glad you are. I love your blog!
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