June 7, 2006
J-blog community
In mocking the recent efforts to capture the essence of the Jewish Blogosphere or J-Blogosphere a contributor to Jewlicious reminds us to think
“I am not a significant person. My opinions are not significant. The fact that 50 people who share my opinions comment on my site everyday is not significant. I will refrain from investing cosmic import into the musings of my online buddies, and I will remind myself that probably 95% of Jewish people have no idea what a blog is, nor do they care. All Jewish blogs are is Jewish people expressing opinions, which I can see everyday at my local synagogue, which often, by the way, has a buffet, unlike my blog.”
The writer, frankly, missed the point. If you look at the contributors to the J-Blogosphere blog they are all committed to creating a community. How far that community will reach, remains to be seen. They may benefit from this definition and collaboration, but that's not the point of the exercise. The point is to create a community.
(I would note, too, that none of the J-blogosphere contributors feel the need to use 4 letter words to make their points. They are all more evolved than that.)
What's this community idea? Let's consider a couple of recent initiatives.
In honor of Yom Ha-atzmaut, Daled Amos started an Israel Meme. Overall a baker's dozen of bloggers wrote of their experiences in Israel. These recollections of Israel were entertaining and enlightening.
In a similar vein, West Bank Mama recently celebrated her Aliyah (emigration to Israel) by asking other bloggers to share their Aliyah stories. Again the result was more entertaining than you'd read in any American-Jewish weekly. And it was self-organized. She links to them all.
Like the Israel Meme, she created a feature the equal of which you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
Will thousands of people read these? Maybe not. But those who contributed (and read the posts) have a shared experience that can't be matched in other media.
One other nice thing of a community. Given the common interests some in the community go off looking for information that doesn't get emphasized elsewhere. Someone with an interest and persistance can bring an otherwise obscure story to the forefront. In this case I'm thinking of the Hashmonean who has been following the story of the Israeli developed Trophy "Active Protection" system and its apparent rejection by the U.S. Military for protecting American armored vehicles.
This is a story that should be getting more attention. (Elder of Ziyon also has shown a great interest in this technology.)
Will J-Bloggers change the world? Probably not. But they will inform and entertain an expanding community.
BTW, as a number of bloggers have noticed there's a new aggregator J-Blogsphere.net. It has a nice preview feature too. If you haven't been added yet, use the contact form.
Technorati tags: J-Blogosphere, Blogging Community.
Posted by SoccerDad at June 7, 2006 2:40 AM | TrackBack
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Excellent post, if I may say so. Two remarks, though (am I Jewish or am I Jewish?):
1. Why do you stress that interest of our colleague Elder in the Trophy system? The latest we heard about him does not indicate any personal danger ;-)
2. Your comments contraption does not want to remember the commenter's details, no metter how many times one clicks "Yes".
Best.
Posted by: SnoopyTheGoon at June 7, 2006 8:48 AMAnd how could you forget the great Purim Parody Festival? :-)
Great article!
And...we have lots more in the pipeline -- just wait and see...
Regards,
Jameel @ The Muqata
Posted by: Jameel @ The Muqata at June 7, 2006 9:04 AMJewlicious blogger isnt wront though. the majority of the most regular frequent readers of jewish blogs are the other jewish bloggers themselves
Posted by: The Town Crier at June 7, 2006 9:13 AMJewlicious dude just wishes that he was part of the in group. There, junior high statement of the day.
Soccer Dad- good post.
Posted by: Jack at June 7, 2006 6:20 PMSTG - Elder deserves many trophies.
Why doesn't baltiblogs remember your info? I have no clue.
Jameel - Exactly what I had in mind when I talked of your contributions to a community.
ttc - Maybe the readership of most J-bloggers consists of other j-bloggers. That's certainly not the case with Ezzie or Jameel though.
Jack - too junior high? At least you're on the correct playing field.
Posted by: soccer dad at June 8, 2006 4:59 AMLike every type of community, there are specific groups, but which community anywhere specifically changes the world? I dont think there is a specific aim to, but it does have a significant impact.
I know for my part, blogging has changed mine significantly (- Visit my new blog for some joy! Is it a blogging first?)
Posted by: Karl at June 8, 2006 6:12 AMJack: Hate to have to say it but Michael, the Jewlicious dude in question, is indeed part of the "in group." As I mentioned in a comment on the JBlogosphere blog post on this topic, by any standard, Jewlicious is a member in very good standing of the JBlogosphere. We have won numerous JIB awards despite our not whoring for votes, almost every article on the J-Blogosphere Wikipedia entry cites us and we chat up other blogs. And yet... there's a certain "je ne sait quoi" air about criticism and jibes aimed at us, a certain something I can't quite put my finger on... Oh well.
I think y'all ought to chill. Michael's post was meant in good fun and may have even brought you an extra visitor or two from our stupid little site. I for one am looking forward to what comes out of the "pipeline" as Jameel stated (J. - you still owe me a beer btw). You're all very capable and entertaining writers, you seriously needn't get so vexed about the words of a 20 year old pisher like our Michael. We keep him around for laughs - you may want to consider getting in the same spirit.
Posted by: ck at June 8, 2006 6:53 PMI think it's a great post, and I think that celebrating the J-Blogosphere and creating the carnivl allows for Jews to see teh thoughts of other Jews, and validate their own opinions to some extent. I believe that really there are many similarities between the various Jewish people around the world, and establishing better communication will help Jews identify those similarities.
Posted by: scottage at June 9, 2006 1:02 AM