2006 most overused term — BLOG

Michael over at TechCrunch has a post today, "What is the definition of a blog?" I always thought of a blog as an online journal or diary. He speaks about whether a blog has comments or not. To me that does not make something a blog or not. But what it does do, is make it clear that we should read your gospel but not give you our thoughts or views. I don't like when comments are not on.

For example, Seth Godin has comments off. So I read his posts, I may have good insight or reaction, but I can go nowhere with it. Instead it is almost like attending a seminar in that we listen to what he has to say, grab our coat and head back home. I want a chance for Seth to hear my thoughts and views just as I hear his.

And you know what? Creating a blog takes time and effort. Replying to comments takes time and effort. If you are not ready to commit that time and effort, don't waste my time.

Now let's move on to another good example and really what got me thinking about this topic. If you look at the ABC News home page, there are 2 videos on the middle right. One is Amanda Congdon and the other is Charles Gibson. Amanda starts her show by saying "this is Amanda Congdon videoblogging for ABC News." Yet on Charles' show, it is called a Webcast. Which is right? I would think that Charles' show is actually the videoblog of the two because he posts daily whereas she posts weekly. But she allows comments, he doesn't.

Is the easiest way to define whether something is a blog is based on the tool used? For example, if you use WordPress, blogger, MoveableType then you are automatically "blogging"?

Whatever the definition is, it is way too overused. Everything today is a blog. I think people use it to get buzz and rep in their 'hood but c'mon people.

BTW, in case you are wondering, I do not consider CenterNetworks a blog for blog's sake.