Blogging Voices Essential Themes
In amazing ways the electronic medium dissolves barriers between cultures, countries, and people. Very little evil can be done in the world and remain hidden without being brought to justice; for example blackvoices blogs about domestic abuse, jewishsurvivors discusses sexual abuse and assault, pflagblog speaks out against hate crimes and for equality on a global scale.
In countries such as Egypt, one in nine people have Internet access and are using blogs to speak up about revolutionary political issues, as well as a large contingency on Facebook. Less developed societies are absorbing elements of advancing cultural evolution with the blink of an eye.
In his sojourner blog, Michael Warden describes culture as the “organism within the structure of the organization,” such as the culture within the structure of the U.S. government. He also suggests that culture “inherently resists change...even when that change is for the better, and individuals within the culture want the change to happen.”
Never in history has freedom of speech been so prevalent and accessible as it is today worldwide. The Internet, and blogging in particular, has given voice to the voiceless and created a true vote of, by, and for the people - affirmed by sheer numbers as to what is important and essential, as we move through Earth’s landscape towards humanity’s future.
Conscience, ethics, compassion, heart, vision, hope, creativity, criticism, and wonder exist everywhere, often addressed by writers, artists, musicians, and leaders throughout history - yet today people in all walks of life are stepping up to the plate. The playing field is leveled by pseudo-anonymity, and it is the game played through the wide-angle lens of blog mania, journaling, babbling, and commenting freely with fire and inspiration on themes central to the human heart.
2.2 Billion Cell Phones Worldwide
According to cnet News, in a current world population of 6.77 billion, 2.2 billion have cell phones worldwide, expected to reach 3 billion by the end of 2009. A shopping blog reports that China had one billion cell phone subscribers last year. The UN estimates cell phones to be used by 50% of the world’s population.
Publish something — anything — online and you have the opportunity to reach an incredibly huge audience: one-third the global population (remember, a cell phone is not just a cell phone any more; often an electronic device with characteristics of a mini-computer).
Article comments
1 - writerkols
Long post but great one. Blogging is indeed the best way to rise social awareness. Numerous bloggers are doing it online.
Blogging has indeed become a way of life with many. It paves way for expression and reflection of self. And if you/your thoughts vibe with others, a community is created and sharing becomes indispensable in such a network. Once your community grows, new thoughts, more vibrancy and real change begins to happen.
2 - Eric Olsen
very nice indeed Cary, thanks!
3 - Duane Barlow
Excellent article!
4 - Ginae B. McDonald
Very nice! I find blogging to be MY most effective medium.
5 - Mongo
I think it would be interesting to also talk about how Twitter is changing the Blogosphere. While a lot of people used to blog "I just went to Taco Bell", now they're more apt to Tweet it. I think overall Twitter's making content in the Blogosphere more valuable by cannibalizing many of the would-have-been-inane blog posts.
6 - The Recipe
To expand on Mongo's point, another bit of technology that has drastically changed our daily life is starting to feed into the blogosphere growth - mobile phones. The best ones these days have internet connectivity and apps to facilitate things like tweeting, facebook updates and now even blogging. Anyone with an iPhone may have seen the wordpress app. Blog from anywhere, anytime using a device you're likely to have with you at all times. The possibilities...