What is a Blog?

Blogs have descended upon humankind. But alas, there is no fear of intergalactic invasion and other nasty things, for blogs don't come from outer space. Indeed, they come from cyberspace.

The word "blog" comes from "weblog," which is a journal intended for public reading on a website. That alone isn't too significant; Weblogs have been around for a long time. The twist is that blogs, the modern weblog, have become downright trendy. They're now popular as sought-after sources of opinion, information, and other fresh Web content.

Blogs come in many forms and with many different types of content. They're meant to be updated frequently. The most common is the personal blog, which is simply a personal account of ideas, thoughts, and even daily activities. Some of these can be entertaining and have humor and wit. Many personal blogs are written only for a small clique of friends.

However, other blogs can also be compelling, if a bit strange. There are cheating-husband blogs (if not in name), and other assorted soap-operas available to those interested. There are even several "confession" blogs available where people can go and (anonymously) exercise their desire to reveal their inner most secrets to the world, and feel a certain relief by fessing up.

Alas, the Internet can, at times, seem like a high-tech gossip machine. There is something about publishing our private thoughts and desires that lends an air of significance to ourselves, our personal relationships, and even our actions. By writing about them, they gain a quality of importance. By committing them to publication, it's all enshrined in literary form.

But personal blogging is certainly not the only use of blogs. Organizations and other groups can have a blog in order to inform interested parties of upcoming events, and to provide a forum for immediate feedback. Also, businesses can use a blog as a means of communicating and marketing to their customers. With the constant addition of new content, customers can be lured back.

Other blogs are information-based. Some of these are political, while others are technical in scope, notably those dealing with computers. Many Internet geeks, techies, and other assorted Internet buffs read such blogs to keep on top of the latest ideas, technical trends, and interesting thoughts from their favorite bloggers around the world.

So, there are as many types of blogs as there are interests in life. While it is true that blogs might only be a fad, that is most likely not so. Blogs are a new way to reach out to others in a personally meaningful way. It's a new way to communicate that will probably grow in popularity and significance. The blogs have landed, with cheering success.

[ Rise of a Wireless Standard ]