October 11, 2006

brief mention in the f.t.

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Based on the Edelman/Technorati study I mentioned yesterday, The Financial Times cites gapingvoid as the most influential blog in the UK.
Though it’s nice to get a mention, I don’t feel particularly influential these days. My focus has shifted away from the blogosphere a lot in the last year, towards the more capitalist world of selling wine.
It seems to me that if there was a “blogging revolution”, it has already happened. 2002-2003 were key years for me, and a lot earlier for people like Winer, Megnut or Doc. The genie is already out of the bottle.
Again, it comes down to my favorite quote from Clay Shirky:

“So forget about blogs and bloggers and blogging and focus on this — the cost and difficulty of publishing absolutely anything, by anyone, into a global medium, just got a whole lot lower. And the effects of that increased pool of potential producers is going to be vast.”

Shirky’s quote to me is the real story. The Blogopsphere and “Web 2.0″ are just small parts of this greater whole.

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8 Responses to “brief mention in the f.t.”

  1. Chris says:

    Maybe “most influential blog from the UK” would be more accurate?

  2. Phil says:

    Love the cartoon Hugh, but sadly the moral isn’t going to last – I went to see an online Media guy yesterday, and he mentioned the “blogosphere” almost as much as he said “funky” and “dynamic”….

  3. churchpundit says:

    Congrats! Again, I must say I find your stuff fascinating. I also find it extremely interesting that your blog is described as “most influential”! Not just most read, most hits, most readers, but most influential! Quite an achievement. thus spoke churchpundit!

  4. John Dodds says:

    I agree with you Hugh and would be interested to view the 2002-2003 blogging but your archive starts in January 2004. Has the rest disappeared into the ether or is it still in existence?

  5. Hugh MacLeod says:

    my archives 2001-2003 are currently down, john. i’ll get ‘em fixed eventually.

  6. Sam Sethi says:

    Congratulations Hugh. I agree, there was a period where you were at the cutting edge of web 2.0 satire with a great British twist which often bust the self importance bubble of the Valley Digerati.
    Your work with Stormhoek may have taken your eye off the ball slightly but we have spoken about when you are on fire you are soooo spot on with your alternative and somtimes dark view of the web. Looking forward to seeing you and discussing a few ideas.
    For now bask in your sweat equity and enjoy the moment. Possibly open a bottle of Stormhoek’s finest and enjoy the day. ;-)

  7. Hugh MacLeod says:

    I wouldn’t say I was in a creative lull per se, Sam… just my interests have expanded beyond the web quite a lot this last year.
    Secondly, I think Stormhoek has done a lot to inform my view of how the web actually works… and its possibilites as a marketer… more so than English Cut, even…

  8. Sheamus says:

    Hugh, you may be too close to the things happening in the moment, and thus, missing the big picture of what is happening in your life and with your life.
    Step back and see the larger perspective, and for goodness sake, please stop applying silly labels to your identity, what you do and what you accomplish i.e., “marketer”. You are way more than “a marketer”!!!
    You are original! You are creative!! You are thoughtful and thought-provoking across a range of of ideas and issues!!! You are an Artist and a damn good wordsmith!!!! You have a unique perspective on the world and the stuff happening in our world!!!!! And, millions of people benefit because they can see things and think about things in new ways because you have the balls to put yourself and your ideas out there!!!!!!
    Sam’s comments are right-on. And, take him up on his offer of dialogue and ideas.
    Rock on Hugh!!!