Well I don’t know about that Seth. I follow you for your occasional updates because you speak about things I find interesting and are a unique voice. You have knowledge, experience, and a point of view to share.
According to Bloglines you have 208 subscribers. That’s a large community if you ask me. But it’s all a matter of perspective. paradox1x has just 28. But I’m okay with that. It’s an honor that even a few find me interesting enough to do so in this crazy world. And sometimes we even talk 🙂
This case was my last big “open” civil-liberties task. I too often think I’m going to get my big break, and be vaulted to netgeek rockstardom (or at least some level above street performer). But that’s a delusion. It won’t happen unless either I strike it rich (so I can buy the necessary attention), or get a prestigious policy position (so the institution directs attention to me) – both of which, contrary to some myth, are relatively difficult and improbable. Otherwise, I’m going to be slogging in obscurity forever.
Now that this case is over, I think yet another reason for me to keep a blog is gone. I thought there might be something to “citizen journalism” coverage. But again, I think any objective assessment of the results would have to be negative. Nobody is going to read me just for the very occasional update. And as I keep asking, what’s so great about being an unpaid freelancer?
Thanks, but that “208” number has to be viewed in perspective – it’s just people who have me on a sub list. A *much* smaller number actually reads past the title/excerpt (even though I publish a full feed).
There’s nothing wrong with being happy to socialize with a few friends. But there’s also nothing wrong with wanting to reach more people than socializing with a few friends, and having other goals in mind (which are not being met :-().
probably so, and you are right, wanting to reach more isn’t a bad thing.
one way might be to stop doing short-form blogging and writing larger clay shirky/shelley powers/danah boyd/jay rosen style essays. That goes against conventional wisdom (shorter scanable posts, many posts over the day, etc, etc), but I think it’s too soon for there to be determinations on the best way to ‘blog’.