Boomeresque:Definition
1. Adj.: Describing a person born between 1 Jan. 1946 and 31 Dec. 1964
2. Adj.: Description of a person, place or thing possessing Baby Boomer je ne sais quoi
3. See also, Boomer, Esq.: A Baby Boomer who is also a licensed attorney (See, e.g., About).

What the &$*)/@6\^ is a Blog?

by Suzanne Fluhr on March 27, 2012 · 4 comments


I was just getting ready to reinvent the wheel and in the course of my research, I came across a non-copyrighted comprehensive explanation of the term “blog” in, where else—Wikipedia. Fortunately, I will not be handing this in as part of a school paper because quoting “Wikipedia” is mortal sin for most educators.  However, I know enough to be able to vet the Wikipedia content and you are not my educator—nor are you paying me.

For those of you with little time, and less patience (which would mean most pre-Baby Boomers), I will provide you with a shorter explanation than the Wikipedia article below.  (Caveat: remember, I’m a Boomer, Esq., so brevity is not my forte). For a comprehensive explanation of the term “blog”, the history and the art of blogging, I recommend the Wikipedia article which you can access by clicking here.

Just as “smog” was a new word contrived from “smoke” and “fog”, “blog” is a new word, melding “web” and “log”.  Blogs are creatures of the internet and are typically updated fairly often. Some blogs are quite literally personal diaries.  Others are organized around particular subjects (e.g., a particular trip) or themes (e.g., travel, parenting, golfing, and not surprisingly, blogging). Articles (or “posts”) appear on the blog home page in reverse chronological order.  Some are mostly authored by one person who might also invite posts from guest bloggers. Others might be built by a group of bloggers.  Blogs are “searchable” by key words and might use indices like “Tag Clouds” to help readers find the information  they need or that interests them on a particular blog.

In my view, blogs are one of the earliest versions of social media.  A blogger hopes that each post will invite comments by readers.  (When I say “earliest”, I am not referring to the 1940’s.  The first blogs appeared in the 1990’s, but in the 21st century, the number of blogs seems to be exploding exponentially.)  If there are enough readers, and enough of them are also commenters, a blog can become a virtual, collaborative community.  As with most communities, some readers’ comments will engender a collective ether-based sigh/eye roll, some readers will be lurkers, and others might be trolls.  Some commenters might resort to web acronyms–such as lol, wtf, etcetera (This blog post could have been entitled:  “WTF is a Blog?”)  (Comments on this blog are “moderated”—that is, I will read them before they appear on the blog and I have software looking out for spam).

So, why am I a blogger?

  1. I like to write.  Words are my paint.
  2. When I semi-retired in 2005, there were actually decent opportunities for non-journalists/non-pundits to be paid for freelance writing.  I had three commentaries printed in The Philadelphia Inquirer and an essay printed in an anthology.  However, the handwriting is on the wall (as it were).  I won’t bore you with the well known saga of the struggles of print media in the digital world.
  3. I’m not terrified of computers and new technology—well, maybe a little bit.
  4. My son (a twenty-something blogger) thought blogging would be a reasonable endeavor for me — notwithstanding my tendency to use big words — and lots of them.  (He prefers a breezy, conversational style, complete with cultural references I don’t get.  Check out his blog at www.TheWorldOrBust.com).
  5. Filthy lucre.  With advertising, affiliate marketing and sponsored posts, it is possible (albeit difficult) to earn some income or travel opportunities via blogging.

So, I hope you’ll “subscribe” to Boomeresque by e-mail or RSS.  (Look on the side bar to your right). Or, “like” Boomeresque on Facebook or LinkedIn (or follow us on Twitter) and you will be notified when there is a new blog post. Please share your opinions and stories.  If you have a question or want to try a guest post, let me know.

Comment Baby, Comment!

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Jeremy April 2, 2012 at 2:42 am

Finally! My chance to harass, critique, and sold you on your very own blog! (which I of course had a large part in Frankensteining to existence). Well you know what they say, like son like mother!!! Looking forward to keeping up with your rants 🙂 love ya

Reply

Just One Boomer April 2, 2012 at 5:12 am

Thanks. Kiddo.
BTW, you spelled “scold” wrong. 😉

Reply

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