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Where have all the bloggers gone?

David Wharton hangs it up.

Hardy Floyd drops out of sight.

Michael's Corner closes shop.

All had interesting, thoughtful and frequently entertaining things to say. They'll be missed.

Perhaps it'sa case of burnout, as Ed Cone guesses.

Or maybe it's because blogging isn't as easy as it looks, especially if you're attempting to have some semblance of a life and career at the same time.

Whatever the reasons, these muted voices leave a void in this neck of the blogosphere.

Y'all come back, hear?

Posted by Allen Johnson on January 11, 2006 7:42 PM | Permalink

Comments (15)

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Billy The Blogging Poet said:

The Blogosphere is secretly being taken over by poets and I'm in on the conspiracy.

Posted on January 11, 2006 9:06 PM

eric said:

I'd be happy to try and fill any void you guys feel needs it.

Posted on January 12, 2006 8:42 AM

David Hoggard said:

While I can understand the burn out, for me my 'tecnical issues' silence is killing me.

Tuesday night I went two three meetings (met with new Aycock principal Foley, City Council and subsequent news conference, then straight over to the BOE for redistricting).

I had so much I wanted to say about all three but it was like I had blogging laryngitis. My laptop was dead, so my voice was silent. So as it is, I am relegated to a commenter for a while.

Wharton was a shock, Michael is with us in spirit, but Hardy is a mystery. All are missed.

Tom Philips came over to me during the City Council meeting and commented on how quiet the 'sphere is. He said he was considering jumping back in, but fears the audience is waning.

There are new voices being added all the time while others silence themselves for various reasons. But I think the medium is here to stay - we're just in a lull right now.

Posted on January 12, 2006 10:24 AM

Allen Johnson said:

Hope you're right, David. There's lots to chew on right now.
And best wishes for a speedy recovery to your laptop.

Posted on January 12, 2006 11:05 AM

Jon Lowder said:

Well, one blogger you lost (Troublemaker) set up shop here in Winston-Salem. Your loss is our gain.

And BTW, you still have more bloggers than average which is great.

If anyone talks to the Hogg let him know that I'll gladly host a temporary iteration of his blog gratis. My motives are selfish; I miss his input.

Posted on January 12, 2006 5:26 PM

rick said:

Im new to the blogging pages but love to give out my opinion.I also enjoy other folks viewpoints and ideas,even if it means playing devils advocate.

Posted on January 14, 2006 2:44 PM

My Two Cents said:

I've become quite disenchanted with reading local blogs. The more you learn about the issues, the more you realize that many bloggers and commenters are just giving out opinions on subjects they know little or nothing about. Not only is that not helpful, it can be divisive and damaging, especially the way that some of it is presented. There is too much condescension, self-congratulation and solipsism. I'd like to see more of a journalistic approach, where bloggers and commenters speak of that which they know, rather than opine upon that which reveals their lack of knowledge, or worse, their prejudices. Mind you, I'm certainly not speaking of all our local bloggers, as we have some very fine ones indeed, but there needs to be more wheat than chaff. I don't want this to be interpreted as an attack on blogging, because I support the medium in its best form, and I do congratulate those who use blogs in an ethical and honest way, to convey messages that benefit all, while I encourage all who blog (or comment) to do so, as well.

Posted on January 14, 2006 6:31 PM

Allen Johnson said:

My Two Cents:
You make some good points. Blogging is like any other medium: There are thoughtful, well-reported, accurate and insightful blogs and there aren't.
But clearly among the ones we've recently lost (or in the case of Hardy, that have gone MIA) are people who meet the criteria you mentioned.

Posted on January 15, 2006 12:31 AM

Beth said:

Just an idea here...

but maybe its the a group of underground blogging hit-men, under the control of the Neil Mcneil to rid the internet of any blogger more attractive then him?

Posted on January 15, 2006 7:08 PM

David Wharton said:

Thank you for the kind words, Allen. I miss blogging, and maybe I'll be back someday, but I need to do some academic writing and raise my teenagers -- and I just couldn't fit the blog into that equation right now.

Posted on January 15, 2006 9:56 PM

Michael said:

Thanks for the kind words as well, Allen. Blogging is NOT as easy as it looks, not if you are going retain any semblance of integrity when expressing your opinions. Shutting down Michael's Corner was not an easy decision but it was the right one for me at this time. It may be back in the future. For now, as David says, I am here in spirit.

Posted on January 16, 2006 1:47 PM

Lenslinger said:

I'm late to this thread but fascinated by its content. I don't consider mine a hyper-local blog, as I aim for an industry's ear rather than a community's. I don't mean to disparage the still vital Greensboro blogosphere; nor am I the first blogger to be justly accused of playing to their base. As for maintaining blog momentum, it can indeed be a struggle. I don't know that I'll blog forever, but I do know it has helped me develop writing muscles I dodn't know I had and for that I cannot discount its value. Regarding the recent spate of blogs going dark, it couldn't suck more, but like my Granny always used to tell me, 'shit comes and goes'. God rest her soul.

Posted on January 16, 2006 10:16 PM

bbn said:

Posted on August 2, 2006 11:11 AM

JEROGatch said:

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Posted on October 8, 2006 8:25 AM

dfc said:

Posted on December 6, 2006 3:48 PM

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Thinking Out Loud

Thinking Out Loud

Where have all the bloggers gone?

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