Time Magazine’s 2006 Person of the Year declaration hits the stands Monday and this year’s choice is you! As a member of the “you” they are talking about, I’m flattered. But really, it’s a pretty frivolous choice.
Time says this year’s winner is anyone using or creating content on the World Wide Web:
“for seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game…
Sure, it’s a mistake to romanticize all this any more than is strictly necessary. Web 2.0 harnesses the stupidity of crowds as well as its wisdom”
Josh Hallett is spot on when he points out that not everyone uses the web, or creates content, or gives a fig what a blog is. So really, he says, to most people, “you” are “them.”
Says a commenter on his blog: “I can’t wait to put this on my resume.”
RE: Time Magazine naming YOU as the “Person of the Year” for 2006: Time’s Lev Grossman calls the democratization of the web nothing short of a revolution — and I could not agree more.
The changes impact everyone from consumers who now have options to aggregate their information from any sources they want and to view it in any format they want — to publishers that are learning what it means to adapt to this change in control. Looking back years from now, we’ll remember 2006 as the year that forever changed the way information on the web was created, delivered, and received.
So it really is all about me. I mean, us.
Dear BL:
Congratulations on being Named Time Magazine’s Person“Woman”of the year!
Seriously.
Honestly, I do believe, and if TIME is to believe,that Blogs are here to stay!?
lol
Also, one very interesting stat I saw the other night – there are over 13.3 BILLION Blogs out there… And there are 39.9 BILLION Views…
Do the math – that is 3 readers per blog!
Most are blogging themselves!?
Yes, the vast majority of people are blogging to themselves.
The measurements by technorati et al include spam blogs and blogs that people start, write a couple posts for an abandon.
In fact, well over half of all blogs are abandoned because blogging requires daily writing, which requires daily reading, and most people just can’t make the time. Or they get disappointed when blogging doesn’t immediately change their life.
You’re wrong – the “you” (content creators) will soon be “us” (all of us). This is about way more than blogging. I think it’s a cool choice on the part of Time Mag.
Debbie: The problem is that Time didn’t say “us”. There are still a lot of people who are not part of the “you.” So, Debbie, I’d say you’re wrong. :>)
This is like people who live in big cities like NY and DC who think the rest of the world is like where they live. You’re immersed in this world and you’re not realizing that a lot of people still don’t know, or give a fig about what’s happening online.
And, of course it’s way beyond blogging!