Irish Blog Community: Small But Perfectly Formed?
Damien raises an interesting point about the diversity of the socially-active Irish Blogging community.Many Irish bloggers blog for a reason - business, establishing good networking opportunitues or just for the love it. As simple as it may sound, people value their anonymity. Irish people in particular. So, you know a handle they use to voice their views - a proportion of the people will always value that invisible shield of being anonymous. That, in itself, is not the root problem.
The real issue here is the size of the Irish Blogging community. It’s way too small to nurture the kind of high-profile blogging community that sprang forth the Scoble, the Winer, etc. Blame it on broadband penetration, the popularity of Bebo or the rain - but you will probably see the same faces at the same places. That’s not necessarily a bad thing - I like reading my the musings of my favourite Irish bloggers. However, it’s plain to see that without fresh blood, the Irish Blogging community will become a boring place.
So, I’d like to second Damien’s frustrated cry from deep in the wilderness of the Irish blogging P-list and encourage new Irish Bloggers to get involved. Enrich your community.
On a similar note, I’m thinking of organising a coffee meetup in town over the next couple of weeks. Ideas welcome in the comments.