Dispatches from Blogistan: A Travel Guide for the Modern Blogger

2. A Brief History of Open Discourse

The total number of blogs worldwide is doubling every six months. Tens of thousands of new blogs launch each day. What is it about blogging that inspires so many to embark on the rocky waters of self-publishing?

Certainly, the newest tools make it easy enough. And blogging can be cheap, often even free. Plus, there’s the pop culture allure that comes with mainstream media’s constant references to blogs and their makers. But is it possible that there is something deeper, more innate, at work here?

A quick survey of history reveals an intriguing thread. Across time and cultures, we can trace an intermittent urge toward self-expression and public discourse. We watch as individuals begin to take a stand, often ...