Blogs and Our Evolutionary Heritage

A few weeks ago, it was widely reported that blogs have failed to replaced radio, TV, and print as the public’s primary source of information. Though the news was hardly a shock, suddenly herds of self-assured pundits used the revelation as proof that blogs were an overblown“fad". With certainty, the pundits proclaimed the it to be the new pet rock. Nevermind that their reports had seriously misinterpreted the data. The media had spoken, and a truth was born.

The arguments (if that's what you call them) of these self-proclaimed soothsayers of technology deserve little to no attention. Anyone who bothers to think beyond the conventional wisdom of the week will see that the forces fueling the rise of the weblog are anything but fashion trends. The nourishing roots of the blogosphere are -- in fact -- older than the very cave paintings which signified the birth of media.

Our expanding web of conversations, and connections is providing a large and constantly growing percentage of our population with something that humans have always sought: knowledge of our world and environment; to be heard; to converse… To say that the blog is a fad is to say that conversations and the formation of communities is a fad.

The blogosphere’s size and influence is expanding rapidly. The ever so self-centered MSM attributes the success of weblogs to Dean, Rathergate, and mob that lynched Eason Jordon. The shortsightedness of their explanation is consistent with their world view. MSM’s motivation has always been primarily economic and profit driven. It is difficult for them to move past questions such as, “how do bloggers make money”, or delusions such as “we still have most of the audience(read ad revenue), so blogs are dead; we survived”. Frankly, such a narrow view humans and society is an insult. The MSM is sustained through legal safeguards, readers and watchers who have no where else to turn, and revenue from ads. In contrast, the blogosphere’s growth is sustained by our natural desire for social belonging; to find meaning through cooperation towards common goals. Look at those two models again. Which is more likely to outlive the other?

Human beings emerged 150,000 years ago as a physically weak, and fragile species; just one of many bi-pedal monkeys with big heads. Yet we survived, and flourished by evolving a unique set of common social algorithms based on cooperation, community, and communication. As humanity begins the 21st century, it faces unprecedented peril. Overpopulation, global warming, disappearing resources, plagues, nuclear weapons, and natural disasters all threaten the foundations of our fragile, so-called “global civilization.” Our governments, religious institutions, and traditional sources of information are incapable of averting the impending nightmares of the late 21st century.

But there is hope for us, and perhaps it is hidden in this beautiful thought: The blog -- far from a technological fad -- is in fact a technological expression of our evolutionary heritage. If that is too outlandish of a thought for your seasoned mind, than be my guest and accept MSM’s version: Blogs get you fired, they are not credible, and MSM is still in charge. Go back to bed little blogger, rest well baby audience member, we’ve got everything taken care of. The couch is your friend.