Weblogs

Throughout history, communication and expression has been limited to letters, personal interaction, and, most recently, the telephone. All these methods of communication, though, are private. Those who wanted their opinion to be heard on a larger scale needed some form of writing prowess, musical gift, or the fortune of being born into the upper class. The weblog, in its various forms, is a magnificent method of global communication and expression, as it offers the average person the opportunity to be heard in his Atlanta neighborhood as well as in a home in St. Petersburg, Russia.
One of the biggest factors in the importance of blogging is its universally level playing field. One with poor to average writing skill has just as much of an opportunity to be heard as a direct descendant of George Herbert. Formerly, one who did not possess a natural gift or all the right connections could not be heard past his village or neighborhood. This does not mean that one who writes on a third grade level will be as readily heard as the one whose words flow more eloquently. There are obviously bloggers in who are much more widely read than others, but the mere fact that the work of the less experienced is published on a worldwide community is a gigantic step in the direction of equal opportunity.
Another even more incredible aspect of the internet community is its global outreach. Those who possess a common cause or interest in different corners of the world can now come together as a local community. This newfound opportunity can give some the ability to share interests and express themselves to others in ways which they could not with their local peer group. For example, if one who has a fondness for playing the violin lives in a community which reveres styles of music such as hip hop or punk, he or she could not enjoy the pleasures of conversing on the topic of said stringed instrument. However, with the joy of weblogs, this person might wander on the internet, searching for a peer group centered on violin technique. A wonderful feature of the average weblog community is forums, or web pages designed for discussion on a single topic. In light of this, this person might search for, or start, a forum for violinists, and whereas in his or her community this person might not be able to find a fellow violinist, now he or she is sharing violin techniques and discussing famous violinists with a friend in Shanghai.
In conclusion, the global weblog community does, in fact, offer many outlets for communication and expression which were formerly unattainable. It allows for equal readability as well as a global network through which people who would otherwise have never met can come together and share ideas.