Just for interest, this is the 5000th post on Catallaxy since it moved to its new format.
I will just leave Sinclair’s “Blogging as a Fine Art” to mark the occasion.
In days gone by individuals of like mind might have met up at the pub and had an evening of fine companionship. This companionship would have consisted of people coming and going, of shouting and debating, disputing facts and comments, changing the subject, reminiscing about the good old days and so on. All up a somewhat chaotic environment with its own mores and habits that might bewilder the outside observer and even repulse that observer.
It used to be the coffee house; it is now the blog.
Rather than meet in the pub or in someone’s lounge room people can now meet on the internet. To be sure meeting on the internet is still considered somewhat disreputable. But those who would use the internet for unsavoury purposes hide their activities; while blogging is a very public activity. Bloggers reveal their thoughts and opinions for the whole world to see. While the use of pseudonyms is rife, the characters and personality of individuals is often well known and understood by fellow bloggers.
What isn’t well appreciated is that blogging is a very liberal activity and a very social activity too. It may not appear to be very social to one’s immediate family as the blogger is often at the computer; yet the blogger is not alone, the blogger is not off in their own imagination, the blogger is participating in the great conversation of humanity. To my way of thinking blogging is an Oakeshottian conversation.
Very nicely put, but for me, I like blogging because it is better than shouting at the TV, although only just.
Then it congratulations to the Catallaxy crew of posters! Sinclair, Steve, Poor Old Rafe, Judith, SamuelJ and Henry.
Blogging is a fine art that the aforementioned posters do so with humour, wit, grace and intelligence. However let’s not forget the esteemed rabble of commenters here; those who would plumb the depths of their vast and varied knowledge, experiences, qualifications, imbued with their online personalities to make this a dynamic blog; all of which can be summed up in this little pic.
Gab
14 Jul 12 at 1:13 am
We can haz free beer?
sdog
14 Jul 12 at 1:17 am
Gab, I have to put my hand up as rabble plumbing the depths in these wee small hours. I have had to walk home from the boat to feed the cats because my husband over-did it with his mates on the Captain Morgan Spiced, and they’re all snoring away in the bilges.
The felines are now happily fed and purring away, and so I hope are the the rest of the Cats.
mareeS
14 Jul 12 at 2:45 am
Not the Cats on the other side of the world still trying to get through Friday the 13th.
Here’s to combining knowledge and experiences with grasping politicians and bureaucrats all over the West to see if we cannot find our way out of these collectivist schemes being hatched for our minds and money and loyalty.
One of my kids tells me her generation thinks the Independence Day movie speech about not going quietly is their rallying cry but most teenagers do not know enough history to back up the feeling.
We get the feeling and know the history at risk.
Robin
14 Jul 12 at 3:39 am
Oh yes, Steve! The Cat and other places have done my blood pressure a world of good.
Congratulations and I hope it is still going in 10,000, 15,000, 100,000.
Helen Armstrong
14 Jul 12 at 6:43 am
Way better than shouting a the TV.
The TV doesn’t shout back.
johno
14 Jul 12 at 7:28 am
I must admit to trying hard to be witty, but it takes a special skill to be able to be witty on the small screen.
Many thanks for the intellectual stimulus and the Lols.
Winston Smith
14 Jul 12 at 8:17 am
Lets hear it for the rabble!
Thanks guys. Including the steves, to remind us why free speech matters.
Poor Old Rafe
14 Jul 12 at 8:20 am
It is such a relief to know that I am not the only loonie libertarian out there in an ocean of lefties!
Thank you so very much Dr Davidson for starting this blog.
Forester
14 Jul 12 at 8:27 am
Robin, for the youngsters, I recommend this for a nice primer. The ‘Politically Incorrect Guides’ are formatted in a way that the kids should be able to digest the nuggets of history.
For something a bit different, I love Frantz Kebreau. He’s an excellent speaker who knows some very interesting and unexpected American history.
And for those bringing us the Cat and refuge from numpties everywhere…. thank you and happy 5000th.
nilk
14 Jul 12 at 8:27 am
Thank you so very much Dr Davidson for starting this blog.
That would be Mr Jason Soon, laddie.
dover_beach
14 Jul 12 at 8:32 am
Just food for thought for you good people:
Pub chat was it, now:
over regulated, smokers kicked outside, takeaway alcohol preferred by government models. (disperse crowds talking about the government?).
Coffee shop chat:
over regulated, smokers kicked outside. (disperse crowds talking about the government?)
Blog chat: Government attempting to control free speech. (disperse crowds talking about the government?)
Steve
14 Jul 12 at 9:01 am
Thank you. And congratulations – long may you run.
Ellen of Tasmania
14 Jul 12 at 9:47 am
Congratulations on reaching the 5,000 mark.
I came upon the ‘Cat’ by accident a while ago and now it’s my first port of call.
Hubert East
14 Jul 12 at 10:35 am
Never forget that free speech, democracy, constitutionally limited Government and free enterprise are ephemeral and not the equilibrium state of affairs even if they are the natural and enlightened state of affairs.
Nevertheless, congratulations to the long line of owners, admins and regular posters…
Jason
Heath
Theresa
Rafe
Sinclair
Andrew
Sam J
Jaques
Eric
Steve
etc
.
14 Jul 12 at 10:59 am
Thanks to all at the Cat.
May the Finkie minions never darken its doorstep.
Myrddin Seren
14 Jul 12 at 12:21 pm
BoltA has been moderated. Nice to see unmoderated discussions.
stackja
14 Jul 12 at 12:52 pm
Better than shouting at the TV. Indeed so. Congratulations, I can see it going on forever. Instead of watching the news I sit myself down with a glass of vino and loiter through the Cat. And occasionally get brave enough to offer an opinion. Especially after watching Q&A and Lateline. Thanks again for the fun.
delfino
15 Jul 12 at 9:56 am