Bloggers – Put your differences aside and unite!

Written by André Vatter, on Avatter, November 24th 2010.
Translated by Michael Hardy. See the original article in German
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Photo: Francis Storr | Flickr | CC license

It wasn’t so long ago that the idea of a united interest group for German bloggers was abruptly put on the table. Impetus was the Deutsche Bahn rail service, which was garnering headlines with its “employee spying affair.” Someone forwarded an internal memo to Netzpolitik.org, which Markus Beckedahl promptly published. Deutsche Bahn reacted as it always does: with a menacing letter from an attorney charging “betrayal of operational and business secrets.” This courageous blogger stood alone, while DB lawyers swarmed around him.

The first solidarity advocates soon appeared. Some were simply outraged (“Stupid f***ing a**h***es / Those no-good f***ers!). Others sought out constructive approaches for finding a solution. How would it be if everyone united in order to generate more organized resistance among bloggers? Many applauded this suggestion. Indeed the idea seemed so well developed that only the description was in dispute: Should it be more like a trade union or a professional association?

Deutsche Bahn eventually withdrew the threats. Then there was this funny cat video on YouTube and the new Xbox game that everyone had been so eagerly anticipating. The idea of an organized community was off the table as quickly as it had been introduced.

At Basic Thinking, I sincerely supported a blogger association but also expressed realistic doubt. The blogger scene consists of practiced individualists, brilliant lone warriors, talented communicators as well as sociophobic experts – in addition to an extremely wide variety of blogging topics. The German blogosphere appears to be a creative pile of shards in a world without glue.

Why?

I don’t know. The fact is, there is a shortage of potential shared identity. Bloggers are as united within an association as car owners are –not drivers of a single brand but all brands. Rules of the road are disregarded, traffic jams emerge, some people get cut off, accosted, or flirted with while waiting at the stoplight. Others turn up their music so loud that they don’t notice anything outside of their own vehicle.

Any suggestion that comes from elsewhere is categorically mowed down – for example Ein Herz für Blogs, which emerged last year in blogchart death announcements (blogcharts are today’s tickers for trackback losses). The project is designed to encourage networking between both large and small blogs.

Here is the invitation:

- Briefly refer to this project on your blog

- Publish a post featuring your favorite German-language blogs this coming Tuesday

- Be happy

The ignoble blogger doubts and deliberates: “Is this really worthwhile? Or an odious linkbait trick? What’s in it for me?” Yes of course, it’s worthwhile because it promotes solidarity among lone warriors. And of course, it’s also a linkbait trick (even if unintended). So either take it or leave it –or make a better suggestion. The announcement has received hundreds of passionate online comments as well as desirable external links. The presentation of recommended blogs has not caught the interest of most bloggers. Instead they are arguing about who will officially organize Ein Herz für Blogs. It’s reality satire. If only in real life people would squabble about who is the most enthusiastic supporter.

That’s how German bloggers are. They show strength when an external threat arises. They’re united in virtual euphoria when a certain Ms. von der Leyen enters the stage; when Net neutrality is under threat; or when data are once again mishandled by SchülerVZ.

Do German bloggers always need an antagonist in order to show solidarity?

Indeed there is another situation in which bloggers freely come together –when marketing. Whenever it’s about money, it suddenly succeeds. Networks are created, tips shared, and in no time, an unfamiliar feeling of solidarity emerges.

Envy, fear (aka outrage), and money: Are these really the only decisive factors that can get bloggers to unite around a single table? I would be delighted if I have overlooked something. Perhaps some of you also have an opinion on this topic.

This article has been shortened. The original text is available here.