Blogroll Shuffle

August 18th, 2006 at 10:37 am (Blogs, Miscellaneous, Take)

I would like to explain myself right now.

Could I take this time to explain the suddent disappearance and reappearance of blog links on my blogroll? Apparently, some of you may notice how my blogroll on the left isn’t in the correct order (I was about to say “right”, then laugh. That was a lame joke on my part.), or how the sorting isn’t reflective of what I actually read or take notice, or maybe how blog links suddenly disappear since your last visit (I’m assuming there are any visitors to this blog of mine. Yes, I claim some sort of readership and/or fanbase around these parts.). ;)

Well, your question will be, or may be, answered if you’ll direct your attention to the post before you.

Part of the reason is, due to my attention elsewhere, like the latest scoop on Tsuruya’s emergence as the next heroine in Suzumiya Haruhi’s world, I didn’t have the time to look/sift through the blogs listed on my blogroll for the latest news/opinions in the world of Japanimation. Therefore, I was then given a choice of whether to make do with the current list or make some changes, whether it be in the form of addition or deletion of links, in order to comply with the criteria of a good (not ideal; that’s a perfectibilist’s train of thought) topical blog.

See why I labeled them “Blognoscenti” and “Blogistan”?

Blognoscenti, according to my latest source of blogging inspiration, “Blogging for Dummies”, the following definition of the neology is quoted as such:

blognoscenti:… this term is vaguely defined and generally refers to the most knowledgable inner circle of bloggers.
If that’s a bit unclear, here’s another definition of the term courtesy of samizdata.net:
Blognoscenti

noun. A blog connoisseur.Basically what it means (and take this explanation with a grain of salt) is that these group of bloggers have greater insights in reference to what they are talking about, and that the lesser hierarchy of bloggers need to know in order to somehow achieve a goal for their respective blogs as well. In a few words, these guys are the sages of blogging.

Blogistan, on the other hand, according to the same source material, is a more ambiguous term for the blogosphere, basically the world of blogs (What you’re reading right now is one of them.) You don’t hear bloggers use this term more often, but you can consider it hearing first from yours truly. So that’s a new word for you.

Oh, and for reference on why I had to do this, here’s an excerpt from Jason Miao’s post explaining why you (if you call youself a fan of anime/Japanimation) should set-up your own anime blog:

DO keep a blogroll. Part of blogging is to recommend other blogs. Think of it as your civic duty to help the pagerank of blogs that you like. DON’T link to blogs you don’t visit at least on a semi-regular basis. I see blogs with blogrolls like 800 links long. Uh, do you really visit all those blogs, are you just trying to improve your pagerank by trading links?

You could call me as ass for not explaining this earlier, but due to some time constraints that are unmetionable, or forgetable, to me, I wasn’t able to. Sorry to all the peeps, and the readership. Also, accusations of “Hypocrite!” are welcome, as free speech is unhindered in the Internet, no? Notice my growing blogroll for more info. :P

Public Service Announcement Final quote from the Miaoster himself: “DO have a voice. DON’T be a clone.” ;)

9 Comments

  1. Hung said,

    August 18, 2006 at 12:01 pm

    I dunno about having a civic duty to “help pagerank” of other blogs. I think a blogroll should simply list the blogs that the blogger reads.

    I recently cleaned up my blogroll, and now it only lists anime blogs that I actually read. Hence the name, “Anime Blogs I Read.”

    Also, I’m honored to be in the Blognoscenti category. I’ve never actually heard of a blogroll tiering system before, but it seems kinda cool. I’m glad to be in the company of so many great blogs.

  2. Ronin said,

    August 18, 2006 at 12:57 pm

    Hung Says:

    I dunno about having a civic duty to “help pagerank” of other blogs. I think a blogroll should simply list the blogs that the blogger reads.
    Exactly. And that’s why I’m making an effort (somewhat) in uncluttering the blogroll of blogs I don’t frequent much. That’s kind of like Jason’s reasoning. Right?

    Hung Says:

    Also, I’m honored to be in the Blognoscenti category. I’ve never actually heard of a blogroll tiering system before, but it seems kinda cool. I’m glad to be in the company of so many great blogs.
    A pleasure, I’m sure. :)

    Your anime blog, by the way, has been an interesting resource on scouting for any new anime series this season that may pique my interest, with fresh insights on what makes the anime you’re currently watching interesting, to you or anyone who might decide on picking this up (including me). And that’s why I placed your blog on the “Blognoscenti” category, among other veterans like Matthew, Momotato, Satoshi, and Moyism.

    By the way, you heard the “word” from me. ;)

  3. lolikit said,

    August 18, 2006 at 12:59 pm

    First off, taking leaves from Miao’s book is a road to disaster.

    Second you’re seeing this all in the wrong light. I don’t really visit many blogs in my blogroll. I mostly read their posts in my RSS program, if I read them at all. There are very few posts being made these days that I take much interest in.

    Do I link to lots of blogs I rarely visit in order to boost pagerank with link trades? Fuck no.

    We put links to … well, link. People look at the list and click on them. It’s not about SEO (which very few anime bloggers know anything about anyway), it’s about building a community. And that’s why you link to blogs of people who are a part of the community, as opposed to the blogs of people like Jason Miao who is very much NOT a part of the community.

  4. Ronin said,

    August 18, 2006 at 1:12 pm

    lolikit Says:

    First off, taking leaves from Miao’s book is a road to disaster.
    So I take it I cited him wrongly? My apologies.

    lolikit Says:

    Second you’re seeing this all in the wrong light. I don’t really visit many blogs in my blogroll. I mostly read their posts in my RSS program, if I read them at all. There are very few posts being made these days that I take much interest in.
    So I’m actually doing a good thing with regards to readership? Oh, now I know.

    lolikit Says:

    People look at the list and click on them. It’s not about SEO (which very few anime bloggers know anything about anyway), it’s about building a community.
    So my readership, which I noticed was growing on Anime Nano, was a result of that? Thank you for smacking some sense into this blogger. :)

    lolikit Says:

    And that’s why you link to blogs of people who are a part of the community, as opposed to the blogs of people like Jason Miao who is very much NOT a part of the community.
    Now I understand why everybody hates Jason. nods

  5. tj han said,

    August 18, 2006 at 2:58 pm

    Tis the season for pruning bloglinks~

    Actually I just did the same. But due to friendship and other factors (like my actually reading and liking these blogs), I didn’t remove a lot but rather added descriptions. And since blogrolls have been obsolete since the advent of RSS, some of the blogs I read aren’t even on my roll due to sheer laziness.

  6. Ronin said,

    August 18, 2006 at 5:32 pm

    tj han Says:

    due to friendship and other factors (like my actually reading and liking these blogs), I didn’t remove a lot but rather added descriptions. And since blogrolls have been obsolete since the advent of RSS, some of the blogs I read aren’t even on my roll due to sheer laziness.
    Hmm. An interesting insight. I was thinking along the same lines when I made this post.

  7. lolikit said,

    August 18, 2006 at 10:56 pm

    You fail at being a good Jason drone. You replied to my comment.

  8. Ronin said,

    August 19, 2006 at 12:13 pm

    lolikit Says:

    You fail at being a good Jason drone. You replied to my comment.
    I know, I know. I see it. STO

  9. Picture Perfect Paranoia said,

    August 19, 2006 at 1:06 pm

    […] So I’d take some time to reflect on what I just said regarding the role of the blogroll. […]