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Best blog posts '06

By Ken Parish and Nicholas Gruen - posted Tuesday, 2 January 2007


Some caveats and explanations are in order. Obviously any collection of this sort is a product of the editors' ideas of what makes for a quality blog post. Though we didn't agree on formal criteria, the informal criteria were that, "best" posts needed to be substantial enough to escape the ephemeral nature of much blogging; they had to be well written; and they had to have some independent merit by way of special knowledge, a worthwhile point of view, insight or literary quality.

In short, we hoped that our choices would be appreciated by those who went to the posts effectively on our recommendation.

As enthusiasts, we were also keen to show off the new genre to those to whom it might be new, and so we tried to choose a collection which illustrated the variety and the unique strengths of the medium. We also placed a limit of two on items by any individual blogger - though no limits on posts from group blogs such as Sarsparilla or Larvatus Prodeo.

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Then of course there's the human factor. Blog posts could not be considered if they were not nominated, and the nominations would have carried their own biases. Those who heard about BB06 were those reading Troppo or the seven blogs that linked to the relevant thread - which included both left and right leaning group blogs such as Lavatus Prodeo and Catallaxy. The collection represents our opinions and our tastes (and where there were small differences in opinion), Ken's opinion took presidence.

And while we're boasting about the speed with which the collection was produced, we should also apologise that of course we would have liked to have taken a bit more time. If we do this next year (which we're intending to) we'll start a little earlier and give the process more time, indeed, given its existence, commenters will no doubt nominate posts - either formally by sending Ken an e-mail, or informally by registering a comment - throughout 2007.

The speed with which it has all happened means it may have passed some great bloggers by. They may have been enjoying their Christmas break and been quite oblivious to our entreaties. So some posts that deserve to be here inevitably won't be.

If you think we've slipped up, please let us know - in comments below or by way of an e-mail. And remember us in November next year.

Finally, when we first posted inviting submissions, some people were censorious about the idea of blog awards.  Didn't they go against the grain of such a personal medium? In fact we'd never said we intended to award any gongs, just to present an anthology of the "best of". Views on the pros and cons of gongs differed among both the blogging community and the editorial committee. Even so, the kinds of dilemmas faced when choosing what one regards as the best 40 blog posts are essentially the same as those faced when choosing the best single item.

While we didn't intend to award any gongs, and we're not (necessarily) trying to establish a precedent, one post has stood out since long before this collection was a twinkle in our eye. From the time it was first posted, "Barista" David Tiley's extraordinary ruminations on his hospitalisation earlier this year had bloggers linking to it from everywhere.  Even if we didn't think it was the best, which I think we all do, David's remarkable post certainly wins this years "people's choice" as the most renowned post of 2006. Thanks David, and thanks to everyone who participated, and everyone who will read these essays.

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We hope they make what contribution they can to ensuring you have a happy and a prosperous new year.

Ken Parish and Nicholas Gruen

Postscript: Since penning this introduction On Line Opinion has proposed that readers nominate their favourite posts.  We have chosen 40 of the best posts so far, but because it's a good idea, the more so because it makes use of the way the internet allows a remarkable freedom to improvise, because we've put this together in a hurry and we'll have lots of time to get it right next time, we're also happy to consider further nominations for best posts through the January period and will announce some new winners in a few week's time.

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This article is an introduction to "Best Blogs of 2006" a feature in collaboration with Club Troppo, and edited by Ken Parish, Nicholas Gruen et al.



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About the Authors

Ken Parish is a Darwin-based lawyer and former Labor member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. He now teaches (mostly public law subjects) at Charles Darwin University, where he founded Australia's first fully online external law degree program. Ken is no longer associated with any political party, describing himself as a "committed sceptic".

Dr Nicholas Gruen is CEO of Lateral Economics and Chairman of Peach Refund Mortgage Broker. He is working on a book entitled Reimagining Economic Reform.

Other articles by these Authors

All articles by Ken Parish
All articles by Nicholas Gruen
Related Links
Catallaxy
Club Troppo
Larvatus Prodeo
Sarsparilla

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

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