I think people are definitely getting better at blogging and writing better content (I wish I was one of them). But I think the case can be made that people are getting better at micro-blogging (writing news bulletin-style content). Some people are maintaining Twitter.com, Facebook.com, Del.icio.us, DIGG, and other web presences.

I wonder if that micro-blogging has in anyway affected the “magazine quality” writings that you are finding.

Personally, I’ve been finding my tumblelog quite useful for telling people interesting stuff.

Very good point. I think that most of the blogs I read regularly aren’t really ‘web logs’, but article sites.

And yes, I see way more personal stuff in Twitter (and on things like Facebook, although I tend to avoid Facebook now) rather than in blogs. Social networking in general is probably a part of the shift.

Interesting point. That’s one of those things that creeps up on you so gradually you hardly notice! And it’s true! Especially for me. I just abandoned my old blog for one that was more “professional” and “edited.” So I guess I am part of the trend too.

[...] I then be a reliable source? I have to think no, that another reason would be created. But, Chris doesn’t really like the term blog and I don’t really care, but it’s funny to see how these standards are invented and [...]

Have to agree with Eric here. Microblogging is most certainly gaining more and more momentum. Personally I use Twitter to give a quick update to people. Mostly ones I don’t really know and/or that don’t know me very well. I try and use it to gain interested with them and then get them to view my main blog that i only update once a week or so. Only been running this way, as an experiment, for about a month now, so not all that clear if it will actually work.

I think you’re absolutely right, and I’m glad about it as well. As more and more people have started blogging, the level of quality needed to be noticed has just gotten higher and higher, which is great for us all. :D