why are blogs great?

Before I answer this it might be worth noting that according to blogger.com "There are millions of blogs on the Internet — a new one is created every seven-and-a-half seconds. More than 10,000 new additions are added to the 'blogosphere' each day." So it is evident that they have wide appeal.

Work in progress. I am adding to this as I think of things. To start I am just going to randomly type a few things off the top of my head that are good about blogs and blogging. I'll repeat the process for wikis. Here goes:

- written in the voice of your choosing**
- owned by the blogger
- public or private, its up to you
- easy to use and set up
- allows space to ruminate and reflect (like a traditional diary)**
- allows space to promote your ideas (like soap-box)
- can link to other blogs - create a community of learners
- unmoderated**
- can choose to accept, or not, comments
- one-sided monologue (unless comments)
- regular entries are encouraged
- accessible from any networked computer
- encourage creativity in the blogger
- encourage lurking in the reader (no need to comment)
- RSS syndication enables easy sharing, and community building
- datestamped, archived, arranged in descending chronological order**
- increases 'stickiness' because readers return regularly to read blog
- RSS allows people to have huge choice in terms of commentators / columnists
- RSS allows you to build a personalised newsfeed
- multi-author blog would allow sharing and collaboration

** Features specific to blogs and not shared with wikis. Blogs diifer from wikis by being written in a style determined by the author, they are unmoderated, datestamped and encourage rumination/reflection.