Definitions: Problogger and Problogging

Forum Rules

Helios_Multi TPoxygen11final

[darrenrowse]

(Edited by Lani to note: This thread was split from an Introduction.  To read the discussion leading up to it, view G'Day from the US)

Sorry I missed this thread earlier. Firstly thanks to Mark for changing his name to avoid confusion.

Secondly - a few comments/thoughts:

1. It is always weird seeing other blogs start with the name problogger in them. I see a lot of them - some email to ask if they can first - others don't. 

2. I used to feel uncomfortable with it and even discouraged other bloggers from doing it. However I soon realized that there was no way that I could stop it and that there was actually an advantage to it happening. Like Snoskred said - when she hears the word problogger it makes him think of me. The more the word is used (either as a name of a blog or as a descriptive term) the chances are that it builds my brand.

3. When i get emails from people asking my permission to use the word I generally say 'sure - if you want'.... but I always qualify it with something similar to what Snoskred said - ie if you want to build a blog that has a strong brand I would recommend you choose an original name that doesn't trigger people to think about someone else.

4. The other thing I advise people asking for permission is that in almost every circumstance that I've seen someone launch a blog with a title including 'problogger' it has caused confusion and at times an aggressive response from others. For some reason some of my readers get a little protective/defensive about this type of thing and have been quite vocal about blogs that attempt to use the ProBlogger brand. I also get a lot of emails from readers saying things like 'did you know someone is using your name?' - when they come in people are usually pretter scathing about those sites.

Ultimately - I don't mind others using the name in their blogs as long as they don't pretend to be me or to be associated with me in some way - however I'm not sure it's the smartest move for a blogger wanting to build their own presence and brand.

ie - what Snoskred said :-)

[guera]

The name issue raises some interesting questions about copyright, which I´m sure is something you've thought about, Darren. The most important point as you say is that people are not trying to pass themselves off as you, or as endorsed by or affiliated with you.

The downside of having such a popular brandname is that it starts to take on a generic meaning, like Xerox, Kleenex, Hoover and more recently Google. In the past there have been rulings that said some of these words have become generic trademarks which limits the extent to which the owner can protect them. Hence why Google were fighting it so much recently.

I agree with Snoskred, though, that when I hear "problogger" I think of Darren but its something to bear in mind as the term "problogging" becomes more and more popular, particularly since it is quite a descriptive term.

Oh and by the way, welcome to the forum, Mark! 

[FormerAdmin]

Hi,

in information architecture we have definitional arguments all the time (it saves us from watching sport on TV, interacting with loved ones, or not thinking).

Jesse James Garrett (yes, his real name) wrote an essay that should have killed the definitional arguments off totally in 2002 - if you're interested, it's called IA/Recon and is well worth a read. JJG encouraged us to separate the discipline of IA from the role.

In a similar way, I see Darren as The Problogger (i.e. having that role) but as a discipline/activity/career I think we can now speak of "problogging" as a contraction of "professional blogging". It gets confusing when we try to attach a label to someone who problogs.

Interesting - might be a blog post or two in this yet

Cheers, Andrew

[Sueblimely]

in information architecture we have definitional arguments all the time (it saves us from watching sport on TV, interacting with loved ones, or not thinking).

You don't have to think when reading things like IA/Recon ? It was taxing my brain far too much so I only got half way through.

I can see the distinction between the role and the activity. You don't have to be Polly Adler to be considered a pro after all. Just a play on words there, no connection to blogging intended!

[therinofandor]

I think we can now speak of "problogging" as a contraction of "professional blogging".

Or, indeed, a prostitute who performs her tricks, then blogs about them.

If "The Happy Hooker" was writing today, would she be a pro blogger? 

[Snoskred]

I think we can now speak of "problogging" as a contraction of "professional blogging".

Or, indeed, a prostitute who performs her tricks, then blogs about them.

How much do you want to bet that blog exists somewhere out there? Actually I do have a couple of links to blogs that belong to "escorts" after a quick search but it would be against the forum rules to post them here as the blogs are pretty saucy.

I will say this and then let us move on. Whatever the fetish, whatever the occupation, there is bound to be something about it on the internet.

So lets leave the working ladies (and men) to it and get back on topic. 

[FormerAdmin]

in information architecture we have definitional arguments all the time (it saves us from watching sport on TV, interacting with loved ones, or not thinking).

You don't have to think when reading things like IA/Recon ? It was taxing my brain far too much so I only got half way through.

I can see the distinction between the role and the activity. You don't have to be Polly Adler to be considered a pro after all. Just a play on words there, no connection to blogging intended!

Hi Sue,

the wonderful thing about IA/Recon is that it is the gift that keeps on giving - it took me about five years of reading and discussing it to really get it. And I performed IA work for most of those five years

So, if we are bloggers and we blog, is there a better term set for those who make a substantial percentage of their income from blogging that avoids "problogger" altogether? Is it necessary to make this distinction?

And the supplementaries: is it correct to refer to someone (such as myself) who aspires to make their way in the world through blogging as a "preblogger"?  What makes a preblogger? Is metablogging a required area of study (as opposed to blogging niche) for the preblogger? Could we have people who are thinking about preblogging thence problogging and what would we call them?

Best regards, Andrew

[Lightening]

And the supplementaries: is it correct to refer to someone (such as myself) who aspires to make their way in the world through blogging as a "preblogger"?  What makes a preblogger? Is metablogging a required area of study (as opposed to blogging niche) for the preblogger? Could we have people who are thinking about preblogging thence problogging and what would we call them?

Best regards, Andrew

Confused.   

At least if it were me you could call me confused.   

To add to the discussion - at what point could one consider themselves a "problogger".  Is there a combination in terms of recognition of their "expertise" in the fields as well as earning a certain level of money.

Pro often = good at as well as "paid for".

For instance, at what point is a tennis player considered "pro".  Is it once they start earning money or is it when they earn substantial money.

If you say "replace income" then 33c a day is more than I currently earn. 

If you say "enough to live on", that's a rather subjective term.

[miscmum]

I find the individual's interpretation of semantics here fascinating.

Do you know - and don't hate me for this - I still think of myself as a writer 'who happens to blog.'

That begs the question of where my line between writing and blogging is, and if its important (or not).

I guess I'm still "old-school" - one who registers and responds to the power of linguistic interplay; whether it be on a blog, in a book, on paper, whatever.

(In other words, Content, Content, Content. and Quality)

hope that made sense!! 

[Lani]

To me: a blogger, a poet, a diarist, a novelist, etc...  all writers, just using different forms. 

[Evan]

"Blogger" is fine just as 'writer' is fine.  We know that some people earn an income from writing and others don't.  So this awareness will build around the term 'blogger' too I think.

Then we can just say things like "I blog for a living" as others say that they write for their living.

[Lani]

Really, the whole "pro" part is redundant.

As a brand, it's great and means something. As a general descriptor, it's useless.  Just as a writer is a writer, a blogger is a blogger.  The context of the conversation will make it clear if you do it for a living or not.

[Simone]

Heh, this topic is headed into an interesting direction.
Something I've been meaning to bring up, is the fact that I feel weird about calling myself a blogger! Even though I say I blog, and I'm on these forums, go to bloggers meetups, etc etc... I feel like EnjoyPerth is very different than 'normal' blogs.  I don't consider myself a writer at all, just a collector of information, and then pass that info on. Very sometimes my personality comes through, but mostly it's just passing on the facts (and I partly do this on purpose, I like to stick to the necessary info) and links to more info.
I don't mind it not being a true blog though, but I just feel weird when I list is as one I guess.. On the other hand I also have two personal blogs (one is in Dutch for family, the other is only posted to very occasionally!), so that does me feel better about saying I blog

The other side, would I consider what I do on enjoyperth problogging.. Not sure. It feels like a second job these days (though I one I mostly enjoy) and it earns me pocket money (which is going to become a lot more significant this year when I finally start with direct advertising!!). But it's still not a full time thing which is earning me my main income..

Anyway, that's just my rambling thinking out loud
Actually, the first part of all that was really talking about the definition of a blog... some say it depends how the information is shown.. reverse chronilogical postings, regular updates, etc. Then it definitely is a blog!

[Simone]

Ohhhh, maybe it's already been decided EnjoyPerth isn't a blog.. I got skipped with being added to the Aussie Bloggers blogroll, hehe.  :'(  (mmm, maybe I do want it to be considered a blog, lol)
Ok, now I'm taking this sort of off-topic, oops!

[Snoskred]

Simone - sorry, we stuffed up there.

It's added now. 

[Simone]

Simone - sorry, we stuffed up there.

It's added now. 

lol, thanks I felt a bit silly saying something, so thought I'd joke about it instead 

You guys are very busy, and you're bound to miss stuff!
I'm very impressed you got so many up already!!

[Ian]

Here's an alternative to Problogger I found while checking out Entrecard ....

Progobbler

 :ztrampoline2:

[Lightening]

Here's an alternative to Problogger I found while checking out Entrecard ....

Progobbler

 :ztrampoline2:

Is that for those who make a typo????  Or is that someone who gobbles all their profits???? Cos that's my plan - to eat any profits I make by investing them in chocolate.