Post Script to: Is Blogging Inside the Firewall an Oxymoron?
by Bill Ives
The 2003 – 2004 blog definition debates continued and I was prompted in November 8, 2005 by Ethan Zuckerman’s comments at another Berkman Center meeting to write: When is a Blog, A Blog? Ethan made this comment at a session introducing the blog Christopher Lydon and his team from Open Source radio had just created. Ethan said that they were not doing a blog, but rather an RSS enabled content management system. In other words, they were using blog software to present ideas and collect comments. Ethan explained that most blogs are connected to an ecosystem of other bloggers who engage in online dialog. To be a real blog, the Open Source site had to present more of Christopher’s personal views. Much semi-heated debate followed.
I think the best answer for Enterprise 2.0 is somewhere in between Zuckerman and his characterization of Lydon. An RSS enabled content management system is not Enterprise 2.0. Ideally, Enterprise 2.0 initiatives create an enterprise ecosystem with online dialog but certainly the topics should not be restricted to personal views, even on enterprise issues, as there are many other practical and useful applications of these new tools and approaches. What is your perspective on enterprise blogging? How many, if any, of the norms of the blogosphere apply within the firewall.
