You know them when you see them.
They are those often repeated posts, quizzes, funny stories that get posted and linked from blog to blog.
Sometimes a meme begins on purpose.
Occasionally, a meme is created purely by accident.
My friend Trudy Schuett of WOLves had her post about the dangers faced by Denver tornado chasers picked up all across the blogosphere.
Trudy had unintentionally created a meme.
The post apparently struck a chord in her readers when she stated that the Big Three (Big3) media (newspapers, television, and radio) encouraged citizen reporters to send in photos of a local tornado. Many local people took the requests seriously, and attempted to photograph and report on the approaching funnel cloud.
Many of the "citizen reporters" were bloggers.
Trudy expressed her disdain for the advice of the mainstream media this way:
The newscasters also encouraged viewers to send in their pictures of the event, which is where this kind of citizen journalism stopped being a positive thing.
I can’t imagine what they were thinking. They were actually suggesting their viewers go out, put themselves in harm’s way, and take pictures of tornadoes.
Trudy concluded, with what might be the underlying and unspoken reason, for endagering the lives of so many people:
It’s often been said that the Big3 is scrambling to keep up with the Internet. Are they now so beleaguered they will stoop to anything to gain viewers?
In discussing this potentially life threatening event, Trudy Schuett has unintentionally created a meme. Many bloggers, including me, have linked to her blog post.
Over time, even more bloggers will read the column and add links as well.
If there is one thing that displays the power of blogging, it's linking.
Todd Sattersten at A Penny For...
makes the case for blog linking as well. While not mentioning blog memes specifically, Todd does hint at the subject when he says:
Linking is an important part of blogging. It helps show the value of an idea. I think there is also a timing piece to linking. Because everyone has a slightly different audience reading a differing time intervals, it helps connect people with good thoughts. Links often continue the conversation with that blogger's thoughts on the original post.
Todd is correct, linking to great content and adding your voice to the discussion is how ideas are spread. They may be called thoughts, ideas, or even memes.
The important thing is bloggers are talking and making their voices heard.
By your links shall you meme them.
