Junk for Code : on the bottom

looking for something firm in a world of chaotic flux

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June 25, 2003

Poor old junk for code. It languishes at the bottom of the blog hierarchy. That means it is junk.

Junk for code does have a bit of an identity problem. It had an accidental beginning, and it became a culture blog that had its roots in the old Frankfurt School of cultural criticism (melancholy pessimism). It did okay in its earlier Blogger form, and it had a slow but steady growth in readership with no promotion on my part.

Then things feel apart with the shift to Movable Type around the time of the end of the Iraq war. The readership dropped way off. What was left from the Frankfurt School of cultural criticism was the voice of individual lived experience in a technocratic world. Its ethos was a romantic one od defending culture in a social world that is governed by maximising utility through exploiting natural resources.

But how to continue this weblog?

I'm rather fond of junk for code but I'm not sure what to do with it. I do not that have much time or energy to devote to it.

I feel saddened by that.

Anyone got any suggestions?

| Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at 03:22 PM | Permalink

| Comments (8)

Comments

This may sound odd, but I started a second blog called MediaReview that I ended up not having the time to do well. I actually just gave it away to an excellent new author. I'm moving to the contributor role...

Posted by: Kevin Aylward | June 25, 2003 04:42 PM

I've always wondered why you didn't combine it with Philosophy.com...

Posted by: chutney | June 26, 2003 12:00 AM

Hm, yeah, maybe a merger is in order. Begin anew?

I also think that if your blog hasn't reached or fell from a "critical mass" readership, even though the content's worthy (which I think yours is), you might want to participate more where there is one. Haven't really run into you around the blogosphere, Gary. :)

Posted by: Walter | June 26, 2003 07:42 AM

Gary, i still enjoy reading junk for code, and i hope you keep it going. cheers, Gianna

Posted by: Gianna | June 26, 2003 11:34 AM

I agree with Gianna. As a reader there does not seem to be an identity problem with this
"voice of individual lived experience in a technocratic world" . Your series on architecture, for example, has really filtered through the noise. It makes me think. It would be a great loss if you let it go.
Running 3 blogs must stretch things, but this is the one I return to.
btw when I made the switch to MT I lived without stats for a week - and it was liberating! It was like the early newbie days of posting into an unknown echo-chamber - maybe the voice becomes bolder when it seems less beholden?

Posted by: boynton | June 26, 2003 01:26 PM

Gary - keep doing it as it is one of the best Australian blogs but, maybe, as others have said combine it with Philosophy.com ? There is just too many blogs to get to these days...and too many to write it seems....

Posted by: chris | June 26, 2003 11:17 PM

thanks folks. I'm feeling a little jaded. Good suggestions. Food for thought.

Posted by: Gary Sauer-Thompson | June 27, 2003 10:57 AM

I like the tone of this one.

Posted by: dj | June 27, 2003 01:56 PM