Community-building is such a happy happy concept. I received a thrill of joy today when I found that my new friend Ish has posted a link to MY blog on HER blog. In addition, because I am alphabetically superior, I am the first link on her list of friend-links.
"To be attached to the subdivision, to love the little platoon we belong to in society, is the first principle (the germ as it were) of public affections. It is the first link in the series by which we proceed toward a love to our country and to mankind" (1790).
I am attached to my blogging subdivision, let me tell you. In fact, my platoon is decked out in sparkles and sequins. Everyone in my subdivision (the Grad-Student Blogger Platoon, or GSBP), rejoice, because I am here (with my sparkles and sequins), so link to me!
Here's a feat of lateral thinking: like Burke's nationalistic pluralism, blogging relies first and foremost on previously established communities in order to feel connected to the blogosphere and the Internet public as a whole.
