Outposts

Early Internet users occasionally encountered lone outposts where a dedicated individual was trying to use digital communication for some noble purpose, much like a missionary trying to teach hymns to the natives. These outposts were not quite blogs nor even personal Web pages, though they pointed in the direction of both. They were usually just a collection of writings - crude, simple essays that found shelter in some digital archive. Accessing these archives would reveal a small body of followers who would discuss the texts over e-mail. Most bloggers know that they are merely playing with an expensive toy, pushing buttons that make some lights flash and a disk or two spin