An unusual flurry of blogging here at Abject (mostly attributable to the revitalizing effects of the Bava Bounce) has prompted some deserved teasing from a few online pals. But the modest investment of time on four posts this week (two of which involved no writing on my part) has certainly reaped an astonishing haul in terms of response from the network.

Posting a funny pic made by the Noise Professor prompted a flurry of images that has made my dog into something of a viral media sensation. In addition to Zack, contributions from D’Arcy, Alan, and Hatchet Jack…

A short rumination on Flickr vs. Instagram (which was itself a response to a blog post from Cole) provoked many responses. Some thoughtful elaborations from Cole, Mike Caulfield, Alan, and others. Bryan Jackson posted direct links to a bunch of photos that I am grateful to have. I got some good points from the other side of the debate from Russ Goerend, Bryan Alexander and Chris Lott. The piece got Downesed. Giulia references it in a broader meditation on what it means to be “open as in ‘for business'”.

Later that week I was struggling to edit down a quote from an article I was reading so I could squeeze it into a Tweet. I eventually decided to just toss it up as a post instead (think I will try this approach to a post more often). I ended up adding a few of my own thoughts, and a few more quotes from related articles, and ended up with a ramshackle post on the notion of innovation. But again, this quick act of self-publishing prompted a number of nods from all sorts of interesting people on Twitter, as well as solid comments from Pat Lockley, Ben Harwood, and Clint Lalonde. Joss Winn did me the somewhat unsettling favour of posting a comment that was far more detailed, thoughtful and grounded than the post itself. Joss has a way of doing that sort of thing.

Shortly after I posted my piece on Flickr vs. Instagram, I came across Anil Dash’s The Web We Lost which more cogently described some of the broader trends I was bemoaning. I’ve been meaning to uncork an epic doom-mongering screed on the subject, but in the meantime responses to that piece from some of my long-time inspirations on the open web have emerged: from Alan, D’Arcy, Stephen, Jim, and this comment by Grant. They are generally more hopeful and optimistic on the long-term prognosis for the open web than I am inclined to be. But as the responses I note above indicate, today is not the day for me to be moaning. It’s a day to recognise that the network is still out there, vital and strong, if I am willing to work it. It’s something to be grateful for, and I am.

And the only Shirky piece I need this week is this exquisite slice of FOTA goodness from David Kernohan.