Definition of Microcontent Voting: A recent trend in weblog circles, the “microcontent vote” has emerged from several historical contingencies. In particular, the increasing use of tools like Movable Type has encouraged the posting of longer, more involved pieces of writing – writing fit to occupy a fully independent web document in and of itself. Due to a scarcity of time, this excess of wordy posting necessarily leaves the weblogger enervated and recumbant – in turn leaving a considerable number of interesting links uncommented upon – uninvestigated. The most logical band-aid to this increasing problem of weblog exhaustion? ‘Remaindered links sections’ (unordered lists of links with little or no commentary) and even ‘linklogs’ have emerged – secondary weblogs attached like small cleaning fish to the huge gills and gnashing teeth of weblog monsters like kottke.org, Anil Dash and interconnected.
The value of these dedicated linklogs or multi-link posts is debatable. It seems that it would be relatively rare for any individual to follow these lists with the same interest and joie de vivre with which they might follow the ‘main’ site. It would not be beyond the bounds of reason – in fact – to argue that no one actually clicks on the links contained within them at all. But perhaps their utility isn’t based around their presence on the site in question… And maybe that utility isn’t for the readers of that site at all…
One of the most obvious reasons for their use is that they represent relatively cheap content for weblog authors. Other than the intellectual labour in finding the material in the first place, little effort is required to post it to the weblog in question. Commentary (if any) can be sparse and pithy. The second obvious (and connected) reason for their use is that they represent a quick way of getting interesting links published upon one’s site. They are a speedy enterprise. Both of these depend on the crucial final point – that they represent links that the author believes should be seen but has not the time or the inclination to write about further.
As such – the ‘linklog’ or the ‘remaindered links’ post represents nothing more clearly than a simple statement on the quality (or the newsworthiness) of the links in question. It is nothing more or less than a vote that “this is worth reading”. And these votes are increasingly being collated by sites such as Popdex, Blogdex and Daypop – transforming the mindless daily drudge work of weblog-worker-bees into a neatly ranked link-honey of utility and joy to all…
The novelty of the link upon your site is no longer the issue – the issue is merely is it good? If you answer honestly, then the community itself can decide what’s worth reading. Every citizen of weblogland has the right to the microcontent vote. They have the right to use them and the power to do so. And the power carries right through the weblog indices into Google’s indexing and from there into the browsing experiences of everyone throughout the world. Use your votes wisely. For Microcontent Votes are Power.