I've been uneasy with the identification "biblioblogger" since it first appeared. At first I thought it was just the name. Then I wondered if it was the insistence by some that properly "professional" blogs should eschew other topics and cleave only to professional matters. But at the SBL "Biblioblogger Session" (which I thoroughly enjoyed, and in which I was highly honoured to be invited to participate before several more worthy bloggers who helped form the gratifyingly large audience) I learned the real reason for my unease...
Well I did with the help of a coffee later with Paul Nikkel who had put it into words, at the session Paul spoke about identity formation, and naming, and of interesting parallels between ethnic naming and naming bibliobloggers. Despite Jim's rejection of the notion (backed up by a great photo), and AKMA and Pilgrim at First and Lake's preference for fears of academic prejudice in job search, tenure and promotion among a group vulnerable to marginalisation as an explanation of exclusivity, the naming of a "group" with a shared identity seems to me dangerous. But then I've never been "clubbable". I suspect I share Marx's sentiment (I wouldn't want to be a member of a club that would have me as a member! - of course it's a quote from Groucho not Karl ;)
Seriously, by naming we create a group, by discussing who is in (and therefore by implication who is out!) we create exclusivity. This is no longer the spirit of Blogaria, and I regret my phrase at the session about a virtual common-room, because one of the things I've greatly valued about the virtual one (an advantage that all the "real" ones, even those that seek to be more open, fail to realise) is its openness, that you can chat to anyone there. In the blog "common room" prof and grad student can chat with the undergraduate fresher and status (almost) disappears. But not if we name and create boundaries.
So, I'm sorry friends. I resign, I'll still read and comment on your blogs and I hope you may still read and comment on mine, but I'm just another citizen of Blogaria and not a member of the gated community of Biblioblogdom.
PS I have just read yasminfinch's thoughtful post "biblioblogs and all that" apart from more food for reflection it does not make me want to change what I've written above, but read it for yourself - especially if "you" are a male biblioblogger!
[to Del.icio.us]
Tim, you can resign but that still doesn't remove you from my Biblioblog blogroll. I've always been something of a populist. I don't care for academic exclusivity although I enjoy being in an academic environment.
Here are some comments I just posted on the blog which was the last link in your post:
I haven't really been part of any discussion over what qualifies a blog to be called a biblioblog. But I do have a blogroll on my blog which I have labeled Biblioblogs. For me, any blog which posts seriously about the Bible qualifies as a biblioblog (think etymology of the word "biblioblog"). If there is a desire (and I would hope not) to differentiate bibliobloggers who are SBL members or Ph.D's in biblical studies from other bloggers who put up serious posts about important biblical topics, then one could add some qualifier, such as "scholarly biblioblogs" or "SBL member biblioblogs" or "professional biblical scholar biblioblogs."
One of the important social processes occurring with blogs is that some walls between academic biblical studies and other biblical studies are being partially torn down. This is what happens to societal walls when there is communication possible between all levels of society, ethnic groups, countries, etc. I happen to think breaking down of walls is a good thing. I've seen posts by non-professional biblical scholars (well, students, anyway!) which equal or surpass the quality of some posts from the professionals. So let's learn from each other and not worry about pedigree.
A rose by any other name is still a rose. I've never been too sure of the value of labels. They serve some purpose but often have to get tossed after awhile as those described by a label shift and not everyone is comfortable with the shift.
By 
Wayne Leman, at
November 26, 2005 6:46 AM
Since I apparently coined the term, perhaps my comments at rogueclassicism will have some auctoritas ...
http://www.atrium-media.com/rogueclassicism//Posts/00002263.html
By David, at
November 27, 2005 3:01 AM
I have to say, when the term started being used I found myself feeling left out as I do not post about biblical studies alone. I hope those who create "biblioblogs" however read my blog anyway, as I value their comments and hope to share some of my ideas with them.
By eddie, at
November 29, 2005 11:54 AM
Well, welcome back into the rest of blog-dom -- but it doesn't seem sporting that you've not written at all since your recent announcement! Your new-ish readers look forward to reading further updates to your post-biblio-blog.
:)
