For the last ten years opinions have been going online, with many people (‘bloggers’) using the web for sharing their point of view in a web-log - or 'blog' as it's better known.
Of course, you can also use a blog as a diary, as a way of posting links to a chosen subject, as a way of promoting your hobby, or … well… anything!
More about how to blog, and the problems of blogging, further down the page.
And Staffordshire is not backward in coming forward as far as this phenomenon is concerned.
Bloggers in the county, or from the county, are posting on a vast array of subjects, from oatcakes to daily life to the music scene of Stoke-on-Trent.
Staffordshire blogging connections
Let’s have a good look round the web to find blogs with a connection to the Staffordshire area.
Here are just some of them that we found, with my very subjective assessments. If you know of others, tell us about the,m using the comments form at the bottom of this page…
(NB - The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites)
• ‘Good Food Shops’
This website focuses on local food suppliers and producers. The author lives in Cheshire, and most of his postings are on the delights of oatcakes, but he looks further a field as well.
There's also a handy map which pinpoints the hundreds of shops he's visited and reviewed in his posts - many of which are in Stoke-on-Trent.
4 out of 5 for the sheer range of reviews he's one. (http://goodfoodshops.blogspot.com)
• ‘Bacon, Cheese and Oatcakes’
This may sound like it continues the food theme, but it's got nothing to do with them!
These are regular posts about family life from a mother of five, with details of things she finds amusing on the web. She also includes a range of links - most of which are about knitting, which she's fanatical about.
A lot of personal references means it can be hard to understand at first - 2 out of 5. (http://baconcheeseandoatcakes.co.uk)
• Sir Findo Gask
He is also blogging about things personal to him. However, he tends to look at the stories that wind him up.
He harks back to the days when handbags were used for fighting and claims to collect antique fighting handbags. Yes, you guessed it – he is a satirical writer looking at what annoys him in the 21st century.
He does miss his point occasionally, but 3 out of 5 nonetheless. (http://www.sirfindogask.co.uk)
• Moriarty the Mundane
Continuing on the theme from Sir Findo, MM looks at what he describes as the more mundane events in his life. Moriarty lives in Burntwood and most of his posts look at his involvement in motorsport, from being a fan to involvement with charity work. He looks at grassroots as well as the events in Formula 1.
2 out of 5 - as it's not updated often. (http://moriartythemundane.blogspot.com)
• Caroline Kay
She is using an extension of the Burton Mail website to write her blog, just like many reporters who are (in the opposite direction) moving onto the web.
It's written like a personal diary, giving her take on the world. Her posts seem to focus on her favourite television programmes, but quickly deviate onto other topics. I love what she says! (http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burtonmail%2Dblogs%2Dcarolinekay/home.asp)
• Barry Stamp
In a similar diary style to Caroline, Barry writes about his daily life.
The difference is that he's a Liberal Democrat councillor on Stafford Borough Council. He posts about political issues in the area, particularly in his ward of Haughton, Bradley and Church Eaton. There are also links to access the council's website and his own personal webpage. (http://www.barrystamp.co.uk/blogger/blogger.html)
• Gemma Thomas
Artists are also blogging, including Gemma Thomas. She's a part-time MA student on a work placement and is using the blog to document her time there… She's also looking at art in the Staffordshire area, with links to events taking place. (http://myfierceplacement.wordpress.com)
• Stoke Sounds
This is really reviews of bands and gigs taking place around Stoke-on-Trent, but using a blog template.
Reviews and interviews are regularly posted by the authors with links for you to listen to the artists and find out more about them. It’s more of a messageboard than a blog, and confusing layout means it can be difficult to navigate.
But it’s a labour of love so, for that, I give it four out of five. (http://stokesounds.blogspot.com)
• Darkkat
Writers are also using blogs as their starting point for stories. Darkkat, as she is known, regularly posts notes that discuss possible ideas. She also occasionally posts reviews to films that she's interested in - which tend to be about horror and science fiction. (http://darkkat.livejournal.com)
• How You Say It
This is written by a 30-something researcher and writer with his musings on what he overhears people say. Some of the posts can be short, but all have the basis of being turned into a story or novel. (http://how-you-say-it.blogspot.com/)
• Tell Me a Story
Author Anthony James Barnett asks you to Tell Me a Story on http://ajbarnett-story.blogspot.com, his blog about all things literary. It includes no-nonsense advice and tips for prospective writers as well as information about new publications.
He loses points though for the shameless plug of his own book. 3 out of 5.
• A Foreigner in Stoke(http://foreignerinstoke.blogspot.com/)
This is an occasionally incoherent look at life in the Potteries through the eyes of an anonymous visitor. The few entries reveal the author’s delight at discovering such attractions as Trentham Gardens and the Foxfield Railway. 2 out of 5 for the fantastic photos.
•A Tideswellman’s Weblog
A former resident of Tideswell in Derbyshire – hence the name – he blogs about Family History, the Peak District, The Potteries, Politics and Technology. There’s plenty of personal photos and the passion shines through in the writings – as well as his strong feelings on politics in Stoke-on-Trent.
(http://tideswellman.blogspot.com/)
(NB - The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites)
Know of any more Staffordshire-associated blogs? Let us knowing using the comments board below...
Blogging advice
If the blogs we mentioned have got you tempted to start your own, the BBC's Webwise site has more information about how to get one up and running. Check the top right hand corner of this page for a link.
In fact, blogs are easy for anyone to start up - through free websites like Blogspot (http://www.blogspot.com) and Wordpress (http://www.wordpress.com). Nowadays, you can have your own blog on the web within five minutes with the set-up being so simple.
Once up, a blog’s readers can also comment on the posts, and bloggers often go about building up a network with links to other blogs and web pages.
There is very little downside, so long as you restrict your personal information and don’t print anything your grandma wouldn’t want to see.
But - because anyone can share anything, some blogs are criticised for bringing nothing new to the web, and being, er, a little boring.
Also, the amount of blogs may be growing all the time, but sadly the number of blogs being abandoned by bloggers who outgrow their own creations is also growing. So, don’t be surprised if some blogs seem badly out of date.
