Well, I’ve been blogging the Newburyport Political Blog for a whole year. Who knew? Not moi.
I had no idea what would happen when I started the Newburyport Political Blog January 1, 2006. I figured I might last a couple of weeks, possibly six. 12 whole months. My.
And what have I learned in the last 12 months of blogging the Newburyport Political Blog?
1) As a blogger I am considered a publisher (along with people who write Letters to the Editor, fliers, email lists, petitions) and as a publisher I can be sued. Really lousy surprise.
2) Most people threaten to sue bloggers to shut them up. This is called a “SLAPP” suit. Frowned upon big time by the courts in Massachusetts.
3) I’ve actually been threatened a number of times. Another really big lousy surprise. I thought I was fairly mild mannered and reasonably reasonable, although, of course, sometimes opinionated.
4) During the last 12 months I’ve gotten my share of “unpleasant” phone calls and emails.
5) It has been my observation that the wealthier the human being, the more “unpleasant” the correspondence tends to be.
6) It appears that mostly the upset correspondie is sent a post out of context of the Newburyport Political Blog. It seems that most upset correspondies don’t actually read the Newburyport Political Blog. So why have they been upset? Who knows.
All of the above pisses me off.
But now for the stuff that doesn’t piss me off.
1) People, lots of people, thousands of people actually read the Newburyport Political Blog. Big surprise. Really, really big surprise. Thank you readership of the Newburyport Political Blog.
2) I’ve met and gotten to know a whole lot of wonderful people that I never would have gotten to know before.
3) I’ve gotten to know people in the “media,” including Ulrika Gerth, the editor of the Newburyport Current, who when I thought about quitting blogging because of an “unfortunate” situation, was immensely supportive, to the point of actually writing a story about the whole thing.
4) An amazing amount of people were also supportive during that time and have been enormously supportive and fun over the last 12 months. And for this I thank you and am most deeply grateful.
5) George Cushing, of Frog Pond at the Bartlet Mall was given to me by Madame Swartz, and subsequently became a political consultant for the Newburyport Political Blog. First frog ever, that I know of, to ascend to such a blogging apex.
George Cushing, Political Consultant
to the Newburyport Political Blog
6) Subsequently the “Twins,” C. G. Cushing and G. C. Cushing of Frog Pond at the Bartlet Mall also want to get into the act and are aspiring consultants to the Newburyport Political Blog. Who knew that so many frogs would want to blog?
The Twins, Aspiring Consultants
to the Newburyport Political Blog
7) And as a blogger I’ve learned more than I ever dreamed of about civics in Newburyport, MA. And my hat is off to all our elected officials, Newburyport board members and Newburyport committee members, whether I agree with them or not. Running Newburyport, MA is one tough nut. And the more that I learn, the more I understand how difficult their job to be. So thank you all for “stepping up to the plate.”
And with that, Happy New Year! We will see what 2007 brings for the Newburyport Political Blog. These last 12 months have been quite a ride.
Cheers,
Mary Eaton
Editor of the Newburyport Political Blog