What is a tumblelog?

April 21, 2007 11:25 PM

What is a Tumblelog? I mean I have seen the definitions and dissertations but what is it really? It is a weblog. Its a series of posts. Yes, yes, but what is it really?
posted by zudfunck to Computers & Internet (18 answers total)

If you haven't seen the Wikipedia page:

"A tumblelog is a variation of a blog, that favors short-form, mixed-media posts over the longer editorial posts frequently associated with blogging. Common post formats found on tumblelogs include links, photos, quotes, dialogues, and video. Unlike blogs, this format is frequently used to share the author's creations, discoveries, or experiences without providing a commentary."

The page has a bit more information on the historical uasge of the term.
posted by niles at 11:34 PM on April 21, 2007

Don't know if wikipedia linked there but the tumblr faq sums it up, yeah?
posted by doublesix at 11:37 PM on April 21, 2007

Here's an example of one. It belongs to Gina Trapani, the editor at Lifehacker.
posted by stefanie at 11:58 PM on April 21, 2007

It's a weblog without putting the burden of content on the creator. It's like a scrapbook--a collection of cool things one's found that were written (or photographed or whatever) by someone else. They're not blogs for non-technical people, they're publishable versions of your bookmarks. (Not quite like a del.icio.us feed in the presentation--the videos are embedded, as are the pictures; the quotes are in big text; the whole thing is quite stylized). They're fun! Try one, without even telling anyone the address.
posted by crayolarabbit at 12:32 AM on April 22, 2007

The ironic thing about "Tumblelogs" is that weblogs were originally meant to be short, brief links to other people's content. The idea that your weblog should be full of essays and analysis and opinion is a relatively new idea - "Tumblelogs", if that's what people choose to call them, are actually a return to form.
posted by Jimbob at 12:50 AM on April 22, 2007

A scrapbook, a scratchpad, a mathom house, a florilegium, a wunderkammer - any of these things.
posted by zamboni at 12:52 AM on April 22, 2007

So MeFi is a "Tumblelog", then?
posted by Dizzy at 12:58 AM on April 22, 2007

"Tumblelogs", if that's what people choose to call them, are actually a return to form

And I think we can already see the pattern forming: new bloggers will come along every few years, rediscover the original form and call it by a new name.
posted by jjg at 1:52 AM on April 22, 2007

new bloggers will come along every few years, rediscover the original form and call it by a new name

New whatnow? You mean those folks that write online diaries?
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 2:25 AM on April 22, 2007

I'm a little confused by this question, don't you have one? Are you just trying to get other people's ideas of what they are? I'm with jjg on this one, the FAQ for Tumblr calls it "totally different" when in fact it's not really different at all, it's just a very basic My First Blog tool.
posted by jessamyn at 4:07 AM on April 22, 2007

This is the bizarrest question ever. I mean, if you Wikipedia it or read their FAQs, it's everyone you want to know. Not to mention that you answered your question in your question. Are you, like, the CEO of Tumblr or something?
posted by sneakin at 5:44 AM on April 22, 2007

I've found tumblelogs very useful for compiling all my sources across the internet for those several people interested in my actions. Because Tumblelogs are free form media, it can really create a different meaning on each one; for example, my usage is very different than someone who posts code examples on their tumblelog.
posted by zenja72 at 7:34 AM on April 22, 2007

um, the link to zudfunck's own 'tumblelog' from his or her profile seems to be a good example of a tumblelog. This question is dubious.
posted by drobot at 8:00 AM on April 22, 2007

I always thought a tumblelog was akin to following somebodies journey through the intertubes. They highlight interesting things they come across and tumble them with a few words about them. The trend seems to be to show them on a tumblelog scrapbook stylee as opposed to simply linking to them.

I guess back in the day, lack of widespread broadband didnt make posting high res photos and embedding videos feasible.

Just my thoughts.
posted by rey at 8:10 AM on April 22, 2007

FYI -- there's yesterday's FPP on the blue about Tumblr: Blogging for the technically challenged.

MeTa.
posted by ericb at 8:38 AM on April 22, 2007

So MeFi is a "Tumblelog", then?

Yes.
posted by 3.2.3 at 10:29 AM on April 22, 2007

So MeFi is a "Tumblelog", then?

Nooo. MeFi without the witty link explanation is a Tublelog.

"...without providing a commentary."
posted by niles at 10:31 AM on April 22, 2007

A Tumblelog, what is that? Well... say you took a Blog and left it in the dryer too long.

Or so I read on this really cool tumblelog that MeFi's own zudfunck maintains. Everyone should go check it out!
posted by Pater Aletheias at 11:45 AM on April 22, 2007