AOL Journals !st Anniversary

Sunday, July 18, 2004
Subject: Keynote Speaker - John Scalzi
Time: 11:44:00 PM CDT
Author:  viviansullinwank


First, of course, I'd like to thank you all for the opportunity to make this opening keynote address. I am, in a word, honored. Of course, seeing that you are camped out on my lawn (virtually speaking), I suppose it makes sense that I should say something, other than "You crazy kids! Get off my lawn!"

A little more than a year ago, AOL asked me to help out on a project they were doing -- they knew that "blogging" had taken off, and it was a feature they wanted to add to AOL. What they wanted from me was someone who had experience writing online to do several things: First, offer the new AOL Journalers some guidance on how to "blog," second, to act as an intermediary between AOL and the new journals, so that the new Journalers always had someone to go to for information or with questions, and third to act sort of as a "center," around which the AOL Journal community could grow -- the heart, perhaps, or, if one is feeling less charitable, the irritating piece of sand that starts a pearl forming.

A year on, I think I've done two of these things pretty well. I like to think I've been a helpful model for people who are starting to write for the first time; I also like to think I keep you all connected with what's going on with AOL and around AOL Journals. But where I've failed -- and happily so -- is in becoming the "heart" of the AOL Journals community. It became clear to me very early on that the AOL Journal community was very much its own thing. AOL had laid down the design of this community, as it were, by creating the technology of the Journals, but when the members moved in, the "neighborhood" grew through the designs they (which is to say, you) plotted. There's an old saying that in war, no plan of attack survives the beginning of a battle. In the same way, whatever AOL or I thought or imagined or dreamed the AOL Journals might be failed to survive the arrival of the AOL Journalers themselves -- failed to survive the arrival of each of you.

And of course, this is a very good thing. Communities aren't made of plans, you know. They're made of people, each of whom bring a unique perspective to their journal, each of whom connects with other Journalers or bloggers in his or her own way, each of whom defines his or her place in the online universe through words, pictures and connections. Today, there are hundreds of thousands of AOL Journals. Each signals a desire by its owner to be read, to be heard, to touch others and in return to be touched by them. Here I am, each Journal says. Let me tell you a little about me. Now tell me a little bit about you. And we do -- in comments, in our own Journals, in e-mails and IMs and chat rooms and even sometimes (gasp!) in the real world. We do what all people do: We make connections.

And this is why I'm proud to say that I am not the heart of AOL Journals. Not even close. You are the heart of it -- the heart, the brain, the soul of this community. You created it from next to nothing; yes, AOL provided the plot of land, but you built it up, opened your doors and invited people over. This one year celebration is a microcosm of the community spirit you've built: It's the AOL Journalers who have taken the lead to celebrate the occasion. You didn't need AOL itself to remind you of it; you've tended to the history of your community, just as you will tend to its future, I imagine, and help it grow from here.

I've been writing online for a long time now. I built my first personal Web page in 1994; I handcoded the HTML myself. In 1998, I stated writing on my personal site almost every day. Both of those times I started on my own, doing my own thing, alone. AOL Journals was something different. From the first, AOL hoped -- and I hoped -- that what would evolve here would be more than simply many people doing their own thing alone. I am gratified to see that our hopes have been realized beyond our expectations. As AOL Journalers, we are certainly each doing our own thing. But we are not alone.

The most exciting days of the AOL Journals community are still to come, I think. It's still a frontier; people are moving in, there are still new places to explore, and the character of the community will grow and change over time. What will stay the same is the heart of the community; it rests with you. Keep it well, in the next year and beyond.

Thank you, and enjoy the anniversary celebration!

John Scalzi

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Please click here to visit John Scalzi's Journal

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This entry has 32 comments: (Add your own)

• #32 Comment from hillareeday 
  8/2/04 11:32 AM | Permalink

  This place truly is something special, isn't it?? Great speech!
• #31 Comment from cw2smom 
  8/1/04 12:39 AM | Permalink

  John, I am so proud to be a part of this community and I just want to express my appreciation to you for all you've done and how you have helped me spark my creativity through journaling! The Weekend Assignments and your helpful "how-to's" has made AOL Journal world a welcome addition to my crazy life!  Again, thanks,  Lisa
• #30 Comment from greyhoundloner03 
  7/30/04 9:01 PM | Permalink

  Thank you, John, and everyone else who worked so hard to make this place happen and run so smoothly.
  
  Andi
  
  http://journals.aol.com/greyhoundloner03/attemptingauthenticity
• #29 Comment from floralilia 
  7/30/04 4:47 PM | Permalink

  succulent blogfather wisdom...
• #28 Comment from carly0042 
  7/30/04 4:10 PM | Permalink

  ( CLAPPING LOUDLY ) thanks John for all your help.

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