The concept of blogging has been the biggest online phenomenon before the advent of online social and professional networking. Oh, it still remains unique and continues maintains its purity. It will continue to remain unique and the blogosphere only will continue to exponentially grow.
Blog as we know is the short form for the term “web log” and can be used as an online journal.
Well, when I used to study at NIIT between 1995 and 1997, I started writing on charts and pasted them onto the walls of NIIT as posters for display. I also used to distribute these charts to anyone and everyone I came across. The charts would be of many colors like rose, red, green, yellow, blue, white etc. And I used to write on the charts using sketch pens of various colors. Those days there was no concept of the internet and it was not even taught at computer institutes like NIIT.
I now want to call what I did as “wlog”, which is my short form for “wall log”.
The content of my “wlog” was usually poems, ads, and other creative works.
…And they were displayed on the “walls of NIIT” and shared to the public just the way now our blogs are displayed on the “walls of the world” AKA internet and shared to the public.
I first started “wlogging” somewhere in early 1996 when my NIIT institute opened a new computerdrome and it wanted its students come up with a poster for it. I guess the request was rolled off but I went on to display my poster on the walls of NIIT. So that’s how I started “wlogging” and I don’t know why I did that but I just enjoyed this activity so much that I would come randomly at any time to NIIT with my charts and paste them on the walls. I would write anything on charts once I got an idea to share. Folks used to read these stuff displayed on the wall. A lot of people used to appreciate my works. I also explained the concepts on my “wlog post” if anybody met me with questions. Some people said I was wasting time with my “wlog”. Some people will write “comments” on my posters and the bad ones used to rip it off the wall (“delete”) and even stamp it with their shoes!!! To take care of the baddies, I used to put a glass paper (some kind of transparent glass sheet) to cover these posters so that people don’t “write comments or edit”. So this was my device to “turn off comments” on my “wlog”!!!
Oh!, and all my posters used to carry my personal “letterman logo/icon” as a signature. I had many “avatars” of my “letterman logo/icon” which may symbolize a particular frame of mind or mood etc. And my signature name was “Muks” or “Mux” though in New Zealand they would call me as “Mooks”, perhaps based on how they pronounce the Australian clothing brand name: “Mooks”.
People used to ask me whether I got paid for writing on my “wlog”. People were confused about my “wlog” because they are not officially put by NIIT management, nor did they appear as if they were posters written by students for extra-curricular school events etc…; and to top it up, it was distributed to many many individuals personally. People found my “wlog” approach to be an unique and new experience. I used to say to people that Iam just sharing these creative thoughts on a broad range of topics. I don’t know why but I enjoy sharing my ideas – whether they be raw or polished, whether they be amateurish or professional, whether they be significant or insignificant.
No, I was not conducting an exhibition at an art gallery where artists get paid whenever people buy their works and receive compliments on a guest note book;
No, I was not making posters from a diary which is personal and which has been known to exist for hundreds of years;
Nor was I writing banners for an ad agency which gets displayed along the roads and highways.
Essentially I was sharing concepts and ideas with the public via my “wlog”.
That’s all!!!
So “sharing” would be the key term to describe my “wlogging” activity and though I did not get paid (the idea of making money did not appeal to me because I was not hired by someone to “wlog”), I was able to later put them into a portfolio which was vital in getting me an offer from a prestigious ad school. This will always remain an excellent permanent entry on my resume and thanks to my “wlog” for that!!! At least the heavy amount of time I invested in “wlogging” for over two years fetched me some real world credentials!!!
Now looking at my blog and reflecting 15 years down the line on my “wlog”, I feel like asking: “Déjà vu?”!!!
