I just got back from the North Carolina Science Blogging Conference and let me tell you, it was an absolute blast. It was exciting, fun, and thought provoking (I even got to help chair a session!). One particular provoked thought was the need for Nature Network bloggers to develop the sort of close-knit and clique-y relationship that science bloggers on ScienceBlogs are fortunate to enjoy.
So here’s what we do.
Step 1. We need a name. Bloggers on ScienceBlogs refer to themselves as SciBlings. Siblings. How cool is that? We need that. Ok, maybe I need that. The feeling of belonging and community is what blogging is all about, right?
This is my appeal to all NN bloggers. Think of a name for us! I would help, but clearly I am no good at this: The Naturals? Dumb. NNs? Too close to ninnies.
I am brain-dead and full of LocoPops and shrimp and grits (looove Southern food). Will give our blogger name, and the rest of my awesome weekend some more thought in the morning. Hope you do the same!
Oh, but you are all our dearest CouSins!
Hi Anna,
I would have loved to participate in the conference. Maybe next time…
I love the idea behind this, so let’s see what everyone can come up with.
Maybe a poll can be set up when a couple options are presented.
A couple ideas:
Anna,
maybe we can start a group/forum on NN to discuss this further. Or is there a forum already?
- Martin
Noggers?
Nice idea. I am up for it.
Excellent idea Anna and several interesting suggestions in already. Keep ’em coming.
Maybe as Martin says we should start a group/forum solely for this purpose but let’s keep this thread going and see what develops.
Yes Ricardo. A poll would be in order once we’ve got some clear front runners.
Hi everyone,
Sorry I couldn’t make it to the conference this weekend, Anna.
Great idea about a NN blogger name! I like Massimo’s suggestion: noggers. But let’s have some other suggestions. I’ll post more here if I think of any.
Martin, about starting a group for NN bloggers: also a great idea! If you or someone else here starts it, we can help out by emailing all the bloggers and inviting them to join it. So far, there is this group, London bloggers (some NN bloggers are members of this), but there is no group for all the NN bloggers. Martin and Anna, I encourage you to start it!
I don’t want to be a party pooper but Massimo’s suggestion of noggers is not a good idea for one basic reason. If it is misspelled, it can give rise to some racial embarrassment, a simple slip of a key (“i” instead of “o”) and you’re in trouble.
I’ve worked on branding some time back and these are aspects that should be taken into consideration.
Other than that, let’s hear some more suggestions.
And even if it is correctly spelled, it may not be the most endearing term.
Yes, that thought occurred to me too.
I have a friend that is a master Wordsmith. I’ll see what Phil can come up with.
I like Ricardo’s suggestions above.
Good point everyone. Let’s stay away from nogger. I’ll keep thinking…
Here’s another idea. I and/or other Nature Network staffers will make sure to be at next year’s conference and we’ll try to get as many NN bloggers to go. We’ll host a dinner or some other kind of social get together so that we can all meet in person! Sound good? Of course, it shouldn’t be too exclusive…we can invite our non-Nature blogger friends to come as well.
Better not choose the Naturists either!
I have little imagination I am afraid — I was happy with Nature Network Bloggers before reading your post, Anna, not having thought about it before. I know it is boring, but it does what it says on the can.
Corie – I think that’s a great idea! Nature bloggers face a bit of a challenge in meeting up since we are spread out all over the world. A special occasion, such as the blogging conference, is a perfect excuse to make the effort to meet.
Maxine – Nature Network Bloggers is function over form, I am afraid. Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, does it… Would a contraction work? How about NNBs?
@Maxine, yes, let’s give your first idea a bum steer (pun intended). Second one as you say does what it says on the tin. ‘Ronseal’ as us Brits call it.
—
Nice one Corie !!
Most positive that only two days post event folks are already thinking ahead to next years one.
As far as I am aware most SciBlings are based in the US (Anna correct me if I’ve wrong) whereas bloggers at NN as Anna says are all over the world.
The only reason I didn’t attend this year in person was that I did not have available funding to cover flights/accommodation. I attended “virtually” instead and the level of interaction was awesome ;-) That said, I would have much preferred to have been there in person as I plan to be in 2009.
If blogging continues (highly likely) to gain momentum and recognition, next years event is likely to be extremely busy indeed.
[I watched a really good web 2.0 presentation over the weekend (dated late 2006) which mentioned that a new blog is started every second.]
This thread is moving along very nicely.
I like the idea of meeting in person at next year’s SciBlog conference. But North Carolina is a long way from home if you live in Germany. I don’t know where most Nature Network bloggers are located, but maybe some of us could also meet in Europe or Asia. Taking a plane to London, Paris or Rome would be in my budget, North America is a different story. In the meantime, we continue to meet virtually.
Corie,
Anna and I have taken on your suggestion to create a NN bloggers group. Stay tuned!
The new blogger naming group can be found HERE. Looking forward to reading everyone’s suggestions!
Uuuups sorry!!
I should have looked up on a dictionary whether the word that I thought I had invented had any meaning…Ouch.
Still after a name?
How about “LabFab”??
Thanks for the link Graham.
Phil.
Martin, good point about geography. Perhaps we should do two (or more!) events: one at the North Carolina conference, another in London or some other big center in continental Europe, another someplace else….
The name? Nature Network bloggers. Says who we are, what we do and where we do it. Can’t be bettered.
(I am so glad that you nixed “noggers” — apart from the typo issue, “noggins” is UK slang for people who are being a bit stupid.)
Please vote for your favorite NNBlogger nickname on the NNBlogger forum!
You have until Feb 3 to decide.
Slight update: Nickname poll has been moved. Please vote HERE for your top three Nature Network Blogger nicknames by Sunday, Feb 10.