The end
UPDATE
The comments so far have been truly heart-wearming. I had never even expected anyone would miss posts on this blog. But then again: you are all such polite people, so I can see the reason behind your expressing what you have until now... ;-D
Still, it feels good as it is right now. And it would seem I'm not alone with this 'feeling'. According to a recent future report by The Future Laboratory "a growing minority of overloaded consumers are phasing out their virtual selves and returning to face-to-face socialising," as you can read here for example. So yes, I'll be sticking around on the web but when I say something like "see ya", that would be IRL preferably!
Christmas holidays, the new year in sight. Time to relax a little. Spend time with family and friends. And... try and catch up on the many mails, requests, notificiations,... that I have been receiving lately. Via Gmail, Yahoo, MSN, Scarlet mail, work mail, Flickr, Facebook, Netlog, Twitter,... Not to mention the good old post cards that seem to be flooding our snail mail box (thanks to everybody who sent us one - we're working on sending one back to you).
Perhaps it's the melancholic feeling I always get at the end of the year. Perhaps it's the lack of sunlight during these short days and long nights. But frankly, I'm tired. The web is a great thing, but I get the impression mankind has not evolved to the extent that our brains can cope with it all. Or at least, I haven't...
So no wonder people are shutting down their blog, are pronouncing the bankruptcy of social networking (found via Netlash) or are setting up a Facebook group that illustrates the same feeling of being fed up with some of the web2.0 overkill... Personally, I'm also going to take some time off blogging. Perhaps I'll pick it back up again later, perhaps I won't. But I am going to take some time to think about how, where and when I'm going to shape my 'online identity', if any.
I am not unplugging the internet, mind you. But this blog is probably going offline soon. It was a great tool in helping me to get to understand the blogosphere phenomenon. And it has introduced me to a great many wonderful people. I am not going to sum them up. I'm afraid I might forget some... But I'm sure they know who they are.
So thanks to them, and thanks to anybody who has ever visited this blog or commented on it. All the best for 2008 and see you soon. IRL or online...
This one's for the road (tacky? who me? ;-D ) :
Farewell No Copy.... one of my real favourites, not just something I added to a list.
Posted by: Philip | December 31, 2007 at 08:48 PM
Serge - how am I going to find a new favourite Belgian blogger???
TM
Posted by: Tom Murphy | January 01, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Hey man, we'll miss the body of your copy - remember, you can pick it back up anyday :)
Posted by: Jeroen Verkroost | January 02, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Serge,
I really hope you rethink your decision. No Copy has always been a breath of fresh air and you'll be leaving me all on my own with the tenuously music related post titles!
Keep in touch,
Andy
Posted by: Andrew Wake | January 02, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Partypooper!
Posted by: steven | January 02, 2008 at 09:19 PM
@Philip: don't worry - I'll stick around to haunt your posts.
@Tom: Let me think about some suggestions to replace me. Steven is definitely NOT it... :-)
@Jeroen: great to get to know "new" (at least to me) readers even now. And yes, I know. But not immediately, I guess.
@Andy: dito as Philip! Besides: the music related post titles was your idea - nothing's better than the original!
@Steven: Wait till you will have spent three years at the same party... :-)
Posted by: Serge | January 03, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Enjoy your time off.
You'll be back. Just let us know when "the new Serge" has arrived. :-)
Posted by: Smetty | January 04, 2008 at 07:27 PM
Guess I will just have to travel thousands of miles to SEE my fav Belgian blogger.
Posted by: Kami Huyse | January 07, 2008 at 06:02 AM
@Smetty: I will.
@Kami: what a novel idea. Take time to actually see people in real life instead of meeting them virtually... Could THAT be the new trend? ;-D) Anyway: looking forward to that!
Posted by: Serge | January 07, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Well... too bad. Although I see your point. I am trying to stop the Web 2.0 overflow in my life as well...(while writing my thesis about business blogs ;)) Too many pages to visit, too many people to interact, too much time spent online. I started by removing MSN, blog is too radical ;) Hope to see you back.
Posted by: Triin | January 09, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Sometimes radical is good. :-) Good luck with the thesis!
Posted by: Serge | January 09, 2008 at 10:04 AM
:) Radical is, yes, sometimes good :) But all the luck is needed and all the best to you too!
After all, now you will have more time to study Estonian :P "Ma olen õnnelik inimene." means "I'm a lucky person." That's a good start.
Posted by: Triin | January 09, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Happy New Year!
I hope it is just a manic-depressive episode in your life and I do hope you will blog again soon!
Where would I get my regular fix of Belgium?
Take care and give me a shout when you are back online!
Posted by: Sidney | January 10, 2008 at 08:12 AM
Serge! Just read this news via Philip Young and am saddened, but I can honestly understand where you coming from. In fact I only found out your news because I have been pretty much out of the blogosphere since the end of December.
I hope taking stock of things will help you redefine where you're at and that we see you back soon in a different format.
Till then.....
Simon
Posted by: Simon Collister | January 11, 2008 at 12:52 PM
@Everybody: truly heart-warming, all these reactions. I'm already curious as to what they will be when I'm dead, one day :-)... So, thanks! But for now, I'm not changing my mind. Viz also my latest/last (?) update...
Posted by: Serge | January 11, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Update:
"Only fools don’t change their minds!" ;-)
Posted by: Sidney | January 25, 2008 at 08:08 AM
In that case I'll gladly be a happy fool for now. :-)
Posted by: Serge Cornelus | January 28, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Admit it... you already miss your blog!
You are addicted to it... and like smoking it is not easy to quit! :-)
Posted by: Sidney | January 29, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Mmmm... I don't really miss it that much. But if you keep commenting, I have no choice but to keep it going a bit longer. :-) And I quit smoking quite easily, actually. So who knows?
Posted by: Serge Cornelus | January 29, 2008 at 07:29 PM
Imagine the number of things you could have shared with the world...
I am sure you feel miserable right now... no more hits, no more comments, no more online friends... you are virtually DEAD ! ;-)
That being said, I hope you are doing fine!
Posted by: Sidney | February 26, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Uw beslissing vormt het onderwerp van mijn post van vandaag!
Posted by: Pascal Digital | March 10, 2008 at 10:34 AM
@Sidney: de virtuele dood bevalt me nog altijd prima.
@Pascal: teveel eer. Maar ik kom straks wel eens piepen... :-)
Posted by: Serge Cornelus | March 10, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Serge,
Looking forward to our next IRL get-together, perhaps in Europe?
Posted by: Andrea Weckerle | March 24, 2008 at 06:34 AM
Serge,
Looking forward to our next IRL get-together, perhaps in Europe?
Posted by: Andrea Weckerle | March 24, 2008 at 06:35 AM
@Andrea: so do I? So much better than all this virtual stuff :-D...
Posted by: Serge Cornelus | March 24, 2008 at 02:38 PM