BREAKING NEWS: I’m using Tumblr, and I like it!
In case you missed the memo, Tumblr is a very cool, short-form blogging platform that is clean and super-easy to use. Tumblr is another form of microblogging; the current giant being Twitter. People share photos, music, links, videos, thoughts, quotes, short text, ANYTHING with minimal effort. Like ‘blog’ is a short-form of weblog, this type of (micro-)blogging gets its name from tumblelog. Positioned nicely between Twitter and longer-form blogging platforms like WordPress or Blogger, Tumblr is fast and simple push-button publishing, with a focus on looking schmick. Many (most?) Tumblrs have ‘tumblr.com’ in the address, but some people self-host and choose the URL. Just like many websites use blogging software and self-host to create their own domain. Also a social network, Tumblr users (Tumblers? Tumblees? Tumblfolk?) connect and follow each other’s posts, and reblog and like (favourite) posts. Reblogging is prolific on Tumblr; sharing is caring and all that. Some may feel Tumblr is too littered with reposts, that it is lacking original content. However, if that’s how people want to use it, I see no problem with that. There definitely is original content in amongst the reblogs. Perhaps as a reaction to the negative ‘reblogging’ tag, the fun people at Tumblr bring you REBLORG, the home of original content only: http://reblorg.com/about. To my mind, using Tumblr is like any 2.0-ish ‘thing;’ you make it work for you, how you want it to, and no, it won’t be for everyone. I like the following description from Tackling Tumblr : web publishing made simple by Thord Daniel Hedengren.
Tumblr is a hybrid service- part blogging, part microblogging, and a social network to boot. Not a very definite description, is it? The thing with Tumblr is that it really becomes what you make of it. It’s not just about understanding how the Tumblr service works, but also how you can use if for your own needs. (p. 6)
Given I mainly focus on libraries and learning here on dpgreen.net, I am using Tumblr to share my other loves. So in a moment of super-name-coming-up-with-ness, I’ve titled my Tumblr:
My Tumblr tagline reads:
Here lie the other loves of David Green AKA dpgreen. Expect music, art, theatre, photos, & GeeBee. Libraries, learning, books & reading will surface too.
You can check it out over here: http://dpgreen.tumblr.com/
There is a thriving art community on Tumblr. Gaming people and comic fans and creators too. You can follow folks with font fetishes, and literature enthusiasts. Design absolutely suits this platform, and of course tech is popular too. Oh and music, and music, and more music. You should find whatever you’re after, with hi-res photos adding to the goodness and the glossiness.
My current fave Tumblrs are:
- Underground New York Public Library – all sorts of awesome
- Oh Dear … – make sure you click ‘start’ to read this comic from the beginning
- To Shake Your Rump is to Be Environmentally Aware – David Byrne bits’n'bobs
- Heart of Darkness – photographic eyecandy
I do have some fave library Tumblrs too (SURPRISE!) and I’ll mention those soon in my next post: Tumblr pt. 2.
Do you use Tumblr? Please leave me your Tumblr link in the comments, &/or recommend your favourite Tumblrs 
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p.s. This post has been a draft for a long while. Special thanks to Kate Tkacik for her excellent piece which reignited my spark, and prompted me to finish and publish it