Brian's Blog; Requiem for a Revenge

(Every Monday, I focus on the effects of blogs and blogging. Just for the heck of it)

Fifteen minutes is up for Brian Gorrel's blog.

Perhaps the loyal Team Brian still keeps the statistics going, but by the comment section alone , we know it has lost a significant percentage of its readership. Let us do some initial body count and assess the extent to which his blog has achieved its purpose. Although, Brian himself wrote that his reasons have evolved and have gone beyond the 70,000 target.

Some Uplinks:

a. Well, it seems he has moved on. That should be attributed to the blog. He found a lot of allies and supporters who helped rebuild his confidence. By this alone, the blog is a resounding success.
b. For a month, he made a case about the potential power of blogging as a platform to put across your message. Hundreds of college seniors owe much gratitude to Brian for giving them a thesis topic.
c. He created a circle of support and gained valuable friendships because of the blog. He is his own social networking site.
d. Filipinos were given a face of an HIV positive man and were granted entry into his colorful life. Before Brian, we knew of men and women who died from HIV complications, but mostly we heard about how they died. Now, we know how they live.
e. Some blogs became famous because of their link to Brian's blog. I wouldn't have heard about Dona Victorina and Misterhubs, if not for Brian.

Some downlinks:

a. The 70,000 has not been returned. DJ Montano did not give-in to the social pressure and until now remains free, perhaps planning for his return ala-Gabby Concepcion.
b. The very people whom Brian wanted to hurt by damaging their egos and their reputation bounced back with glee. They have become so famous that they increased their market value. Tim Yap and Celine Lopez used to define their sphere of influence within the elite and social climbing class. They should cut Brian some check, now that they are well-known all over the country.
c. We became aware of the downside of internet information - it creates news but it doesn't change lives. We cannot commit to the cause of someone we just read about. Too impersonal. Our best response was a few lines in the comment section. Then we move on to other blogs.

Brian Gorrel went the way of other whistle -blowers like Jun Lozada (remember him, the crying man?). We listened to them. We paid attention for a while. We echoed their sentiments. We created noise. We patted their backs, and sent them down the road.

Brian mirrors to us a face so familiar we hardly care anymore - the made-up face of a corrupt Philippines. Truth is, I am bored with Brian. He had become the male incarnation of Miriam Santiago - fun at first, feisty when fighting - until I realized he is saying the same thing again and again. He mouths slogans without deep analysis. He is like Sarah Palin - he knows how to attack without knowing the enemy or the logic of the war.

But that is because I expected his blog to be a political platform. It isn't. It's a personal blog. No more. No less.

You have to be Brian's friend to appreciate his blog. Because he does not have the humor of Misterhubs, the analysis of Dona Victorina, the elan of BryanBoy, the charisma of Docmcfitch, the expansiveness of ageage, or even the style of gibbscadiz.

He is simply Brian, who blogs.