[blogher and blogging internationally]

Since arriving back from BlogHer in San Jose I've had a million thoughts swirl around my head and am finding it difficult to actually pinpoint exactly what I'm thinking. Perhaps that's just because there's so much. Questions of race, sexuality, and of course gender-sterotypes definitely are some main themes but what about "Americanization?" Sure, BlogHer attracted (a few) people from outside of the States. I was there (all the way from old Blighty), Canadians were there, Mexicans, even a German or two. But...that was it (to my knowledge). If there were more people from outside of the States raise your hands now! Looking around at the sea of mostly white English speaking and writing faces has really made me question whether the internet is as democratising as some of it's proponents assure. I mean, as Sue pointed out in our recent meeting, html (as with other code) is in English....The sessions at BlogHer were certainly directed to the Anglo crowd. Even when we were being taught about monetizing (spelt with a "z" - zee! har) our blogs and it was suggested that we add important bits to the top left of our blogs as that is where "the" eye naturally rests. Sure, for people who read from left to write and from top to bottom...hrm. What about Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, etc....What then? How would I find out about that? Where are the Hebrew bloggers? In the States I was reading about French bloggers being the "world's most intensive bloggers." (the July 30 edition, page 18A of the San Jose Mercury News) Apparently 60% of French 'net users visted a blog in May, ahead of Britain's 40% and 1/3 of American users. Hrm...food for thought? Where are the French bloggers? (Jacques Chirac anyone?) I'm off to see if I can find some right now.