We're not in 2005 anymore, Toto.

I've got a copy of 2005: Blogged somewhere in the attic - a compilation of some of the most profound, interesting, witty and insightful posts of that year.

It's like everyone has split up into breakout groups and closed the door for whatever seminar they're in. 2005 was the tea and coffee stage.

It's just not the same anymore, is it? Back when we used to read widely and link things and have discussions.

You could launch any thought into the ether you liked, or could write an essay. An obituary, a polemic or an ode. You could play around and have some fun and discover some wonderful things.

If you do a short blog post now you'll get done for copyright infringement by twitter, everyone has a blog and all the fun anonymous bloggers have got bored or been outed or both. All the good bloggers have got book deals and become celebrities and changed. Maybe that's what the problem is.

The world moves, or you have to move, or something. It's the difference between jogging or being on a treadmill. I actually like watching the news while I'm at the gym, but that's not progressing, seeing new sights and experiencing that exercise in a visceral way.

I know I've missed the boat, but I don't know where it was going or even what it looked like. There's nothing punky or subversive or particularly innovative about it now. I must admit I don't put any effort into discovering new blogs like I used to. Where would I even start?

I don't think blogging is necessarily dead - if anything it's as active as ever, just more middle-aged and resigned to whatever it has become. That doesn't necessarily mean it's bad at all either - we're just not in 2005 anymore, Toto.