[the dale list] the tendency to club and the philosophy of inclusion

The Dale list has certainly set the cat among the pigeons, no two ways about it and it’s possible to identify different levels of attachment to it. The inner circle have forged readerships largely on the strength of their outside work and most of these have been published in the dead-tree medium.

The blog is the factory outlet, if you like, for their product and it’s certainly a club but by no means closed. As Iain Dale himself says, one must attend the right parties and I imagine he’d add that it doesn’t do to dally with the largely irrelevant and certainly not with the uppity-disgruntled.

Into this is inserted a list, which his detractors, those almost certainly occupying positions 101 to 150, have been sent into apoplexy over. Witness the very public slanging match in the comments section on Iain’s own site, following publication. Those who felt they had a perfect right to be included and weren’t, are miffed – exceedingly so. In short, the list has been hugely divisive in the British blogosphere and those we could loosely identify as fine UK bloggers are now divided into camps and on the say-so of one man, albeit an influential one.

In effect, his influence has now increased out of all proportion, as those on the inside, including, I might add, Eurorevolutionaries and ex-Marxist luminaries, remain very quiet and even allow themselves pats on the back in the sidebars. To these I say well done and without a trace of irony, it seems to me that they’ve paid their dues and have now reaped the rewards.

Unfortunately, what I’ve also seen in these last days are varying attempts to come to grips with being left off the lists. From the apoplexy of some of Iain’s own commenters to the ordinary blogger who felt he had something to say, who was essentially British, had reason to feel he was part of a larger ‘club’ and has now found himself marginalized for his efforts, the issue rankles.

There have been three reactions. Those who still entertain hopes of inclusion remain silent; those who are apoplectic are being so and then there are the bands of cut-throat pirates who are vowing revenge.

I hasten to add that I do not include myself, as I know my place as a Johnny-come-lately and loose cannon, with suspected links to American and Canadian readerships but I do feel for certain correspondents who were once part of the UK blogosphere and now virtually find themselves in Coventry and why? Because one man published a Top 100 list.

This is divisive.

It’s also predicated on technology and RSS feeds, html linking and various other goodies have now conjoined to enclose the inner circle and the rest can fend for themselves.

Which is a pity because I feel there are many ‘associate’ or ‘provisional’ members out there who have quite distinctive styles, identifiable angles and something to say, which Iain himself conceded, who now find themselves somewhat marginalized and threshing about in the shallows whilst HMS Dale, its august captain and motley crew sail proudly off into the sunset.

You’ve missed the boat, chums but perhaps they’ll return for you one day.