If you’re a hockey fan, you’ve heard the derisive, sing-song, “Over-rated” cheer that the home fans start when they’ve got the edge on a favored visitor. That’s how I feel. Blogging is overrated, and I, in particular, am overrated.
But don’t tell that to Forbes magazine, which has just identified its first-ever “Web Celeb 25”:
The Face of fame is changing. The ranks of the world’s celebrities used to be dominated by millionaire actors, athletes and musicians, but the Internet has leveled the playing field.
The Forbes.com Web Celeb 25 is a list of the biggest, brightest and most influential people on the Internet. From bloggers to podcasters to YouTube stars, these are the people who are creating the digital world from the bottom up.
They’ve got me at number 19. Most of the people on the “Web Celeb” list, I’ve never heard of. Those I have heard of, range from Glenn Reynolds and Charles Johnson, whom I admire greatly, to Markos Moulitsos.
We’re used to being in that company, of course. What I sort of appreciate is being categorized with Amanda Congdon. And, better yet, Paris Hilton–but you have to look for her on Forbes’ “Crossover Stars” list. I’m not sure we want to delve too deeply into how Paris crossed over.
Two serious thoughts: One, I gotta update that photo. And two, they only listed me because “Power Line” would look funny on a list of “web celebs.” If anyone deserves to be on this sort of list, it’s either Scott or Paul, both of whom have contributed a lot more than me lately. But I still get a little residual credit, maybe, for having set up the original Blogger site back in 2002.
Anyway, it’s kind of fun to be overrated–an experience everyone should have at some point in his life.
UPDATE: Some readers thought I confused “Paris” Hilton with “Perez” Hilton. Don’t be silly; my dotage is not yet that far advanced. As I said clearly (I thought), Paris is on the “Crossover Stars” list (follow the link), not the “top 25” list, as are Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Pam Anderson. All of whom, by the way, seem to have “crossed over” in rather similar ways.
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