Creating the CyberCaribbean: The Caribbean Technorati Tag.

A quick note here on the Caribbean - which defies definition even in the Wikipedia.

But here's what I'll point you at: the Technorati tag for Caribbean. Take a look. Now... how many actual Caribbean weblogs do you see? Why? Because Caribbean weblogs typically don't use the technorati tag, 'Caribbean'. Why? The logical conclusion is that it does not exist except for a minority of people who use the tag, and the majority of travel brochure blogs.

There's been a big debate on what the Global Voices calls the Caribbean. I hopped in late, and tried to make the point of the tagging issue, but that was missed completely, it seems. Completely. And apparently the Global Voices decision has been made, so that's a dead horse - nevermind the language issues I brought up (and I'd like to add that the discussion there marginalized French and Dutch speaking countries).

So here's the answer: If you consider what you write to be something you would say is related to the Caribbean, then tag it. If you don't know how to use tags, take a moment and get to learn how to tag. If the blogosphere starts demonstrating that there is a Caribbean, and if the Caribbean is self-defined instead of defined by some obscure treaty between Global Voices editors... well, then you have something to work with.

If people don't want to do that, then they shouldn't be worried about the Caribbean too awful much. Maybe I was right in my comments on David's blog. Maybe the Caribbean is just an obscure title for 'those islands over there' so that tourists don't get lost at Disney World.

Sure, Global Voices does a decent job, but it doesn't have the right to tell the people who think of themselves as part of the Caribbean that they do not deserve representation. In my eyes, I think Global Voices has a responsibility in this regard. I do admit that I have a problem with expecting responsibility for people who affect the future. Sue me.

If you're in the Caribbean, writing about the Caribbean and issues related to it - then start tagging.

Now, just wait until I start griping about how tags are monolingual... and that Web 2.0 has only demonstrated interest in one language as far as tags.