Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells

In the first part of the 20th Century, The Times Newspaper would recieve anoymous letters (usually complaints) to the editor signed only as 'Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells'. This person or persons would provide a voice to the frustrations and concerns of 'the typical Englishman' against companies or concepts of the time. He was read by thousands, a personification of 'the silent majority' and allowed to comment by an editor who could have refused to publish his words.

In the first part of the 21st Century, the blogsphere now provides a voice to anyone with a ubiquitous Internet connection.

This opinion is usually:

• Individual (Few bloggers are a collection of individuals - this is mainly the domain of company blogs)


• Personal (Being specific to the: environment, needs, business, etc. of that individual)


• Traceable (Few bloggers are anonymous, unless they are participating in illicit activity. Even then, most of them can be traced back to an email/PC/IP address/etc.)


• Un-edited (very few bloggers have been censored - unless you live in China and use Microsoft Spaces as a blogging platform)

We now have the ability for everyone to be their own 'DoTW', but the rules have all changed.

Instead of the silent majority, we now have the voice of the minority and it is definately not silent....