Tumblr is a social space, sure, but it’s not really a social network in the way we commonly thing of the term. It’s more a sharing network; a place where people can easily, and in a conversational manner, quickly exchange words, pictures, ideas. And I think that’s what makes Tumblr so different, and so powerful.
Me, responding to Paul Carr’s question about whether he should join Tumblr.
I always tell people who ask about my Tumblr that it’s my internet scrapbook. Unsure where I picked up that description – maybe it was even some Tumblr marketing bit at some point. It’s a place where I can quickly post snippets of content that I collect, be it my original content or others’. That’s the primary reason I joined Tumblr. The “sharing” and “community” part of Tumblr is secondary. That’s not saying it isn’t important, because it totally is. I love that I can follow other internet scrapbooks and we can all add each others’ stuff to our own scrapbooks, with or without mashing it up with our own thoughts and opinions (Just like I am doing now to markcoatney’s quote.)
Should Tech Crunch writer Paul Carr convert his current blog to a Tumblr? No. Just create a tumblr (he did) and start scrapbooking (he did). But maybe start posting some original snippets, stuff unseen elsewhere? Start reblogging posts and adding your $.02? Those are questions, because there is no right way to do a Tumblr. Which also means you can’t screw it up either. Kinda like scrapbooking.