Not too long ago, this is what one could expect to hear upon informing someone that you are a blogger. (Yes, I know it’s an old post, but I assume that some have not read it, and it just seems sort of timely.)

As we know, things have changed quite a bit.

The first significant step in the general recognition of bloggers and the blogosphere occurred a few months ago when some bloggers received credentials to attend the national democrat and republican conventions. Although criticized by some snotnoses in the mainstream media (no links for them), the bloggers’ reports coming from the convention were a refreshing change for the same ol’ same ol’.

Others, however, recognized the important niche that was filled by the bloggers at the convention. In that regard, following the republican convention, I recall being very pleasantly surprised to hear Kevin of Wizbang being interviewed about blogging on WABC radio, which covers the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) by Michelle Malkin, a big time columnist and herself a blogger.

Then, of course, came Dan Rather and his infamous 60 Minutes piece criticizing the President’s National Guard service, the centerpiece of which were documents that were never properly vetted by Dan or anyone else at the Tiffany Network. In a matter of hours, certain bloggers, including Power Line, Little Green Footballs, INDC and many others did the legwork and the fact-checking necessary to demonstrate to virtually everyone who breathes oxygen (except Dan Rather) that the documents he relied on were forgeries and lousy ones at that.

In no time, the guys from Power Line and other bloggers were all over the television and radio. Stories about blogging appeared in numerous newspapers, Time Magazine and even as the cover story for the New York Times Sunday Magazine. Indeed, Paul of Wizbang, even has suggested that bloggers (particularly those who focus on news and politics) shouldn’t even be called “bloggers.” Instead, Paul suggests, they should be called “independent peer-reviewed journalists.”

As a result of the news coverage, in a blink of an eye, bloggers became hip. Any doubt I had about the increased general awareness of blogs and the blogosphere was dispelled when I read at Better Living Through Blogging that Jeopardy offered the contestants a category entitled, “Blogs.”

I’m not delusional. I still expect a fair share of blank stares from those who have just learned that I have a blog. I just don’t think I’ll see as many glazed-over eyes or hear as many dumb questions as I used to, and that’s a good thing.