The results are out. Over 55 new blogs have been chosen to join the elite 9rules blog community. Coupled with the few that were accepted during to the 9rules Volume 3 relaunch, on a whole that brings the total number of Malaysian bloggers on the community to a grand total of 6, with one I discovered, dropping out earlier. The blogs so far are:

1. Cypherhackz.net
2. EducateDeviate
3. Hochiak! Delicious Asian Food
4. Liewcf.com
5. Novelr
6. And me of course

I know that looks like a little, but when you stop and consider that 9rules is a community that only chooses the best out of the independent blogs out there. Being accepted into the fold is a big leap (carrying big responsibility). It does show that for the most part, these bloggers have grown out from more than just a local flavour. It's a big world out there after all and this is a chance to show it just how good you are.

Regardless, I'm actually curious to see how this affects the bloggers and their blogs in general. I know it really doesn't matter one way or another because some of them already have a HUGE reader base to begin with, but I wonder if this will eventually shift the focus away from their local scene and readership.

When I became part of 9rules back in early 2006, I didn't really care one way or another because on a whole, I always felt out of place from the Malaysian blog community. I felt more at home with people outside my country than I did in it. Instead I thought myself more in tune with what goes on in the rest of the world and with it came the way I presented myself on this blog to that world. Seeing whether it makes any difference to them or not, is enough to pique my interest.

Then again, this all might just be the idle musings of a guy who thinks too much. I wouldn't put much stock into the idea unless you are part of a close knit blogging world that suddenly opened up to a wider audience.

Having said that, I want to congratulate all the blogs and not just the Malaysian blogs out there that got accepted into 9rules. Being part of this community means there is a certain standard to maintain, but I trust having gone this far that you at least share what every 9ruler has amongst ourselves – the passion to do what we do best.

Guess that's why we're the best of independent web.