Baoill examines how blogs fit Habermas' model of the ideal public sphere. While blogs allow open participation, time commitment and technical skills can limit inclusion. Popular blogs are disproportionately influenced by "A-list" bloggers with existing credentials. Debate often focuses on a few transient topics, disadvantaging local issues. However, some use blogs to comment on conditions in oppressive regimes. While inclusive, the blogosphere fails to disregard rank and privileges some topics over others.