Before the term “blogging” became popular, there were several forms of ‘blogs’, in the form of computer discussion systems (Usenets), email lists, bulletin board systems, forums, threads, etc. Perhaps, as the need for each person to have an individual voice evolved over the years, members of forums / boards left off to start their own thread, forum, lists. They soon built their own membership. Sometime later, others left off to claim their own space.

http://www.techtuti.com/running-tech-blog-helps-tech-careers/

regards
HK