I was visiting at Altered Perceptions this morning, and came across a post questioning whether there should be a Code of Ethics for bloggers. Dawn provided a link to Calblog where the proposal for the Code of Ethics has been made. I strongly encourage you to visit and read the comments, but I'll summarize them here.
First, it was felt by many that the term "Code of Ethics" was inappropriate due to the fact that blogs are a personal rather than professional endeavor. Anticipatory Retaliation suggested that it might be more appropriate to call them "Standards," since standards do not carry any moral weight.
The sugggestion that most appealed to me was that each blogger should post their own guidelines in the "About Me" section of their blog. The most commonplace, and generally agreed upon guidelines are these:
1. Give credit where credit is due. Link to your sources when your post builds
off someone else's work. Cite original information.
2. If you are reporting on factual information, check your facts.
3. Do not change a post significantly once it has been established on your blog.
Personally, I will go back to change typos, grammar goofs, and broken
links within the first few minutes after I have posted, but rather than edit a
post in a way that changes the message, the better choice is to add an
Update at the bottom of the post.
4. Somewhere at your site, post your stand on the issue of comments. Let
your readers know in advance how you handle obscenity or personal
attacks, should you choose to delete this material from your blog.
5. Do not delete a post. I'm not sure I agree with this. I have deleted one
post and the comments that went with it. It was a personal rant that I later
regretted. In the future, I might also delete a post if it caused me grief. I'd
like to see some discussion of this issue as to why a blogger shouldn't have
control over their own blog.
In the comment section at Calblog, Claxton6 (who does not have a blog link) suggested that bloggers might want to read Rebecca Blood's "Weblog Ethics." I find them appropriate for blogs which focus on news or political issues, but to some degree, unnecessary for those of us whose blogs are personal commentary.
If you read Dawn's post, you'll see that she doesn't feel blog police are necessary or desirable, and I agree with her. However, a collection of common practices that might guide new bloggers as they put their oars in the stream is a good idea. Let each person post their own guidelines and no one will have to pony up for police uniforms.
Comments (7)
...I'm always worried about manners (I suppose it's 'cos I'm english)...yesterday I linked to a story on bogie's site...I linked her name (i tried to do the trackback thing - but I'm a bit poo :^( ) but didn't mention she got it from her brother-in-law(?)...was that right?...also comments - you might have noticed I tend to comment a lot and most of it is unneccessary :^)...but I think it's nice that when you visit someone's 'home' you say thanks for having me...of course if you'd like to ban me now :^)...and then there is 'flaming' or 'trolls' (this is where I came in to your blog isn't it)...I'm fortunate that it is yet too happen so I don't know how I would react...(I'm always going back and changing my blog especially the typos which after years of using woodcut-printing is almost a sexual delight to correct - too much info? - sorry :^(...I never change the punctuation or add capital letters though :^)...
Posted by billy | August 8, 2003 2:06 PM
Posted on August 8, 2003 14:06
I'm still learning to backtrack, too. I don't know for sure about the need to mention that bogie got her info from her brother-in-law. If it's stated on her post, I'd think the link to her would be sufficient. Maybe more experienced bloggers will give us their take on this, Billy.
Posted by Buffy | August 8, 2003 2:24 PM
Posted on August 8, 2003 14:24
...let's wake the 'old folk'...if you say something on the web, it's out there, free to anyone...people shouldn't have to link - you threw it away...you want your blog read but all you is looking for is justification that what you is saying is interesting - linking is for boring old people...information is free...long live the info-spreaders who need no creditation...
billy - playing devil's advocaat [or as you would say "devil's egg-nog" but that doesn't really work :^) ]
Posted by billy | August 8, 2003 4:20 PM
Posted on August 8, 2003 16:20
rabble rouser.....
Posted by Buffy | August 8, 2003 4:27 PM
Posted on August 8, 2003 16:27
If it is my blog, I reserve the right to change anything I wish... Not that I have changed much, as I don't usually write anything and then wish to change it...
Posted by Mad Bull | August 10, 2003 9:34 AM
Posted on August 10, 2003 09:34
interesting views Buffy.
personally, I do try to give credit where it's due, an exception might be if its an online test I've seen at 50 different blogs before I decide to take it, or a topic I've seen on several blogs before posting my take on it, I will link one or 2 that inspired me to give my viewpoint, but rarely all of them, as that would take another entire post!
you're doing fine on trackback *s* sometimes, for one reason or another, pings don't always go through, tis just the nature of blogging.
as far as edits go, after being slammed by the 'grammer police' years ago, I tend to do this before posting (I have a program called IE spell), if I'm not sure about a post I'll hold it in draft while I decide, but have never deleted comments, (nor do I plan on it, have edited them however) or a post. I enjoy opposing viewpoints way to much *eg*
and I'll note, the only time I edited a comment, was they enclosed a *s* in < >...thats the html code for strikeout and if you don't close it, will put a lovely little line through the rest of your blog! LOL
Posted by Redeagle | August 10, 2003 5:43 PM
Posted on August 10, 2003 17:43
T, I proofread, but goofs and typos get through anyway. I probably need to talk to you about a spell check program for the blog.
I hadn't thought about simply editing comments that I didn't care for, rather than deleting them. Thanks for the suggestion.
and...I know....it's TRACKback (see, those darned typos sneak through when I'm not looking).
Posted by Buffy | August 10, 2003 11:15 PM
Posted on August 10, 2003 23:15