Bloggers Code Of Conduct: Thanks, But No Thanks
I can’t resist posting about this Blogger’s Code of Conduct that has just been drafted. I think the sudden attention is because of a New York Times article that has again brought this subject to the forefront (about a week too late, again showing how the mainstream media is behind the blogosphere) after it’s been hashed to death by others and even myself on this blog. I wrote all I have to offer in that post about why I won’t sign on to a Blogger’s Code of Conduct, but here’s the short points:
- So many blogs out there and bloggers blogging for different reasons. An additional thought: the code of conduct seeks to limit comments. The vast majority of blogs are in the opposite boat (mine) trying to encourage comments.
- I blog as a hobby. This is not a professional organization attempting to be the next newspaper.
- Who the heck would enforce said code of conduct?
- Why make it harder for people to start blogging?
In addition, pretty much every blogger I respect is saying this code of conduct is something they won’t get on board with, for various reasons:
- Mike Arrington of TechCrunch says he doesn’t want to turn off anonymous comments, and the code of conduct scares him more.
- Robert Scoble doesn’t want to give up on anonymous comments, either.
- Jeff Jarvis says it misses part of the point of the Internet, and sets up a false situation where you’re on one side or the other - big media has pledges and the blogosphere doesn’t, so the blogosphere must be bad.
- Mathew Ingram says it succinctly: Well-meaning, but dumb.
- Jim Kurkal calls the quest for honor through badges a wild goose chase.
- Tony Hung points out this should just a matter of a blog’s comments policy (this is all I’m going to do, too - adjust my comments policy).
- WinExtra (ever the realist) considers this policy as living in a dream world.
- Baron VC compares it to FBI warnings on DVDs.
- Eric Berlin says it’s “Lame-zor”.
This list pretty much sums it up for me.
Let me add, I support bloggers in doing anything they want with their own blog - turn off comments, require registration, make people sign a contract before they post comments, whatever. It’s just when you think your solution fits all blogs and if they don’t sign onto it, they should have a firecracker badge saying their blogs are somehow dangerous - that irks me.
And as for Webomatica? All I’m going to do in this regard is spell out my comments policy a bit more clearly, and here’s a thought - write content that encourages positive comments.
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