Code of Conduct for Bloggers

There's been a call for warnings on blogs about their content in the blogosphere. I have a warning.

Readers should be warned when they are reading blogs that may contain "crude language", a draft blogging code of conduct has suggested.

The code was drawn up by web pioneer Tim O'Reilly following published threats and perceived harassment to US developer Kathy Sierra on blogs.

The code begins: "We celebrate the blogosphere because it embraces frank and open conversation."

The draft says people should not be allowed to leave anonymous comments.

Blogs which are open and uncensored should post an "anything goes" logo to the site to warn readers, the code suggests.

Readers of these blogs would be warned: "We are not responsible for the comments of any poster, and when discussions get heated, crude language, insults and other "off colour" comments may be encountered. Participate in this site at your own risk."

The code states: "We are committed to the 'Civility Enforced' standard: we will not post unacceptable content, and we'll delete comments that contain it." Full story

   Sooo, I guess this is good idea. There ARE a lot of assholes on the net. But the hair on my neck goes up when someone tries to quantify something as intangible as taste, behavior, outrage, insult, political correctness or content. I tend to go with the old, 'I know it when I see it' paradigm. Personally, I think this move to establish a code of conduct is more a move to establish credibility and respect. Most blogs still see themselves as either a red-headed stepchild of journalism or mavericks blazing trails. When I first started, I wanted to be an aggregator of off-the-wall stories and a source of links for other bloggers. Then Phoenix came onboard and after a lot of yelling, she convinced me that just posting links and a snark was tedious. of course, she was still on dial up back then. So I morphed into finding numerous stories and links and taking the time to make comments and voice my opinions. But I was very political. Phoenix got very tired of my rants and said I should lighten up. That was about the time I learned how to make and post images. I got carried away with images. Once again, Phoenix hammered on me until I found a balance between text and image. About that time, Moze started doing neat gizmos for me and showed me how. I got carried away again. Phoenix stepped in and convinced me to 'cool it' with all the gizmos. I think each blogger has a place they want to be, a way they wish to be perceived. One over arching intention of mine has been to use stories that wouldn't usually find an audience to illustrate larger issues. But that's not as much an intent as an example of how I really see things. I look behind doors and around corners. I never take anything at face value and question everything. I'll never be a 'news source' - Drudge does that so well. I'll never be political pundit - way too many of those out there. I'll never be avant garde effete - I'm too crusty for that. Blogs started as personal diaries. They morphed into all the various formats you find today. What this blog does is try and make you think and laugh or rage or go Hmmmm. In doing that, I will by necessity, be objectionable, insulting, profane, heretical, and the antithesis of politically correct. At the same time, I hope to be educational, entertaining, informative and humorous. I do NOT need someone else to tell me how to do that. In fact, I resent the implication that I might. That is what readers are supposed to do. YOU are supposed to steer me to where I'm headed and keep me honest and pertinent while doing so. My thoughts on the 'Bloggers Code of Conduct'? I don't need no steenkin' code of conduct.

And anybody who thinks I do, can kiss my ass.

.

See that little logo? That is what the 'Code of Conduct' folks want all the  blogs that subscribe to the code to post in their sidebar. If anybody who reads this blog can't figure that out for themselves, they have no business being here. It'll be a cold day in hell before you see that logo on this site.

The Blogger Code of Conduct

We celebrate the blogosphere because it embraces frank and open conversation. But frankness does not have to mean lack of civility. We present this Blogger Code of Conduct in hopes that it helps create a culture that encourages both personal expression and constructive conversation.

1. We take responsibility for our own words and for the comments we allow on our blog.

We are committed to the "Civility Enforced" standard: we will not post unacceptable content, and we'll delete comments that contain it.

We define unacceptable content as anything included or linked to that:
- is being used to abuse, harass, stalk, or threaten others
- is libelous, knowingly false, ad-hominem, or misrepresents another person,
- infringes upon a copyright or trademark
- violates an obligation of confidentiality
- violates the privacy of others

We define and determine what is "unacceptable content" on a case-by-case basis, and our definitions are not limited to this list. If we delete a comment or link, we will say so and explain why. [We reserve the right to change these standards at any time with no notice.]

2. We won't say anything online that we wouldn't say in person.

3. We connect privately before we respond publicly.

When we encounter conflicts and misrepresentation in the blogosphere, we make every effort to talk privately and directly to the person(s) involved--or find an intermediary who can do so--before we publish any posts or comments about the issue.

4. When we believe someone is unfairly attacking another, we take action.

When someone who is publishing comments or blog postings that are offensive, we'll tell them so (privately, if possible--see above) and ask them to publicly make amends.
If those published comments could be construed as a threat, and the perpetrator doesn't withdraw them and apologize, we will cooperate with law enforcement to protect the target of the threat.

5. We do not allow anonymous comments.

We require commenters to supply a valid email address before they can post, though we allow commenters to identify themselves with an alias, rather than their real name.

6. We ignore the trolls.

We prefer not to respond to nasty comments about us or our blog, as long as they don't veer into abuse or libel. We believe that feeding the trolls only encourages them--"Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty, but the pig likes it." Ignoring public attacks is often the best way to contain them.

This is an open, uncensored forum. We are not responsible for the comments of any poster, and when discussions get heated, crude language, insults and other "off color" comments may be encountered. Participate in this site at your own risk. Link

Comments

[Moze]

Bloggers code of conduct... my ass. There's really only one thing you need to keep in the back of your mind as a blogger/commenter. What you write either contributes to the discourse or it doesn't.

What you write/post is true reflection of you. Lose sight of this at your own peril. I'm not blowin' smoke up yer pant leg about this.

Look, if you can get through that code of conduct without feeling like you snorted a pack of Sweet and Low or heavy petted a Stepford wife, more power to you. All I'm saying is, it's not nearly that complex.

Cheers,

[Steel]

Yup.

[Phoenix]

Well, that had me on my knees. JAYSUS. Blog-Do-Gooders! Holy shit.

They want to have email conversations with trolls????????????????????????

OTAY!

Actually, this is not funny. All this is, is a sign the world really is going to blow up.

"Quickly, Smedley.... do hit the DELETE button before we see a dirty word!"

[Phoenix]

Hey. Quit it with making me look like a blog Nazi. :)

[Phoenix]

Where'd you find this? I want to go over there and say dirty words under 'anonymous'.

[Steel]

Naw, you're the blog angel, honey.

Follow the link at the end of the code.

Goes to some guy named O'Reilly who is some kind of big blog dog .

Riiiight ... a Putzie.

[Steel]

I especialy like my use of juxtaposition with the technorati tags.

I love doin' this :)

[Moze]

[I want to go over there and say dirty words under 'anonymous'.]

Really?

[When we encounter conflicts and misrepresentation in the blogosphere, we make every effort to talk privately and directly to the person(s) involved--or find an intermediary who can do so--before we publish any posts or comments about the issue.]

If you post as anonymous, you'll miss out on this special experience...

How might this "private talk" go?

Ms. Anonymous--

We read your post on our site tonight. We are unanimous in thinking you're purposely trying to offend. Please cease and desist immediately, or we will be forced to hunt you down and brand you. That's right. We'll burn your skin with a branding iron so that everyone who sees you will know you are offensive.

We still haven't figured out how this will affect your presence on the internet, or your ability to comment on this site. But we're smart, and we'll come up with something soon.

Regardless, you will be branded, and it will hurt for a long time and be hard to cover up with makeup.

Kind regards,

Nancy Pelosi...

Cheers,

[Phoenix]

Dear Mrs. Pelosi,

Where can I get some big titties like you got?

Regards,

Busted Flat. er.... Flat Busted.

[Phoenix]

Dear Mrs. Pelosi,

On second thought, could you tell me where you got your attitude? That is prolly the cheapest way for me to get some great big tits.

Regards,

In Need of 'Tude

[tamiki]

Didn't the Supreme Court JUST rule AGAINST mandatory age verification systems for pornography websites in some big internet freedom of speech case?

"Most blogs still see themselves as either a red-headed stepchild of journalism or mavericks blazing trails."

More like "Blazing Saddles" in my case.

www.tamiki.com

[Phoenix]

"Damn, Clyde...look! The new sheriff is a nappy headed pimp!"

[Phoenix]

Sheriff Sharpton. Can't we get a mandate from the Supremes to ban that guy.

[Phoenix]

So, how in the hell could anyone *prove* age over the Internet? They know a losing battle when they see one.

[TINA]

HA!HA!HA!Code of conduct? Rating system? Ya,sure, you betcha! Hey! It didn't work for television, and it's not going to work for the Internet! I mean, really! It's not like we're limited to the number of sites we can go to! And if someone sees a word, or phrase, or theme they don't like,all they have to do is leave!

And, as for age, I can understand parents being concerned that their children should stay away from in appropriate sites...BUT, if they are all that concerned,then they should be right there, seeing to it that their child not get into any mischief,because, once again,just as the t.v. is not a baby-sitter, neither is the computer!

[Phoenix]

Well said, Tina.

Love your initial response. :)

[Lolita]

The best part is that the writer of the rules is working so hard to make it sound as if the goal of blogs should be open discussions.

All the while making rules in which he or she gets to decide which opinions are OK and which are not.

One can point to naughty languague and meanness as the reasons that rules are needed, but this is cencorship. Period.

"We define and determine what is "unacceptable content" on a case-by-case basis, and our definitions are not limited to this list. If we delete a comment or link, we will say so and explain why. [We reserve the right to change these standards at any time with no notice.]"

I reserve the right to believe that you are an idiot.

[nemo paradise]

Let a thousand flowers bloom.

Blogs seem to be remarkably effective at self-policing; idiots are generally easily discouraged from persisting, and the blog host can also simply bar consistent offenders. Is that an infringement on free speech? No more than my turning away from the sidewalk petition hawker who demands that I listen to their pitch.

Codes of conduct are sops. People know how to behave decently; if they refuse, no "code" will dissuade them.

Finally, I object strongly to ghe "ad hominem" prohibition. Some of the funniest and most interesting things I have read in blogs are ad hominem. It's refreshing to hear someone respond to an obvious twit with a timely "Bark, you moonbat, bark."

[St.Phoenix]

Nemo..

You made me laugh out loud with your last paragraph. :) I could not agree more. I read all comments on blogs, and I don't think I have laughed harder than when I catch one of those ad hominem witticisms. There are a couple of great blogs that I go to just for the comments. When I need a laugh, I head over my favorites and within minutes, I'm howling and crying and I feel some hope that the human race hasn't given up existing.

[St.Phoenix]

As far as self-policing blogs... Those are the ones where the commenters have declared squabblers' rights. Any poor, unsuspecting fool who comments the first time gets beat to death even for some innocuous 'howdy, folks' comment. There are a bunch of blogs out there like that. The Christian ones are the worst.

There is a cool blog out there that happens to be run by a bunch of fundamentalist Christians. I know that sounds like an oxymoron: "cool" and "fundamentalist Christians", but they do have a great blog. The only problem is, is if you comment and indicate that you are capable of free-thinking. The takedown is a bitch. Especially if you are a female - the females come out in force with: "Go take your meds." "Go clean up your room!" "I pity you." "Phoenix, I didn't see you in church today. I trust you are well." "If you would change your attitude, you might get a husband." "You do not know how much you need God." These sorry women let the men on the blog take the men down. How telling is that?

Yep. I go over there every night and watch the innocents who are deceived by the appearance of this blog. The beatings are horrific, demeaning, and so self-righteous as to make you wonder if you've wandered onto some neo-feudal theocracy in cyberspace.

[Lolita]

Yeah, Phoenix, if you just changed your attitude, you might get a husband.

That is, after all, what you want, right?

Nothing else in life is important if you have breasts.

Must. Find. Husband.

Ahhh ha ha ha ha ha ha.

That one thing in your comment kept me from reading on for a minute, couldn't stop laughing.

I feel sorry for these women. And sorrier still for their daughters.

Hmmm. Have you noticed that my posts for the last couple of days are very pro woman? And I didn't even think I felt that trod upon by those self-centered, stupid, pompous penises.

[St.Phoenix]

Lolita,

I left out many of the comments. You.would.not.believe.them. Actually, I have them all saved..... I could actually dump them here for fun.

Yeah- gimme another husband. Just the fuck what I want. I HAVE BREASTS, Goddamnit.

Nah... you aren't trod upon by them phalli. You're too smart. Me neither. I get my bon bons whether I put out or not.

[Steel]

nemo paradise ...

If ya happen to run across any moonbats, please send my way.

For some reason I can't a troll to save my hide.

Maybe I should buy an ad some wingnut site that sez ...

HEY YOU FUCKIN' MORONS - I GOTTA A FEW WORDS FOR YOU!

Think that would work?

[Steel]

Lolita ...

Lay off that 'troddin on penises' thing.

I'm stepping on mine all the time.

[Steel]

TINA ...

One day we will rue the time we allowed young kids to spend on the computer instead of gettin' their fat little butts outside to play.

As far as a code of conduct goes, better be careful with all that offensive language.