Yesterday I posted about The Comments of this blog. Today I'd like to touch on the "polite" side of things...
The Etiquette
I really didn't want to post on this topic because it is often a matter of personal perspective. I've read a lot of "rules of blogging etiquette" and while I agree with some, others...not so much lol. You can google the topic and be taken to plenty of resources. You can even check out Lean's post on Blogging Etiquette (which was the inspiration for this post). I haven't "written the book" on blogging but I can tell you the things I politely consider when I blog:
the purpose, the audience, the skin - does what I'm posting fit within these parameters (see side bar for links)?
the golden rule - Ah yes, Matthew 7:12 is key. The written word is so powerful. While I am far from perfect in this, I do try to keep the golden rule in mind when I post. It pains me greatly when I see believers slander others (especially their fellow brothers/sisters in Christ) in a public forum (like a blog). I'd much rather someone "correct" me in private and give me a chance to make things right rather than do so in public. No one likes to be publicly humiliated. When I first began blogging, I left feedback on someone's blog correcting one of their posts, I so regret that. Not because they didn't need correcting and not because I received any backlash from it. I should have done it via email and allowed the blogger the opportunity to set it right with the new information. Since that time I am more mindful of this in my posts as well as feedback.
the format - in case my readers aren't aware, I typically see typing like THIS as raising one's voice and typing like THIS as screaming. Granted either could be happy/excited or angry. I try to make my surrounding content support the feeling I'm trying to convey. I usually use spell check but occasionally errors get through. I also try to watch my grammar (after all I do use this as "writing practice"). I highly doubt you guys would take me very seriously if every thing I wrote wint sumptin' lyke dis. Or even if it WINT SUMPTIN' LIKE DIS! tee hee :o) Sometimes I write "conversationally" so you'll find dashes and slashes and acronyms.
the credit - at times my posts (or a point I'm trying to make) are inspired by some else's post. It is not only considerate, it is also ethical, to link to the other post within yours. It's ok to quote others but we should mark it thus and give credit to the author. Using someone else's words and passing them off as your own is illegal and it is called plagiarism. I have had this happen to me and it is not cool! One neat thing about blogging is the ability to use trackbacks. I've posted on trackbacking before so I won't repeat all that here but be sure to check it out if you don't have a clue what they are.
the contact - I posted about comments yesterday so this should be short lol. It is important to me that my readers have some way to get in touch with me. I feel that all blogs should allow some kind of "contact". Whether it's through email or on-blog-comments...or both. I provide both. The way I see it is, I want feedback but not everything should be posted in public so I give the opportunity to contact me privately if the situation warrants it.
Over the last few days I've talked a lot about what I do here at Scribblings. I'd like to end this post series by touching on what I politely consider when visiting other blogs:
the author - who is this person? what do they stand for? what do they believe? Is this someone I should allow to influence my life? Authors (good or bad) have power whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. So, I consider the character of the author displayed through the ongoing content.
the content - is this something I should read? I have a very simple "filtering" system for what I read online. I believe we should broaden our mind but we also need to protect it. When I choose blogs to read, I compare them with Philippians 4:8. If a blog continually goes outside the parameters of this verse, I cut it from my reading list (and sidebar if necessary). It may sound harsh but that's how I decide what I can and cannot read online. I understand bloggers having a bad day (I have them too of course) but you can tell the ones who seem to be on the merry-go-round of bad days (or pity parties) or seem to constantly "stir the pot". Don't get me wrong, I want the content to "challenge me" spiritually and even in other areas of my life. When I approach a "fine line" situation, I trust the Holy Spirit to help me draw that line where I need to. The content is huge and one of the reasons I rarely read a blogger's "about me" section - I think their content will tell me exactly who they are (and what they really believe) over a period of time.
So there you have it, the etiquette of my Scribblings. I've enjoyed writing about this topic of "blogging" the last five days. It's been educational as well as challenging. Thanks to Carol at She Lives for prompting us to do this.
Did you post on "blogging" today? Visit Carol's post and add your own link.