This week, all the rage in the Blogging world has been to write a post about theBlogging Code of Conduct, which was written by Tim O'Reillyin response to the death threats made against Creating Passionate Users blogger Kathy Sierra. So, here's my take on it. I don't think the Blogging Code of Conduct is actually a really bad idea, along with the fact that if would never work. Interestingly enough, Kathy Sierra has said the same: "I don't think the Code of Conduct makes any sense (or would ever work)." Kathy also went on to say that, "A blogger should be allowed to have their own comment policy." And you know what, I think that's all the problem is. I think this is the key component to controlling the malicious, disrespectful, and in extreme cases, threatening attacks that some bloggers receive.
There has been a lot of controversy over Kathy's reaction to the death threats she received. Was she right to have such as strong reaction? I can't really say, considering I cannot even begin to guess at how I would react if someone wrote a rape fantasy about me. However, I think that people are getting too caught up in just this one case without seeing the broader picture, and that the BCOC is trying to control and wrangle too many issues in one go. Perhaps Jeff Jarvis had the best explanation of this:
"This effort misses the point of the internet, blogs, and even of civilized behavior. They treat the blogosphere as if it were a school library where someone... can maintain order and control. They treat it as a medium for media.It's a place. And when I moved into the place that is my town, I didn't put up a badge on my fence saying that I'd be a good neighbor. I don't need anyone lecturing me and telling me not to be disagreeable."
Those of us who blog regularly know that people can have some incredibly strong, if not offensive reactions to the things that we've written. However, it's now becoming painfully apparent that it's no longer a matter of manners. Some people clearly do not have a grasp on how to make an argument without it turning into a personal attack, nor do some commenters seem to have a grasp on common sense, as I feel that most of the things written in the BCOC are just that: common freakin' sense. So, as bloggers, we're going to have to change our game. You can't control what people think and say, but you can control your blog and its comments. You have the right to a commenting policy.
Of course, again, it comes down to each blogger and commenter's personal responsibility to realize that just because they HAVE the legal right to say whatever they want, doesn't necessarily mean that they should. But, obviously, this doesn't seem to make a difference. Along with each blogger having the right to their own commenting policy, I think that the issue of restricting anonymous comments, which was brought up in the BCOC, would help solve the problem as well. While this is spoiling the fun for all the anonymous commenters who want to leave positive input on someone else's site, I think the benefits far outweigh the setbacks.
Having the control to restrict, delete, and moderate your own comments, I think, is going to be the key to controlling this issue. But, at the same time, no matter what we do online, the offensive comments will find a way to be heard. If people want to piss you off badly enough, they'll register with the website you blog on, with the sole purpose of commenting on your blog. They'll type in those strange capital letters and numbers to get past Spam blockers. They'll find a way to email you, if they can. (Never mind what people can write on their own blogs...) But, we have to do what we can. Whether that means growing thicker skin, or belonging to a blogging community that allows you to regulate your commentsand who can even read you blog, we have to do something. We simply cannot sit back and wish that everyone acted nicely to each other. We cannot just put up a badge on our blog and say, "Be nice to me." Then again, if you are that deeply affected by the goings ons online...**turn off your computer and walk away**. You'll always have that.
Cate Sevilla is the Assistant Editor of Dollymix, and is a regular contributor to many Shiny blogs. She asks you to please blog responsibly.