Just a few weeks ago, Tim O’Reilly called for a blogger’s code of conduct and subsequently, and even with all of the April fool’s jokes that hit the web and blogosphere the following day it was not lost.
NPR’s Morning Edition jumped into the discussion earlier this week (Wednesday, April 18, 2007), you can hear the audio of this report from Adam Davidson with Kathy Sierra, Tim O’Reilly and others regarding this topic.
So the question still remains, is there a need for a code of conduct?
In a secondary post from Mr. O’Reilly, he states points of proposed code of conduct:
1. We take responsibility for our own words and for the comments we allow on our blog.
2. We won’t say anything online that we wouldn’t say in person.
3. We connect privately before we respond publicly.
4. When we believe someone is unfairly attacking another, we take action.
5. We do not allow anonymous comments.
6. We ignore the trolls.
I am not saying that these are not important things to be aware of, however these should go without having to say them and we certainly (#6) is adding fuel to the fire.
Concerns with the proposed Code of Conduct
Here are the concerns that I have seen when reading and hearing about Kathy Sierra’s story and look to the new call for a code of conduct:
1. Every author and publisher should be willing to be responsible for their content, as the writer and the publisher of others content, namely comments. Just as if you were publishing a newspaper or book, whether you wrote it or not, you choose to publish it, you have control. Be accountable.
2. Everyone should be considerate of others, in person, in print and even online. I am sure that many of us grew up hearing, “do unto others as you would have them do to you” and “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” If a commenter or a writer does not have something valuable to say, then it shouldn’t be published. When a post or comment gets personal, it should not be published, and if it has been, it should be removed.
3. If a person wants to remain anonymous, then they have forfeited the right to be heard.
Social Concerns
This is a online social concern and should be addressed by the members of the online community. I do not feel that a code of conduct should be adopted by bloggers. I would rather put up a couple of ideas:
1. If you are not being a respectful member of the community, you should leave.
2. There are online communities that will better suit your needs, find them.
3. If you do not like what a writer has to say, stop reading.
My Opinions
If congress takes up this topic, then I have serious concerns for the time being spent on unnecessary topics by our elected officials. I think more than enough time has been spent on this topic (personal opinion).
I personally feel that in the internet community that it is the responsibility of the publishers to manage and maintain their websites and blogs. I do not feel that a code of conduct should be necessary. We are the responsible party and should take the responsibility for our products. Even with a code of conduct, it will not stop some from continuing to be inconsiderate of others, it will not stop some from being as crass or snarky as the people that addressed Kathy Sierra inappropriately.
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