Meaning no disrespect to the publisher and author of “The Complete Idiots Guide to Growing Your Business With Google”, I had to share something I read the other night. This is something that bloggers and those who comment on blogs should find amusing……well, that’s my thought about it anyway.
My wife bought me this book the other day because she knows that I have online businesses and work at them diligently. Granted she doesn’t really understand much of what I do but she is of course a caring and thoughtful person.
Mostly out of politeness I began reading the book and soon came to realize that I could have written the book – meaning it was a bit below my learning curve. That isn’t to say that for the right person, at the right moment in their online business development, would get tons of information out of this book.
It was written by Dave Taylor in 2005 (a long time ago by Internet standards) but as I said, still contains a lot of valuable information. I suppose you can find the book for sale most anywhere, including on line.
So, to my point. As I was reading along, I came to a section about blogging. Taylor is pointing out that website owners should consider administering a blog as a means of communicating with customers and presenting yourself as an “expert” in your field. Here’s what Taylor wrote, which may or may not have pertained to some or no degree in 2005.
…..weblogs are becoming another venue where you can find opportunities to answer questions and share your expertise. It’s a slightly different environment, because weblog etiquette suggests that you never want to say that the original author is wrong (even if they are). After all, it’s their weblog and you’re just adding your two cents.
……….The majority of weblog owners take their sites quite seriously, and will quickly delete any comments left that are rude, insulting, crassly commercial, or even just politely representing an opposing viewpoint. Some weblog authors will post their own comments in response to your addition, while others never add comments of their own, preferring their readers to continue the discussion.
In all of these cases, rather than a cocktail lounge, it’s best to think of visiting a weblog as being invited into someone’s home for a small gathering. You’re only allowed to stay while you remain a positive influence on the gathering. (emphasis is mine)
Now before some of you go getting your undies in a wad, let me say that I have been blogging for a good 3 maybe 4 years. I don’t ever recall any of this etiquette and there are times I wish readers actually followed it. Just the other night one reader called me a “window licker”. I haven’t any idea what a window licker is but it doesn’t sound very nice. Other than that the remainder of the comment was completely out in left field in reference to the subject of the post. Being that it was rude, crude, crass, idiotic and moronic, I deleted it.
About a month ago, I had a reader write that he was going to come a kill me because he likened me to an animal that I would hunt.
In all honesty, even though at times I have become upset and angry over the actions of readers, more specifically those who leave comments, I don’t do the things Taylor suggest is blog etiquette. As I have matured as a blogger, so to have the things that I do in administering my blog and I’m sure these things will morph as time goes along.
With that said, readers should know that I don’t censor, although I have been accused of doing so. I try to keep some in line away from the comment section. In other words I might send them an email asking them to change their ways. As some of you know or have figured out, sometimes the email addresses a commenter leaves isn’t valid. In that case I am left with no alternative than to address them in a public forum.
I will censor out cuss words and as I said delete comments that are clearly idiots doing what idiots do best. Just because you disagree with me, isn’t reason for me to delete you and send you away.
I don’t care to babysit the comment section, although I do scan through them to make sure things are remaining at least on some level of sane discourse.
Much of what I write is to encourage discussion by readers in hopes of further enlightenment. That doesn’t always happen. As long as things can be controlled, I will leave my blogs as they are in hopes that the majority of readers enjoy reading and participating in the discussions.
As my mother said to me and my brothers growing up, “Don’t make me come in there with a stick!”
Tom Remington
