I've been wanting to write this for some time, and have touched on a few of these before. Now is as good a time as any, though I swear it's not motivated by the current blogging drama (which needs no more attention).
When I started blogging two years ago at Typepad, I read few blogs. Two, in fact: Pamie and Dooce. Granted, those are two of the best, but I had no idea what I was getting into, or where it would take me. I also didn't know "the rules." The rules as in there are no hard, fast rules. I thought there might be. I even bought a book (of the dummies variety) on blogging, but it turned out that everyone had a different opinion on what "the rules" should be.
And that's supposed to be a good thing.
So, please humor me by taking this casual survey:
(You don't have to agree with my answers, as I do not consider myself an expert on blogging etiquette. These are just the rules that I've made for myself, nothing more.)
1. Reciprocal linking: yea or nay?
I'm on the nay side. If you link to me, great. Chances are I'll probably link to you, but if you send me an email saying, "Hey, I'm link to your site, could you link to mine?" I most likely won't. It puts the blogger in a really awkward place, in my opinion. This is also one of the reasons I did away with the blogroll altogether.
2. Site pimping: how much is too much?
In your profile info on forums and at social networking sites? Yes. In the comment field when posting on someone else's blog? No. Twittering your latest post? Eh, I'm on the fence about this one.
3. Commenting: if you vehemently disagree with the blog's hostess, do you go ahead and comment, or opt out?
Depends on the issue, and the blog. I don't hesitate on a forum, but I treat blogs like someone's home, and generally, people don't like you to track dirt on the carpet. (However, if you open your home to strangers, you'd better be willingly to let the rug get a little dirty,)
4. Criticizing other bloggers: a do or a don't?
I asked this at another forum awhile back. To be honest, I think if you're fine with whatever the consequences bring, go ahead, but it's mostly unnecessary. I mean, let's face it: most bloggers aren't making a living with their blogs, so in essence, you're criticizing someone's diary? Of course, once you hit the "post" button, you're publishing and putting yourself out into the big ol' (I HATE this word) blogosphere, and are no longer immune to criticism. (Wishy-washy and contradictory, I know.) I have less a problem being criticized directly than having that sense of "Geez, I must have said something to drive them all away."
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8 comments:
I agree with you on all points--especially the part about pimping your site in someone else's comment section. If your name links to your site, okay. But if you're actually typing out html and linking to your own entries, well, no. Not so cool. (In my opinion.)
Because I'm completely non-confrontational, I go with the whole Live and Let Live approach. If someone annoys me, I stop visiting their site. If someone becomes annoyingly Twitter Happy, I unfollow them for a bit.
If your name links to your site, okay.
That's why it's unnecessary to add it to the comment section. I think it gets confusing on Blogger, because most people sign in with their google name, which links to their blogger profile rather than their blogs. In the choose identity, pick Name/URL and you're linked to.
There's blogging drama?! I miss all the fun.
Here are my thoughts on the points that you've listed:
1. Reciprocal linking: yea or nay?
I list less blogs on my onsite "blogroll" than I actually follow through my feed reader - I figure that a lot of the newsy ones, such as the Guardian or the BBC don't need any more attention, for example. But I do like to give a bit of free advertising to the personal blogs I like, particularly those of my friends. I only link people back if I like their blog and have the time to read it - it seems like a bit of a farce otherwise.
2. Site pimping: how much is too much?
I've never seen anybody leave an additional link in the comment field who isn't a spammer - how crass! By which I assume you mean a straightforward link, in case the one which was undoubtedly in the original form got missed. If you're linking to a post that is of particular relevance to your comment though, well that's a different story. As for forums, social networking sites etc - pimp away!
3. Commenting: if you vehemently disagree with the blog's hostess, do you go ahead and comment, or opt out?
If I disagree with good reason and it's the blog of a friend, of course - the comments section is about discourse and debate afterall. If the blog doesn't belong to a friend, then I will only comment if I can present my argument in a logical and well-thought-out manner: nobody likes a flamer.
4. Criticizing other bloggers: a do or a don't?
I'm with you on this - it's unnecessary. If the blog doesn't belong to a friend, and you don't like it - just stop reading. But you're right as well in that once the comment is "out there", you have to be prepared for whatever criticism comes your way. I don't get much, thankfully, but I deal with it by being a hard-nosed cow and having a rottweiler of a boyfriend who patrols my comments and likes to shoot down people who are mean to me before I get the chance to.
1. Reciprocal linking: yea or nay?
I agree with your approach… I see it as a sort of organic, intuitive thing. I don’t announce, hey I added you and definitely would never ask for a holla-back.
2. Site pimping: how much is too much?
Well, with the Twitter pimping, I am on the fence too, even though I do it. I do it because I have so many LiveJournal friends and I don’t post there anymore, so I feed my tweets to that journal. That way they can see when I post at my real blog. However, everyone I follow on Twitter is in my feed reader, so it does get a little redundant & cluttered.
3. Commenting: if you vehemently disagree with the blog's hostess, do you go ahead and comment, or opt out?
It depends on a lot. If they ask for a discussion, hell yeah I do, but politely. I think it’s all on how you do it. You must be respectful and as in any disagreement you discuss the issues, not the person as an entity.
4. Criticizing other bloggers: a do or a don't?
Directly, this is OK as long as the aforementioned personal respect is intact. Indirectly, like to third parties or whatever, that is very rude I think.
The thing is to remember there are people behind the gravatars & profiles & tweets. It’s obvious but apparently a forgettable truth.
Interesting discussion:)
1. Usually not but often eventually I'll link to someone. But if you send me an email? yeah, not so much.
2. Yes and no. My blog isn't on my facebook account (which is under my real name), but yes it is on twitter (which is not under my real name). Comment field? No, except at places like BlogHer where it is my signature.
3. If I'm a regular commenter on that blog/site, maybe if it's something I feel passionately about. But I would not slam them. I don't do slams. And I wouldn't do it on someone's blog that I don't normally blog on. I'm not big on drive-by commenting.
4. In all honesty, it depends on the situation. Most of the time no, but there's been some outrageous stuff that's happened out where bloggers really did need to say things about (photoshopping nasty things onto blogger's kid's photos, the whole Kathy Sierra thing, etc).
The Kathy Sierra thing, actually being threatened by another blogger, is an extreme example, but it does happen. Probably much more than it's publicized.
1. Reciprocal linking: if they comment, I usually will, if they've posted recently.
2. Facebook: is an abomination against God, as is twitter and all those new-fangled things.
3. I think you can disagree with a stranger to the same level you would in a polite letter to the editor.
4. Criticizing other bloggers. If you put yourself out there on a blog, some idiot can criticize you. You don't have to change. You don't have to defend yourself. Invite them to comment so you can block his or her IP address, maybe, but no more.
Reciprocal linking: So not a fan of this. I get excited when people link to me and it usually means I'll give the site a few visits to see if I like 'em, then will probably add them to my feed reader. However, I took my blogroll down about a year and a half ago to redesign it and STILL haven't put it back up.
Site Pimping: I only pimp a post on twitter if it's something a little more exciting than a generic post of mine (so the knitting posts, while I am a fan of them, I don't pimp them on twitter). In fact, I think I've only twittered a post twice in the year+ that I've used twitter.
Commenting & criticizing: Again, can rarely take the extra effort to click over to an actual blog anymore to comment at all, much less to do it to disagree with or criticize someone. Besides, criticizing just to criticize is mean. And a lot of people don't take kindly to a healthy disagreement with their opinion, so I just don't do it. (Like Angie, I'm very nonconfrontational.)
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