Obviously, the title of this post is a joke. I’m sure all involved in drafting a “code of conduct” for bloggers and those who comment on blogs or take part in other online conversations are well-intentioned and want to address a legitimate concern. I’m all for civility. And having manners is a good thing. Transparency and disclosure are also very swell. I don’t think I’ve ever left an anonymous comment anywhere. And I can’t think of an anonymous account I have anywhere — even my Wikipedia identity is my name. However, when it comes to my personal blog, a “code of conduct” is something I practice on a personal level, not something someone drafts for me.
That said, I do think having model guidelines for those who create community-space projects or forums is a good thing. I don’t like “seals of approval,” however I do like good suggestions, recommendations and idea-exchanges on issues like this.
Sidenote: And I think it’s really cool that I know the three bloggers (bloghers?) appearing in the photo accompanying the Times story.
Bonus link: Jeff Jarvis is more transparent than me with his reaction to the notion of a Code of Conduct 2.0.
Another bonus link: Brittney rounds up some Nashville blogger reaction to the “code” proposal.
April 9th, 2007 at 7:42 am
The current flap over Don “Big Hat, No Brains” Imus demonstrates the effectiveness of imposed, externalized codes of conduct.
April 9th, 2007 at 10:38 am
i don’t know what’s funnier - the recent ripping that the fake steve jobs has done re scoble, winer and the smugettes…or the email he claims to have received from o’reilly about fsj being blacklisted and the pressure that will be put on various sites to block access to the fsj blog. the fsj certainly won’t be earning a badge anytime soon.
btw, i hope you order the cult of the amateur. i would assume you would have some interesting thoughts on the matter.
April 9th, 2007 at 11:16 am
[...] : See also these people I know and trust and for whom I need no badges to recognize their authority and civility (especially since they agree with me on this): Rex Hammock However, when it comes to my personal blog, a “code of conduct†is something I practice on a personal level, not something someone drafts for me. That said, I do think having model guidelines for those who create community-space projects or forums is a good thing. I don’t like “seals of approval,†however I do like good suggestions, recommendations and idea-exchanges on issues like this. [...]
April 9th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
[...] Rex Hammock: I’m sure all involved in drafting a “code of conduct†for bloggers and those who comment on blogs or take part in other online conversations are well-intentioned and want to address a legitimate concern. I’m all for civility. And having manners is a good thing. Transparency and disclosure are also very swell. I don’t think I’ve ever left an anonymous comment anywhere. And I can’t think of an anonymous account I have anywhere — even my Wikipedia identity is my name. However, when it comes to my personal blog, a “code of conduct†is something I practice on a personal level, not something someone drafts for me. [...]
April 9th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Thank you.
April 9th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Thanks Rex
Actually, we agree with you. While it’s cool to have our guidelines held up as a model by some experienced, prominent folks, they are designed to be our guidelines for our community…we didn’t design them to be applied across the blogosphere.
We see a difference between setting public guidelines for community participation within our own community vs. trying to come up with a code for the entire blogosphere to theoretically follow or not. That distinction was not drawn clearly in the article, but you can see more of our thoughts on that distinction at my blog: http://workerbeesblog.blogspot.com/2007/04/theoretically-going-to-be-in-mondays-ny.html, and from Lisa on a BlogHer post (in the comments): http://blogher.org/node/17887#comment-17365
April 9th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
[...] Rex Hammock [...]
April 11th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
[...] rexblog.com: Rex Hammock’s weblog » Blog Archive » Just who are the #x!!ing idiots who suggest X#@!ing codes of conduct? (tags: blog blogging msb blogger rex.hammock) [...]