Blogging Etiquette 101 (Day 2)

In our last class we discussed the importance of providing hyperlinks when responding to another blogger.  First, it is intellectually honest to do so; it provides context and allows the reader to judge for herself as to whether your criticisms are warranted; and it prevents readers from concluding that you are simply engaging in a bitter/personal attack for reasons unknown.

Today’s lesson will focus on the posting of comments by disgruntled readers whose commentary addresses a subject on another blog.  We will focus specifically on a comment that had been deemed inappropriate for publication, usually for reasons that are apparent in the comment itself.  Consider the following example.   The first thing that you will notice is that the comment has absolutely nothing to do with the post under which it is located.  Again, no context is provided by the blog host to explain to his readers why the comment made it through.  The reader is left to wonder why it has been posted at all.  In this example, however, a third party is referenced in the comment who happens to be another blogger and a frequent commenter.  Notice that this reader now has to defend himself apart from the narrative thread in which the discussion evolved.  That is unfortunate.  However, the most important reason why one should avoid this practice is because it prevents readers from concluding that you are simply engaging in a bitter/personal attack for reasons unknown.

See you next time when we will discuss…

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10 comments… add one
  • Kevin Levin Oct 6, 2009 @ 20:42

    Hi Alex,

    Hope all is well. Let me know if I can be of any help. I always have time for my former students, especially when it comes to issues of history and memory.

  • Alex Oct 6, 2009 @ 20:39

    Hey Mr. Levin. I'm writing a paper for an english class about how memory of a historical figure can be skewed. I decided to write about what we saw at monument avenue and so have been checking back to your blog as a resource. Just thought I'd let you know it has been so helpful. Thanks!

  • Alex Oct 6, 2009 @ 15:39

    Hey Mr. Levin. I'm writing a paper for an english class about how memory of a historical figure can be skewed. I decided to write about what we saw at monument avenue and so have been checking back to your blog as a resource. Just thought I'd let you know it has been so helpful. Thanks!

    • Kevin Levin Oct 6, 2009 @ 15:42

      Hi Alex,

      Hope all is well. Let me know if I can be of any help. I always have time for my former students, especially when it comes to issues of history and memory.

  • bdsimpson Oct 5, 2009 @ 12:09

    Hey, if I were Chris, I might frown upon having my comments section taken over by a debate that's really on another blog, with comments that make no sense because you don't see the posts to which they reply. The result is a little confusing, complete with strawmen and the like. Dr. Wertheim really didn't answer my questions to my satisfaction, although I was interested that he continues to give credit to his collaborators and takes sole credit for his work; he confesses that his Nazi antagonist did not bring his beliefs into the classroom, which basically undercuts his initial complaint; and he confesses that he did nothing to confront Pluss publicly on campus (his claims of a constitutional question are bogus).

    But there's no need to have people bouncing from the comments section of one blog to another to trace all this out, and it is interesting to see Dr. Wertheim collapse into the arms of a Confederate apologist (Mr. Williams). Ah, strange bedfellows. Can't wait for the responses to appear on another blog. 🙂

    • Kevin Levin Oct 5, 2009 @ 12:50

      Brooks,

      It makes no sense at all for Wehner to publish the comment apart from the fact that he doesn't care for me.

      Williams's vote of confidence is just more support of the fact that he actually loves academics. It's just that he loves only those academics that support his world view. I'm sure reading Wertheim's comment was like Online pornography for Williams (LOL).

  • msimons Oct 5, 2009 @ 8:47

    Thanks for the FYI Kevin.

  • Woodrowfan Oct 5, 2009 @ 8:43

    (raises hand) will this be on the test?

    (sad that you need to give such pointers, but useful, thxs…)

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