Decision ‘08

A Code Of Conduct - Why Bother?

Here’s my problem with the blogger “Code of Conduct” that’s floating around: those that need it won’t sign on to it, and those that don’t need it - well, they don’t need it.

Sorry - Wall Street Journal notwithstanding, and even given the sorry state of discourse in much of the blogosphere, free speech wins the day…and let’s remember, for most, blogging is not a profession, but a hobby. The rules of the road are that there are very few rules of the road, and in the worst cases, criminal law will supply the remedy (death threats, etc.).

Nice idea at first glance, doesn’t fly at second…

4 Responses to “A Code Of Conduct - Why Bother?”

1 Dennis Says:
April 12th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
I’m kind of baffled why this is getting any attention at all. Your first paragraph sums up the problem perfectly. I’m all in favor of more civility on the Web, but really, other than asking people to think twice before they launch their meanest, darkest thoughts into the ether, what else can be done that might be effective without being self-evidently unconstitutional?
2 Gwedd Says:
April 12th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Mark,

Well, I’d support such a device, but only after the MSM adopt a code of fact-checking and honesty in reporting.

The least they could do is remove the bias log from their own eye before complaining about the mote in the blogger’s.

Respects,
3 nettie Says:
April 14th, 2007 at 1:04 am
aw, come on. who wants to take all the fun out of it?
4 too many steves Says:
April 14th, 2007 at 10:57 am
To which I say, “Grow up.”. I’m all for civility in discourse, but would choose a much different approach: simply ignore those for whom incivility is SOP. If I were still 12 years old I would say “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” or, even, “I’m rubber and you’re glue, everything you say bounces off me and sticks to you.”. If I were really inflamed I would include exclamation points.

Then there is the question of who is arbiter of this “Code of Conduct”? Can we vote on what is and is not allowed? Will it be a sort of Geneva Conventions for blogospheric warfare?

Nope, count me among those hurling rotten vegetables at this idea.