BLOGS: A Place for FREEDOM of Speech ..OR...
 

are you talking about blogs here, on BFP ?
or, are you having a public discussion about things on another site?
thanks for the clarification....my old mind gets confused easily :)
cheers,
Nina

I think a blog should be looked at as a form of journalism and people should self limit or self censor. Some people don't, either they are foolish enough to think it doesn't matter what one writes particularly if they use a username that no one could possibly guess (insert sarcasm here) or they simply are people who never limit their mouths so why would they limit their fingers. I'm all for blogs but like most self expression one has to have limits that keep both you and the people around you safe.

I agree. And then there are the "passive-aggressive" kinds of blogs and even thread posts. Not really using any language that would trigger reporting or moderation, yet having information in which the person being dumped on or those that know them well, can figure out.

These are the really tough ones for mods or an administrator to deal with. What you are talking about here sounds way over the top. Sad and infantile.

I hadn't thought about no blogs on the Planet in this vein. Thanks for giving me something to think about. I have never been a blog reader in general unless on any social networking website. LOL... I'm glad of this after reading your post!

It is too bad- as there are folks that I believe could contribute a lot via their insight, knowledge and background.

A good point to make- I don't agree with employers being able to do this, but, look at how many cases there have been in which forensic computer searching has been used by employers- especially in public employment.

There is a parent that is a neighbor of mine that is way active in school district issues, etc. and she has told me that her kid's school district most certainly has discussed doing this! Although, I don't know that I can trust this- she sort of strikes me as angry with teachers/schools in general. I don't know her well at all.

I would think that this would be illegal- or at least could be fought by unions representing this district's employees. But, with budget cuts always hanging in the air and ways to cut personnel and programs- who knows!

Some of this stuff is done under "consulting" or "background checks." I do know that installing software that traces employee use is legal for employers in many cases. Why take the chance!!

Ahhh and yes Blogs can also be informational and not just bad Karma!!

Smart move Daywalker!!

I work in education and health care and I find that blogging is a great tool for networking. I use my professional blog on health care to promote my services and knowledge as well as to chime in on current events. I cannot blog about education as my employer would fire me. Part of my employment agreement was that I would not provide or keep or what have you an education related blog, it is grounds for termination.

All that being said in general people are foolish, and people under the somewhat thin veil of anonymity are super foolish. They forget that their words do not go away, they forget what they wrote a looonnngg time ago, they forget so many things.

Every employer I have had in the last 10 years has done an internet search on me (I am pretty lucky in that I have an amazingly common name and so I am a bit of a needle in a hay stack). My employers have checked my facebook page, myspace, linkedin, etc. I am very aware of my public image online as it effects my professional life. I think more and more everyone has to be.

There are many useful and smart ways to utilize blogs. I think the type of blogs that Strappie is talking about are not bona fide, professional blogs in which the author has professional "scrupples." Sounded to me like the blogs in question are really personal attacks on people.

I think Blogs can be an amazing tool for people if done correctly. But in so many cases it's just a forum for Trash talking and Bashing in heads.

I agree with you 100% that people need to put themselves in check. I don't really think the majority of people would speak exactly like they do on line. We do hide behind a screen so it's easier to speak more openly, but not at the cost of others. Hell I am one that sometimes gets ahead of myself.

Good post!!

As someone who has a personal blog, a "hobbyist" blog and is working (eventually) towards a professional blog (that's 3 separate blogs) I do believe in freedom of speech. But it's freedom of speech with responsibility. I generally view online communication no different than in person communication (the exceptions are that written is definitely different since tone is lost and people can choose to be there or not).

Blogs in forums like this wouldn't be a bad thing since they can allow individuals to talk to a specific community without creating a thread about it (although a thread could be used like a blog). Regardless, however, as with anything: when you post on someone's else's "lawn" you are subject to their rules (TOS). So I would expect that to be true.

My own blogs are in my own space but I still have to adhere to the web server provider's rules. I think too many people assume the "Net" belongs to the US and thus, the freedom of speech right applies. It does not. The "Net" is a global semi-private network (that is, various companies own the networks and disk space that is used on the internet and thus, we are subject to what they believe is acceptable).

Thanks for clarifying that. I was reading the first few responses and thought "NO! That's not the point!" But you explained it way better than what I had planned to say.

Blogs are really useful. I've had my share of tech blogs and personal blogs.