A while ago, the Blog With Integrity movement swept through the US mummybloggers. Like most things, I ignored it, because having a button on my sidebar isn’t going to change who I am deep down, and you’ve either got integrity, or you don’t.
I spoke on a panel at the University of Tas almost 12 months ago and walked away knowing that because bloggers don’t have unions and a legal team to protect them, this means that we need to try twice as hard to adhere to good ethics.
Ethics are something we seem to avoid discussing here, because we don’t want to accuse anyone of not being ethical, but I think it’s a discussion that might be a bit overdue, so I’m going to jump up on my soapbox with a drum for a while.
Ethics are what make us good people. They’re the difference between us creating good original content, or being link farms. They’re what make us tread the line between being inspired by someone, or stealing content and making up a story to go with it. You don’t believe that happens? It does. Bloggers have had their lives stolen before and it will likely happen again.
You can have the best content in the internet, but if you’re not seen as honest, or ethical, people won’t touch you, and people are sponsors, they’re your traffic. People are everything.
It can take years to build a reputation, but treating people badly will destroy it, very quickly.
I have a few rules I stick to, that work for me.
1) You don’t know who someone is? It doesn’t matter. Treat everyone with the same amount of respect, regardless of how “big” or “small” you consider them to be on the Internet.
2) Be honest. If you say something, own it. You might still be wrong anyway, but at least you’ve owned it. You might also be in the right, and still spend hours defending what you said. Disclose your relationship with sponsors. I don’t care that it’s not law in Aus yet, transparency is never a bad thing. This is one area we can do better in than old media.
3) Link. Link link link link. You love something and it inspired you to write? LINK. You quote someone? LINK. You want to discuss a point that someone made? Link them. If you link, then people can read as much as possible on the topic you’re talking about. News sites sometimes forget to link when we’re quoted and bloggers get grumpy. It doesn’t mean that we have to forget to link too.
4) Be accessible. I want people to be able to comment here, honestly. I want feedback and I want conversation. Being accessible, for me, means following back on twitter and engaging in discussion. It means replying to tweets and following on from that…
5) Reply to emails. I cannot tell you how frustrating I find people who don’t reply to emails. I hate sending an email and getting no reply, I think it’s the height of rudeness. I like email conversations and backwards and forwards and will sometimes email for days with people. If you email me about something, I will reply. Exceptions are made for viagra sellers. If you’ve emailed me and I haven’t responded at all, it’s because my kids have been into my emails clicking things and it’s shown up as already read, so I don’t double check it. Send it again.
I strive to be nice to everyone. In real life, I am terribly awkward and I have issues with small talk and knowing what to say – that doesn’t mean I’m not nice, or that I don’t like you. It means that I have social anxiety and I don’t know what to say to make the conversation flow. You can find me at the conference either organising everyone like a drill sergeant (with much less screaming), or hyperventilating in the toilets.
We don’t have much in this online space to make us stand out, for goodness sakes, at least let us be seen as ethical.
I try to do those things.
If I find email replying the hardest out of all of them, I can’t be doing TOO badly :p
I find email replying hard too sometimes, but then, I’ve also “met” some of the nicest people and had the best conversations that way!
And no, you’re not doing badly at all, cos I think you’re lovely (biased? maybe).
awww.
I just come out with the occaisional snarky comment that people take personally that gets me in trouble 🙂
I’ve noticed that, although you’ve never offended me. Probably because I generally agree with you.
Maybe that’s because you don’t trigger my snark… or at least you don’t do anything along those lines when I want to bite someone’s head off 😉 Timing can be everything.
It’s probably more a case of thinking things through before I write, and remembering that there’s a real person on the other side, and real people don’t generally get my initial reactions to things, whether in real like or online.
*heh* just need to be pulled up sometimes I guess.
I think also, we know each other well enough that we could agree to disagree, and laugh at it.
AH! I actually saw that button recently and wondered to myself “what does that actually mean”.
I am still not sure to be honest. Of course I know what it means to be ethical and I do try but I agree with your statement – if I am then you will know – kinda thinking.
One of the biggest compliments I have received through blogging is when someone has met me, gotten to know me and said “you are exactly the same in real life as you are on your blog” – I like that because I have met people who blog one person and are another person totally in real life.
mmmm possibly I went off topic there a little *blush*
Ethics and integrity for me, means being able to stand behind who I am online and feel good about it at the end of the day. It is, I guess, nothing but basic honesty and good manners.
And I agree, being told you’re exactly like you are on the blog is a huge compliment! I’m less stuttery and nervous here, that’s about it – and in real life, my sense of humour is a lot darker, but that doesn’t translate to writing well.
I’ve been thinking recently about the obligations of being a reader, what one can reasonably expect from the internet, and what one needs to think about before assuming that an internet persona is real. Thanks for this, it goes well with my own thoughts.
Yep, I’ve been thinking similar things too – I read a lot of blogs and as a reader, reality and honesty is something I want. I’ve seen a few internet personas displayed as fake, and it’s always been people I suspected.
I think it’s one of these things that you either *are* or you’re *not*. I mean ok, there are some “rules” in the bloggy world that people may not know much about to start with, but that doesn’t mean ignorance – they just haven’t found out yet how to do these things.
Being ethical, being kind, being compassionate. You’re either wired that way or you’re not. In my opinion anyway. 😉
Yes, some things I would forgive a new blogger in a heartbeat, but not an “older” blogger, you know? Ethics though, they’re something we should just have.
I hadn’t noticed that movement… but then I don’t read a lot of US blogs at the moment. Interesting.
All the things you’ve mentioned just seem like common sense and courtesy to me 🙂
It was bigger probably 18 months ago, before I dumped a lot of US bloggers, although from a quick glance at badges about the place, it’s still going stong.
And yep, I would assume they were common courtesy too, but it seems it’s being forgotten occasionally.
I think the declaring sponsorship is a biggie. I’ve noticed it slipping through the cracks at some of the blogs I visit.
I try and own everything I write, even when it gets me into strife. That’s the point of my blog – its the diary that previous generations would have hidden under their mattress – instead I put it out there for the world to see.
YES! I want transparent disclosure of sponsorship, so that I know if I’m reading an ad, or an opinion (or both). Even “such and such was nice enough to send me this” is fine imo, but I want to know.
I try and own my words too and it has gotten me into strife, but if I’m confident that I’m in the right, or speaking my honest opinion, I can deal with disagreement.
I am an ancient God and have been watching this Australian Blog community develop with interest. The question of ethics is simple. A mans word is his bond. Once you have broken your word, it is worthless.
I like to read blogs with good original content and a photograph or two that is in focus and while I understand the desire to make money, is a mop that you can pick up at Costco in the half price bin or a dodgy dvd really worth selling your soul for?
Well, coming from God, is anything worth selling your soul for?
Aus blogging is evolving, in much the same pattern as the US bloggers did 3 years ago, and while it’s interesting to watch, it also makes me twitchy sometimes.
Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone adhered to this – and not just on blogs? Great post Veronica. I’m nodding in agreement at the final part of your post. People read my newspaper articles/columns (and now my blog) and have this perception that I’m a fairly confident person. But at public functions, I’m the one in the corner trying to muster up the courage to talk to someone! I’m hopeless at small talk. In these instances, I’m more than happy to get stuck with someone who natters on about themselves too much!!! LOL! 🙂
I’m so glad it’s not just me with the issues socially!
It’s actually amazing how many people I’ve met in person who are just as nervous as I am when it comes meeting up socially. I’m glad I’m not the only one. Maybe we’re better at communicating through our writing? 🙂 (Yes twitter included)
Dude, amen to all that! There is nothing that makes me crazier than when people put out an open ended question to the internet, get responses, then don’t respond to the responses in email or comments. Why the hell did they ask a question if they didn’t want to start a conversation or get answers? Makes my head want to explode. By the way, I think you are doing a smashing job my dear!
I have the same pet peeve, even a few comments in the middle of the discussion to show that the comments are appreciated are enough to keep me commenting.
Well said. I have seen that button and also seen a whole heap of contractdictory behaviour on the same page. Literally & metaphorically….
So have I. Seems that a badge doesn’t buy ethics.
great points. I believe authenticity is at the heart of good blogs – most readers are not stupid and can sniff fakery a mile off. So I think of it as respecting your readers and respecting yourself enough to ‘stay true’. I try and keep that at the heart of my blog and hopefully the rest will follow.
I agree wholeheartedly. The few bloggers I’ve seen exposed as frauds always had a ‘feel’ about them, that all wasn’t right.
I think you have just written the “bloggers code of ethics”. Sort of like the AASW Code of Ethics that we follow as social workers!
LOL, I wish it were that easy!
I love getting the email replies, it means someone read and responded to my comment! Some people NEVER reply to their comments…feels pointless.
I agree with Tracey, a bloggers code of ethics. Print it out and stick it up on your wall lol.
Any kind of reply is worthwhile for me – I don’t always respond to comments, but I try to most of the time and if someone asks me a direct question, then definitely!
My worst fault is that I just don’t blog post very often. I get distracted easily reading much better blogs than mine. I do worry maybe too much about compromising family or friends privacy. I want to say more but am never sure how much is too much, then start worrying that people will just think I only ever talk about myself as a result. So getting off the ground to post at all is quite a feat for me most times. I must suffer from social anxiety in the virtual world as well.
On social phobia (I blame the EDS personally its proven that anxiety and EDS are genetically linked) I either don’t go at all or when I do venture out instead of hide in the toilet talk utter rubbish often being told I appear confident socially which is absolutely not the case.
A faultI have isnot replying to emails. I mean to and I have no excuse that sounds valid enough especially as your topic includes integrity and honesty. This is the truth though, I have recently worked out that I am supposed to answer, in all honesty I thought that I would be irritating people if I kept on and on replying like a wasp that just won’t bugger off. I thought they were emailing just to tell me something. I don’t have an email attached to my blog so people only email me when they get my email from leaving a comment.
Is it rude to not have an email on my blog?
(I’ll email you Veronica about the why’s and wherefore’s on why I haven’t as I am really meandering now).
Linking – I try hard to remember to but am guilty of writing
ie: Veronica said or Kim was saying…. you know, simply believing that the whole world knows who I am thinking about. Umm not that I have a self inflated sense of self and think the whole world reads my blog obviously. I mean I think the whole world should naturally be following your blog so when I say Veronica I must assume any reader should by default know who I am referring to! A valid I believe and completely truthful excuse for not linking. Apart from the obvious and that is I am lazy.
I often write in a comment as you already know Veronica, if its Ok to pinch the theme etc of one of your posts as they get me thinking. You say yes and then I never seem to get round to it. This irritating aspect of myself I find annoying.
Although reading now that it is common for theme’s to do the rounds in bloggy land I am not sure if I should or shouldn’t ask to continue the theme from whence I at least originally read it. It is quite possible that I am definitately a worrier as far as rules etc go. Its not my fault honestly, I went to a convent and breaking the rules meant I was told that I would go to hell, without even stopping to pick up my £200.00 on the way. I should have ignored being told that for rule breaking as I was one of the few non Catholic’s at that school I should have realised much earlier that they all thought I was destined for hell anyhow. I’ll stop right there as am now fretting that on the ethics front I possibly should not discuss religion. Apart from saying that if someone had told me when I was 10 exactly what transubstansiation was all about it would have really helped me understand a lot of things. Because as far as I can see, we are all the same on this planet and as Veronica you so rightly say if everyone just concentrated on being nicer to each other the world would be a much better place.
I find the more I read different blogs I get fussy and dare I say it judgemental – which in the non virtual world I have strived hard not to be so. I seem to jump sometimes to all sorts of conclusions and this happens mainly when I stumble upon a blog which apart from varied topics has a theme so similar to another(s). I used to want to say something via a comment. Particularly on the sarcy type yummy mummy wine drinking middle class blogs, where the author desipte being obviously of reasonable intellect resorts to prolific swearing for example. (I am no prude but I want to shout in a comment that the world is so full of beautiful language that swearing for swearing sake is boring, swearing I feel should be right place right time then it should be full on. Then I remember something that either your mum or you said ages ago along the lines of – if you don’t like a blog just don’t read it. This has helped me a lot saving me I am sure from leaving sarcy comments which really one should keep to oneself.
I also try to remember when commenting/blogging that there is no body language involved like a real time conversation. So I endeavour not always successfully to remember to not assume I am implicitly understood. To avoid potential misunderstanding I guess.
I wrote the other day I think along the lines of – letters, (postcards don’t apply they can be written very drunk on holiday, or in my case as I don’t drink very much anymore just written out of excitement due to the rare event that I am even on holiday) if you wouldn’t buy a stamp, put it in the post box etc. then don’t post it. Or in the case of blogging, don’t hit the publish button.
This is very helpful Veronica I am sure there is a whole sub-set that have passed me by completely on blogging. I agree though on the honesty factor. One cannot go wrong there. Although I would quite admire anyone who managed to follow through on a whole made up life without anyone ever realising. Just because I am sure it is much harder work to lie exclusively than it is to tell the truth.
On the Twitter thing, Twitter and I are newly acquainted so I have good excuse to completely balls it up, for the moment at least.
You couldn’t write a Twitter Code of Ethics could you please Veronica, I have read the help section but its boring…..
Its the old verity and probity thing I think on blogging. I like the blogosphere because it seems to me that those with it seem to have as genuine followers a group of people whose blogs are the real thing. Those without V & P just don’t seem my cup of tea as we say in the UK..
I am off finally but I like your code of ethics. Probably because I like you.
It’s not rude to not have your email on your blog, but I find it frustrating on other blogs sometimes. Obviously you’re not an issue for me, because I have your email address anyway.
And ballsing things up when you’re still working things out is totally forgivable, I do the same thing too.
Like you, and I suspect many others, I’m socially awkward and hopeless at small talk. I’m usually found grinning like a circus clown while I desperately try to think of something to say. Once I get started talking, people usually have to smack me down to shut me up because I don’t know when or how to stop. Arrrggh!!
I think I’m as honest as I can be on my blog and I usually remember to answer all comments. I don’t have an email link, mostly because I haven’t worked out how to put one up, but also because I might get so many emails that I couldn’t possibly answer them all and that would be rude.
Blogging is so much easier than face to face talking. For a start there’s more time to think about what your next words will be.
I find blogging easy too, having time to formulate a response and edit my words is lots easier than conversation!
Good post Honey, I am too tired to leave an intelligent comment but I will say that sometimes I have trouble replying to my emails. I have the very best of intentions and always mean to go back and answer them properly But life gets in the way and before I know it I have written a new post and then have a heap more emails to answer, xx
I endeavour to reply to emails. I would read more blogs, visit more sites, leave more comments, but I know I would simply not get to all the emails or check in to read all the follow up comments. There are simply not enough hours in the day, the week, with my own blog, learning how to make it work, assisting with admin on another, writing a book/editing a book and creating website content to with it (thank heavens I don’t have to get that into a web format!), working, trying to get to the gym and fighting the good fight. I have no idea how I would ever manage a child, should I have one!
Ethics in the blogging world should be no different to that IRL. That’s why, often, I restrict content on my blog, as I’ve said before. If I’m not willing to say it to your face, I won’t advertise it for the world to see. If it’s something unpleasant, I will say it to your face BEFORE I blog about it, if I do blog about it at all. I believe that beefs between individuals should not be forced upon others, they should not taint the relationships of those who are not implicated and have no reason to be involved. I try to respect the relationship others have with people I may not agree with or like. On my blog, the ethics that rule my words are the same as those I espouse to IRL. It’s that simple. I think that’s all anyone really expects.
These are definitely things I will try to follow.
Great reminder that will make life that much simpler. Thanks for sharing what makes the blogging community so friendly.
Oh, I never knew you should always reply to emails. I never know how long the replies go on, or how often to return phone calls. It is too hard to keep track of and when I have tried it got very upsetting and hard to sort out… because what do you say to someone?
But ethics stuff about stealing should be pretty obvious. Quotes and links, fine, pretending you wrote it all yourself, not fine. 🙂
Been reading your blogs because of the duck obsession, but had to comment on this one. We got married 15 years ago very inexpensively and it was nice. I made my dress (for $60), but also looked for inexpensive options. Used a friend’s backyard, and figured we could just pick up this or that for the food, like one could do for a party. It helped it was lunch time rather than at night, afternoon and in the summer here (August, in US). People started bringing treats, food, a few pot luck dishes. It was wonderful. Not everyone did, but those knowing what we were doing did. A friend even volunteered to make the cake, a hobby of hers, and it was beautiful. It wasn’t very expensive at all, and at the time we didn’t have a lot of money. It can be done.
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