Civility or Censorship? Check out this interesting article and follow up dialogue about the notion of what’s civil, what should be censored, what’s safe, and how to proceed, particularly if you are a female blogger. I have avoided getting drawn into the Kathy Sierra discussion because frankly, everyone else has and its become a noisy, cluttered and confusing topic for people to follow, including the factual series of events. (inside or outside the blogosphere)
Starts the piece, “on the heels of the posting of death threats against prominent blogger Kathy Sierra, technology publisher Tim O’Reilly yesterday released a draft code of conduct for blogging that calls for an end to anonymous comments and a commitment to online civility.”
Here’s the jist of it: “the code, which includes a symbol akin to a sheriff’s badge stating “civility enforced,” notes that the frank and open conversations embraced by bloggers do not have to lack civility. The code urges bloggers to take responsibility for the words and comments they post on blogs and to avoid posting content intended to threaten or harass others and delete comments that contain such content.”
What I do know is that we should not give control, energy and attention to those who started this. This is an emotional issue and rightfully so, but because of the nature of it, the follow up discussions can potentially continue to feed the abusers. We shouldn’t give them the power.
The sad reality is that the language and actions are violent and threatening and people like Kathy and other bloggers who face this kind of abuse need to be protected. Perhaps there’s a middle ground? Perhaps an ethical code that the blogging community supports and monitors can meet people halfway and serve to protect people so we can continue to safely express ourselves online.
It makes me think about so many examples that Andrew Keen points to in his upcoming book “The Cult of the Amateur.” It’s not yet out (due in June), but I just finished an early preview of it. According to his beliefs of where social media and Web 2.0 is going, things we’re facing now are only inevitable and are going to get worse. More on his book coming soon.
Also see Cory Doctorow’s views.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
