Blogger Code of Conduct? It May Be Just What We Need

I like to keep a clean house — my “house” being this here blog. Thankfully, my visitors here have shown politeness and gratitude when commenting. But if someone were to comment in an discourteous manner, I would not hesitate to edit or even remove said comment.

I firmly believe we need to show more respect for one and other in everything we do, especially so in the blogosphere where it’s all too easy to hide behind a keyboard and say things to someone or about someone that we would not otherwise say in person.

When I found this article about a blogger’s code of conduct, I thought this might help bring back the civility so sorely missing around the world.

It’s whole purpose is “to create a set of guidelines to shape online discussion and debate.” That’s not a bad idea. But what struck me as odd are the following excerpts from the article:

Others say that the code smacks of restrictions on free speech.

…be able to delete threatening or libelous comments without facing cries of censorship

Excuse me? Restriction of speech? Censorhip? Seriously, any time something even hints at regulating free speech (which this does not, IMHO), someone is crying foul. But if they just look closely, it’s not about restricting speech. Far from it. What it does do is remind us of the need to be responsible for our words and actions.

Free speech does not mean we should be free of the responsibility that comes with it.

It’s my house, my rules. When it’s your house, it’s your rules. There’s no guarantee of having your comments kept on anyone’s blog. This smells of the tail wagging the dog.

Here’s the philosophy of the code:

1. We take responsibility for our own words and for the comments we allow on our blog.
2. We won’t say anything online that we wouldn’t say in person.
3. If tensions escalate, we will connect privately before we respond publicly.
4. When we believe someone is unfairly attacking another, we take action.
5. We do not allow anonymous comments.
6. We ignore the trolls.

What do you say? Is it time we establish a code of conduct? What are some of your experiences with commenters, and how have you dealt with them?

UPDATE: Sara over at The Fibromyalgia Experiment is taking a proactive approach to cleaning house.

[tags]blog,bloggers,code of conduct,blogosphere,commenters[/tags]

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