« The dark side | Main | Google TiSP » Thinking about a code of conduct for bloggersResponding to the Kathy Sierra conversation, Tim O'Reilly has posted a "Call for a Blogger's Code of Conduct." (Thanks to Laura Lemay for the pointer.) Tim posts some thoughts that emerged from group discussion at Etech. He begins by getting a handle on the problem with Chris Locke's response, which refers to the WELL's "You Own Your Own Words" policy. Locke chose to take his site down rather than deal directly with offensive comments. He says I was a conference host on the Well 15 years ago where the core ethos was acronymized to YOYOW -- You Own Your Own Words. This has remained a guiding principle for me ever since. I will not take responsibility for what someone else said, nor will I censor what another individual wrote. However, it was clear that Sierra was upset, so it seemed the best course to make the whole site go away. Tim responds: Chris' comment echoes the libertarian ethos that many bloggers and internet pioneers share. However, we now have one more clear object-lesson on what you get when you start a site that not only tolerates but encourages mean comments: there's a quick race to the bottom. It seems to me that there's a big difference between censorship and encouraging and tolerating abuse.... Yes, you own your own words. But you also own the tone that you allow on any blog or forum you control. Part of "owning your own words" is owning the effects of your behavior and the editorial voice you foster. And when things go awry, acknowledge it. It would have been far better for Chris to have deleted the post, and said explicitly on the blog that it was unacceptable, than to have silently shut down the blog and removed all entries and comments without explanation.
jon posted this at 7:56 PM |
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