Blog Commenting Tip #1a
This one may actually be more important than my original #1 Tip for commenting on blogs - so I’m calling it Tip #1a.
Check Your ATTITUDE at the Door.
For the past week or two there’s been a lot of mud-slinging and name-calling going on at some popular Search/Marketing related blogs (no - I won’t link to them) - most of it fairly harmless, but at least one I’ve seen recently was blatantly illegal. If some of these comments had been verbal face-to-face exchanges - arrests would be made for abuse, hate-crimes, maybe even terrorism.
Is all this negativity a new Marketing tactic? Good God I hope not. I’m hoping that the majority of this meanspiritedness is simply misunderstandings and overzealous knee-jerk reactions. In some instances I noted that a little ‘punctuation’ would have avoided a problem - ie: if one is going to post something in jest - make darn sure you let that be known (smilies go a long way).
Don’t get me wrong - I’m all for the sharing of ideas, discussing opposing views, etc. But when it degenerates into the virtual brawling I’ve seen of late - we’ve lost our way. Being able to post comments on others blogs is a PRIVILEGE - not a RIGHT. And it absolutely positively does NOT entitle one to toss basic manners and civility out the window.
If one cannot comment without being a nit -JUST DON’T COMMENT. One certainly does not have to agree with any given post at any given time, but one CAN disagree and express views and opinions without cursing, name-calling, slander, perversion, alienating the viewing audience, or inciting a virtual riot.
