This morning I read a couple of blogs that sparked my interest. They were both about censorship on blogs. Censorship? can be found on The Krazy Train, and it is written from the point of view that censorship in any form on a blog is wrong. The Right To Comment written by Nile Flores on Blondish.net approaches this topic from a different point of view.
It seems the author of Censorship? had recently commented on a post on a friend’s blog. For some reason, that she is not aware of, the owner of that blog deleted her comment. She was incredibly hurt by the actions of that blog owner and felt that she was being censored because that blog owner may not have disagreed with what she said. She feels that this was counter to the usual behavior exhibited by that blog owner because in her opinion she feels that blog owner enjoyed the “challenge” of debating with people who held different views. She also feels that the right of free speech gives anyone the right to say what they want, where they want, when the want.
On the flip side the author of Blondish.net is of the opinion that a blog owner has the final say of what comments are allowed or not allowed on their site. Regardless of the relationship between the author and commenter. She ended her post with two questions, “What is your opinion about comment policies” and “Do you have a comment policy for your web site”
I personally think comment policies are a good idea. It allows the author and commenter to be on the same page about what is appropriate for a comment and what is not. My current comment policy is rather vague. Basically, it says if I do not like your comment, I will delete it. I probably should make it a little more specific so that there are no future misunderstandings.
My personal opinion about the first blog author and her taking offense at the fact that her comment was deleted is this…We have no idea why it was deleted and she should really ask the person why. I do suspect, however, that it may have been done in a hostile tone. She used the word “challenged”, as in her friend liked the challenge of debating different opinions. To me, the word challenged used in that context is hostile and it is very possible that when she wrote her comment she used challenging (hostile) words that the blog owner took offense too. It is possible that the author did not want that kind of “challenge” on her blog.
I personally love a good debate, and not everyone’s blog that I read posts things I agree with, just like I am sure there are things I post that not everyone agrees with. The long and short of it is I consider my blog my personal space. I will only allow certain types of attitudes exhibited here. If someone feels the need to be hostile and “challenge” me on my blog, then their comment will be marked for deletion. If someone posts a comment on my blog that disagrees with what I posted, I expect them to do so with respect, so that an intelligent, reasonable discussion can take place. I could be wrong but I assume that many other blog owners feel the same way.
To carry on the discussion, What is your opinion about comment policies? Do you have a comment policy for you blog?