Blogs Are Public Documents – Bloggers and Commenters Beware

Amber of Lamb and Frog is covering Monday Mayhem, specifically the mayhem that erupts when a commenter cross the lines.

I’m not sure how many of these commenters have ever written anything for public consumption other than their inane comments. A blog? A magazine article? Anything that you actually got paid for? Do you know anything about writing at all? Let me fill you in…

Blogs are public documents. The best bloggers with the most popular blogs know this. They choose and edit the material they post to reflect their blog’s message or style. That doesn’t mean that the content can’t be personal, it just means that it rarely reflects the entirety of the blogger’s existence. Why? Because even if your daily life is freakishly entertaining (what…now you’re Paris Hilton?) hearing nothing but unedited lists of exploits day after day makes for boring reading in short order.

She cites some recent blog posts by friends who are frustrated with stupid and ignorant commenters, including:

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• A commenter who complained that the blogger “complained all the time” on her personal blog.
• A blogger who enjoys responding to idiot psycho-analyzing commenters.
• A blogger who thinks it’s appropriate to respond to thoughtless commenters.

Amber spoke the truth. Blogs are public documents. If you put it out there, you open yourself to complements, criticism, and condemnation.

Here are some more truths you need to know about blogging:

• It’s your blog. Blog what you want.
• Want traffic, blog for traffic, but don’t expect to turn them into readers.
• Want readers, blog for the readers. Readers return.
• Writing well pays off better than not.
• Blog consciously.
• Don’t surprise readers. Blog consistently.
• If you open the door to comments, be prepared for comments.
• Blog comments are content. You control them.
• Blog comments are content. Comments are mini-resumes that speak for their author.
• Expect insults.
• Expect nasty commenters.
• Expect spam and splogs.
• Expect inconsiderate and thoughtless commenters.
• Expect nasty, inconsiderate, and thoughtless fellow bloggers.
• Expect unexpected, random acts of kindness.
• Expect fans to feel like they are your friends.
• Expect a support group and network to form in and around your blog.
• As a blog reader, you are not judge and jury. You are the audience.
• As a blog writer and publisher, you are the entertainment. It’s your stage. Use it wisely and well.