Ethical Blogging

I had planned on posting about a book tonight, but as I sat down to log into blogger and post I did my blog hopping first (why yes, I am a procrastinator, why do you ask?) and I read a post by Janet over on Dear Author that got me thinking. In the post Janet poses some great questions about bloggers and what the responsibilities and standards (if any) we should have. Should there be a standard set of rules (so to speak) that all bloggers should follow? Certain ethics that all bloggers should agree to?

I don't really think so. I think one of the greatest things about blogs (as with books) is that there is something for everyone. I can't speak for every blogger out there, only for myself, and I will say that when I started blogging, I went through some internal debates about what I would post about and how I would do it. Probably most bloggers do this. Or maybe not, how do I know. What I see as the biggest obstacle in putting up a standard Blogger Code of Ethics, is not everyone has the same idea of ethical, and who are we as readers and writers of blogs to try and push our own set of ethics on others? Can you imagine the work and debate and headaches that would happen just trying to pick the bloggers who would head the Ethics Committee?

I thought I'd share tonight my own personal set of "rules" I play by here and the reasons for them. It's not a long list, only 3 items, but it's all I've got.

ChariDee's Blogging "Rules" for Novel Reads

1 - Every post does not have to be about books. While most of the posts here on Novel Reads is about books or authors, there have been a few times where I veered off that path just to talk about what's going on in my life. I do this because a) I just don't have the time to keep up my personal blog and I do have friends that aren't readers that check in here and b) because my outside life does play a great part in what I'm currently reading and how I feel about it.

2 - I will post about books I don't particularly like, though I will try and be objective when I do it and not personally attack the author. For a long time I thought about only posting "reviews" on books I liked. I figured it didn't do a bit of good to say I didn't like a book because that could hurt some one's feelings. But the truth is, I don't like every book I read (though I do like most of them), no one does, so as long as I refrain from personally attacking an author (calling names, insulting their hair, that kind of thing) I'm good with stating how I really feel about the book.

3 - Since I also read blogs, if I want to discuss something I read on one, I will. I did this very thing a couple of weeks ago and look where it got me. However, rule number 2 applies to these posts as well. I may not like what another blogger has to say (be it an author or reader blog) but I will do my best to never personally attack the poster. I will also do my best to not over-exaggerate what I read and am blogging about.

That's it. Those are my own personal set of "rules." I'm sure that as time goes on and I continue to blog, I will cross the line one day. I hope, that if that time comes I will be blogger enough to admit it.

Take Care