Movement for Visitor Friendly Sites

I was really disappointed by a blog I came across recently. I was very impressed with this blog author because of what I perceived as the author’s open-mindedness despite their background. I’m not gonna elaborate. I don’t want a blog war on my turf. The point is, I realized that while someone may be liberal in some respects, this does not necessarily equate to open-mindedness.

Here are my observations on how to be a good neighbor. And it applies to blogs too!

1. Don’t post inflammatory remarks about others, even if you dont’ name them. If you really must vent, password-protect your posts. You don’t know who read your blogs. It could be your boss and your job on the line because of the not-so kosher posts you are publishing. Why risk it? Ever heard of the term dooced?

That is not to say you should write inflammatory remarks about others as long as they are not about your workplace. But let’s exercise a little love and discretion. Try speaking to the person about the issue first, or if you must write, well just think twice, even three times about it.

2. Don’t resort to name-calling. This is really the prime evidence that your little grey cells aren’t made of much. When you cannot tackle the issue but attack the person bringing up the issue instead, it means your reasoning, defenses, aren’t up to par. You also look like a fool, a school-yard bully.

Here’s a simple rule, if your child, or a child that looked up to your were watching you handle this conflict, are you acting in a way that you would want them to follow? That you would not be ashamed of?

3. Once the proper defenses have been posted, and your points made, drop it, let it go. The great thing about blogs, our neigbors aren’t across the street or next door to us. We can always stop visiting them and we won’t have to pass them on the street. You have so so many more important matters to attend to, you don’t have to the time, or the energy to get stuck on this issue and let it eat up your valuable resources.

4. Don’t take things personally. Develop a thick-skin. You cannot control what other people say, but you can control how you perceive their words. You are also the one who determines whether what someone says, whether it be negative, will affect how you feel. When someone is blatantly aiming to say “these words are meant to hurt you”, isn’t it better to just ignore them and disappoint them by showing them you haven’t been affected?

5. With that said, don’t make anonymous inflammatory comments on others’ blog. It’s like leaving dog turd on your neigbor’s front porch and running away. It’s a sign of immaturity and cowardice. Be brave. If you have something to say, at least have the integrity to back it up with your identity. If you don’t have anything nice to say, then the old adage goes, don’t say anything at all. We all know this.

6. If I were you, I wouldn’t reveal how much money you make. There’s something about the topic of money that gets people riled up. We all know that most marriages/relationships fight over money. It could be the same between blog neighbors. There’s a reason that companies usually have a policy of immediate disciplinary action if they find out you have been discussing your salary with your co-workers. It is bad practice. And why would you want to reveal how much money you make in your blog? Like I’ve already said, anybody could be reading this. Including people who may wish to scam you out of your hard-earned moolah.

Blogs are mediums protected by freedom of speech, and indeed that is why most people are so enamored by them. They can vent, rant, think out loud in their blogs. That is no reason you should leave your manners behind.

Some people make the argument that their blog is like their home, and they should be able to say whatever they want in them. The only way that analogy rings true, is if your home was rigged with a camera and you go in front of it periodically ranting and talking to hundreds or thousands of viewers about your life. Your blog is being watched all the time. And you have an open door. It is not the same as the privacy of your home.

Now, mind your manners. Please.