how not to blog

I came across this interesting set of "rules for good blogging" over at the Gothamist via Two Hour Lunch. It is a list of 8 things not to do when you blog. Some are reasonable, others are purely subjective and there is much controversy in the comments following the post. In a nutshell the 8 things are:

1. Don't call what you do a blog if it doesn't match the definition. This is really picky, as the definition is morphing daily. The premise here is that if you are writing about your life, what you ate, who you are seeing, that is a journal. Blogs are sets of links with impersonal commentary about grander ideas. This was considered a tongue-in-cheek rule by many people reading this post. After a few more rules, no one was really sure anymore.

2. Based on #1, do not write about yourself, your dog, your new shoes, your co-worker's nasal drip...no one cares. Now, in my opinion this is an extreme example used to prove a point. Sure, you will likely have fewer readers if you talk about things that are pertinent only in your life. The Gothamist is talking about blogs like this one, but as you can see, a parody of the genre is as compelling to see as really bad B movies. I personally like reading about people and what they are thinking, how they solved X or what clever Y thing they did. Of course there are limits to my interest, and I personally don't care about a lot that is written on the web. But what I find interesting others won't, and vice versa. This "rule" gets to me most because even as a guideline it smacks of censorship. Write whatever the hell you want. I don't have to read it if I don't like it. There are over 6 billion people in the world, and most of them have blogs now (ahem) so chances are *someone* is interested in the unusual color of your bruises. Nota bene from the Gothamist: it is a good idea to think of your blog as something *everyone* will read in light of the fact that as soon as you post what a jerk your boss is and how ugly his wife is...he will find it and read it. A more righteous example of this is you might post a picture from work and get fired over it. Old news, yes, but still a valid example.

3. Do not blog unless you plan to post more than once a quarter. Well, while I agree I have a hard time staying interested in blogs like that unless I know the person, I say it's your bandwidth to waste, go for it. Eventually I figure people who don't post very often will get bored of their site and just slow down to a full stop. No biggie.

4. Do not write other bloggers and ask for links. I am pretty impartial on this one. I figure you will either get a yes or a no. Now, I would say don't get upset if Blogger X doesn't "blogroll" you, even if you ask. That isn't classy. But most of us write so that others will read, and a good way to get read is to be linked on other sites. Trust me on that one :) Another good way to increase membership is to sign up for blogrings. Many more people see you if you are visible in places other than your best friend's blog that only you read.

5. Do not steal. Well I am all on board for that one. Credit is due for everything on your site you don't write or photograph yourself. Like these rules. 100% Gothamist, as you can tell because I disagree with many of them.

6. "Do not consider your blog a free ride to slander, promote gross inaccuracies, or pass along "facts" that are rumors." I subscribe to the altruistic view that blogging and amateur journalism will elevate "truth in reporting." In theory, we check all the facts we can before posting a story. If that isn't good enough, our readers will also check facts and let us and the world know when we make a boo-boo. A self-checking system at its finest. I also wonder if the new blog fad has increased or decreased or done nothing for the intelligence of the general populous.

7. Don't throw a hissy-fit when your readers disagree with you. That is a good one. Freaking out eggs on the trolls and also flies in the face of what I consider the purpose of having a blog - to interact with other people, to share ideas and experiences. Of course, some people grew up with conflict and that is where they are comfortable. They will find sites where their form of debate is welcome. Your site might be one. Again, who is to say what other should be doing in this format? And the Gothamist makes a good point. You can close your comments, delete offensive comments, ban IPs...there are a host of ways to combat the virulent flamers if you don't want to deal with them verbally.

Lastly, 8. Be polite. Of course I stand behind this one. Common courtesy isn't always common these days. I will extend this to not being rude to people whose sites you disapprove of. Don't like it? Don't read it. Ain't freedom grand?

What do you guys think about these rules? Have any of your own you think are appropriate? Think these are good or bad? Inquiring minds want to know!