The Thing with Blogs

*** WARNING - LONG***

Completely unrelated to Turkey. I've been reading various blogs & their assorted comments, and it got me thinking.

You might be reading and/or writing a blog.
Ever considered how your perception, indeed your very “absorption” of the content, changes depending on whether you know the writer(s) or not?

Although knowing the blogger may be a fantasy or pipe dream.

Browsing around, I’ve noticed that some regular, often Anonymous, blog readers (who follow posts as if they were episodes of their favorite soap or series) gradually acquire the impression that that they do actually know the blogger(s) or even that they have become somewhat akin, like friends or accomplices.

What could be more natural? After all, as a reader, in most cases, you not only know what your favorite blogger’s zodiac sign is, what country they are located in, but also, where they travel, what food they like to eat, what they read, what is on their minds, what political/ethical ideas they adhere to, about their family situation, etc.

Just like when you’re captivated by a can’t-put-it-down-book, you’ll feel for (at least some of) the characters, applaud their successes, be infuriated by their enemies or frustrated by their misgivings… it’s all part of a magnificent human quality: EMPATHY
(em-pa-thy: Direct identification with, understanding of, and vicarious experience of another person's situation, feelings, and motives. -source : www.dictionary.com)

There are countless types of blogs with a range of purposes. One thing is consistent; there is a real-live person on the other end of each and every one of them. And that person might not know you. That person might not even know you exist, let alone know that you are following their posts and “empathizing” with them.

A systematic blog follower might get so caught up in their reading that they may begin to have expectations –like in a relationship. For instance, they might feel let down when “their” blogger does not write for a while. Or they could express a defensive reaction when another blogger/reader posts a comment –deemed tarnishing or tasteless- in response to “their” blogger’s latest post.
As if, by their faithful reading, they had somehow earned joint-ownership of the blog. All the while hiding behind “Anonymous” on a blog that isn’t theirs.

I read somewhere that entering a person’s blog is like entering their home – ok, so it may be an open barn – but it’s not a forum or chat. I’m all for comments/feed-back/debate, but at least have the balls to put your name down.

I guess, it’s all part of the package. You go public; grow a tough skin. Take the glory and the blows, the passion and the humour, the hurt and the enthusiasm, the aggression and the eagerness…

Reader or blogger, there’s a life after and beyond blogosphere/cyberspace. And there’s a person at the other end of your keyboard who will read your comments. Words can be weapons in any language. …so how about using your empathy both ways?

I’m not naive, an idealist yes, but naive not- We don’t live in an ideal world… but there is a Golden Rule that transcends most cultures/religions:

Christianity: “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them”
Islam: “No one of you is a believer until he loves for his neighbor what he loves for himself”
Judaism: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is the entire Law, all the rest is commentary.”
Buddhism: “Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.”
Hinduism: "This is the sum of duty; do naught unto others what you would not have them do unto you”
….and my favorite:
Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria): “One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.”
(from “There is no such thing as “Business” Ethics by John C. Maxwell)

On cyber ethics:

http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/000215.php
http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050217lasica/
http://blogethics2004.blogspot.com/