Bloggers’ legal responsibilities

Technology has always has the edge over regulations and laws. Common sense is not necessarily subject o technology or anything else. One suggestion was to not lie, cheat or steal. This is similar to the honor code at my alma mater, VMI, except for one key component in VMI’s – nor tolerate those who do. We danced around this self-regulation aspect for some time. There is an excellent summary here of the different arguments.

We all have reputations we work to cultivate, protect and live by. Bloggers are no different (leaving aside the Not Larry Sabato’s of the world). Those bloggers who make it a habit of posting libelous or slanderous posts will make names for themselves and respectable bloggers will take note. Simple. We do not tolerate those who violate and unwritten code. Setting high expectations should not be that difficult. I have been accused of being an idealist; so be it.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Sometimes politicians can’t leave well enough alone.

This is an interesting time.


Copied entirely from Will Vehr’s writing at Bacon’s Rebellion.

1. I blog under my legal name to stimulate discussion of important issues and media coverage of those issues. The opinions I offer on those issues are my own, arrived at from my own reading, research, and personal experiences. I do not seek nor will I accept any payment for expressing opinions without advance notification to my readers. Occasionally, I will post satirical material that will appear similar to my factual work, but this material will be easily identifiable.
2. I will always credit the work of others and provide links to that work wherever possible.
3. I will not knowingly publish information that is false or incorrect. Should I publish anything shown to be false or incorrect, I will offer a correction and an apology, if appropriate, as quickly as possible, in at least as visible a position as the original false or incorrect information appeared.
4. I will avoid personal attacks or unfair characterizations of the subjects of my published works and the readers who offer comments.
5. If I perform the work of a newsgathering journalist in the course of my blogging, I will endeavor to follow generally accepted codes of journalistic conduct, including shielding sources when the reason is explained.
6. I will not censor or edit the feedback I receive except for foul language or malicious intent. I will endeavor to be accessible to my readers and to respond to their complaints and suggestions.