Comments on: If you have a complaint about this blog…

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 13:32:48 +0000

The best examples of this are probably the ‘watch’ sites. I know there’s a MediaWatchWatch.

Interestingly, I would say that the failure of Worstall Watch probably enhances the credibility of the watchee.

By: The Pedant-General

The Pedant-General — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 11:02:08 +0000

Clarice,

“Am I allowed to name someone that does this? “

I would say that you are almost REQUIRED to do so.

Robert,

“You can still, for example, comment on your own blog, in lieu of leaving a comment. “

Hmmm… In the comments to my article, I do attempt a cursory nod in this direction: this is tricky and starting your own blog does not fulfill some of the core conditions - particularly as regards correction link permanence and audience reach - that I set out.

That said, I take the line that blogs without comment facilities are not really blogs - they are merely regularly updated web sites.

A savvy operator faced with this problem would probably do the following:
- mail the offending blogger with your concerns and ask for an update to the post
- failing that, find out a number of sites that do accept comments and that while in competition to your offending blogger have some overlap - evidenced by an abundance of links between the two - and sell your story by mailing it to the blogger to make a post of it, noting that offending blogger has refused to put up a correction. Your story will need to be watertight and well referenced. You may even need to start a blog to get the full documentation in the open to prove your case.
It’s probably worth asking your blogger if he would consider the post, then let you know before posting so that you can…
- then mail your offending blogger and tell him it will be out in the open and ask for the correction again.
- if your offending blogger is still posting (i.e. not away/incommunicado) and still doesn’t give you your correction, nail him in public.
This hits your blogger right where it hurts - at his reputation.

It’s roundabout and more time-consuming, but then if it is that important, perhaps it’s worth the effort.

But it’s still not as good as getting it on the site itself.

By: Clarice

Clarice — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 17:11:49 +0000

Only the lowest of the low delete comments pointing out their mistakes

Am I allowed to name someone that does this?

By: Clarice

Clarice — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:14:02 +0000

Ah. Ok. That makes me feel much better, I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks Rob.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 23:01:36 +0000

Read the PG’s article. You can still, for example, comment on your own blog, in lieu of leaving a comment.

By: Clarice

Clarice — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 22:57:43 +0000

Hear hear! But some rather arrogant, and for me, the more anger-making/offence-causing bloggers don’t have a comments box. That makes me mad as hell.

Does your argument still apply to non-comment-allowing bloggers, who just want to spout their bile at people and not face up to any consequences, or take any reciprocal part in society? Non-comment bloggers are like hit-and-run drivers, knock-down-ginger-players and such like. Is there a consensus on them and their regulation?

By: The Pedant-General

The Pedant-General — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:54:18 +0000

Allanimal is spot on:
“In fact, I think the comments box in a blog is a better form of redress than traditional media. “

I have already developed this theme extensively here.

By: Chicken Yoghurt » Code breaking

Chicken Yoghurt » Code breaking — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 11:40:09 +0000

[...] The laws of libel and contempt of court apply to bloggers as much as they do to journalists. Unlike newspapers who only admit to mistakes when what laughingly passes for PCC sanction is applied, blogging is a peer-reviewed medium where factual inaccuracies in post can be pointed out in the comments. It’s already self-policing. The best bloggers already unspokenly adhere to a code. Only the lowest of the low delete comments pointing out their mistakes and that kind of censorship tends to get flagged anyway. As for redress, as Robert Sharp says: My comments box is open, and I respectfully invite you to redress yourself there. My readers shall consider your point-of-view, and if they agree with you over me, then I shall probably lose credibility with one or both of them. [...]

By: Allanimal

Allanimal — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 06:53:16 +0000

I agree completely. In fact, I think the comments box in a blog is a better form of redress than traditional media. Just how many letters to the editor can (or will) any magazine or newspaper print? And I don’t recall too many TV news shows spending precious time (that could be sold to advertisers) addressing viewer complaints. On a blog, anyone can comment, any time.

PS: Thanks for letting me know about the use of my photo. It works quite well there!