Ruminations of an Online Instructor / MD

Adjusting to Comments / Day 11 Write a Blog Comment Policy

May 11, 2008 at 9:35 pm | In 31 Day Comment Challenge, Blogging, Educators Online, Online Instructors, Online Learning, comment08 |
Tags: 31 Day Comment Challenge, Comment Policy, comment08, Education Blogging, Education Blogs

When I first took a look at the topics, I wasn’t sure what a Blog Comment Policy was. I haven’t had to worry too much about blog commentors prior to the Challenge, other than the blog spammers.

A realized that in creating or developing a Blog Policy it may vary significantly depending on the blog, the target audience and the number of responders.

With our website, Journey of Hearts, I have a disclaimer on the site:

Information on this site is designed to support, not replace, an existing physician-patient, provider-patient relationship. We regret that we are unable to answer any specific medical, mental or health related emails. Please contact your health care provider if you need specific questions answered.

Since I am blogging from the perspective of an Instructor, rather than a physician, I do not think I have to worry as much about including a medical disclaimer on an educational blog. I do wonder if I need to post a disclaimer that the ideas are my own and not reflective of the institutions where I am teaching.

I did like the information from Lorelle VanFossen from the BlogHearald on “Does Your Blog Have A Comments Policy?” regarding the rights of the blog owner.

1. Control over content and comments.

2. Ability to edit comments.

3. Ability to censor comments.

4. Ability to delete comments.

5. Ability to prevent comments by specific persons or groups.

I do feel that I should be able to delete inappropriate and/or offensive comments.
After thinking this challenge over for a couple of days and reading through the list of recommended resources, I decided that this will go on the “To Do” list for the blog to be completed after the challenge. I need to do a bit more research before developing a final Commenter policy.

Day 11: Write a Blog Comment Policy

The challenge for Day 11 was to write a blog policy.

Accomplishments for Day 11

1. Reading articles about Blog Comment Policies

2. Thinking about developing a Blog Comment Policy.

3. Comparing Blogging to Website Design, in regards to information exchange being one way or two ways.

4. Coming up with some rough ideas for a Blog Comment Policy.

5. Writing and Posting Day 11.

Reflections on Day 11

Since I didn’t have a blog comment policy at all (and didn’t know about the need to develop one) this challenge seemed a bit overwhelming and caused me to stall for a couple of days with the challenge. I was too concerned about getting it done perfectly the first time, but finally decided that it is acceptable to put this task on hold until I have a bit more time.

Revelations

Lightbulb moment - Learning that blogging is more of a two way communication and designed to encourage comments rather than a one-way (web page) sharing of information. I am so used to dealing with static web pages that it may take some adjusting to the desired two-way blogging exchange.

This blog post is part of The Comment Challenge, comment08.