Ethics question - Blog Forum

Tambo · #1 February 6th, 2008, 07:03 PM

I've been thinking of ways for new blogs, like my one, to get more hits and more comments.

Thinking of my forum experience, it was always the threads with controversy and argument which went on for the longest, and got by far and away the most views. People love to rubber neck a fist fight, and there was always a kind of buzz about a controversial thread, making sure you read it beforen a moderator would decide things had gone too far and start deleting posts.

My question I guess, is what do you guys think of a partnership between two or more bloggers who agree to stir up a stink in the other ones comment section?

Slagging off the writing, strongly disagreeing with advice given or opinion stated, perhaps a bit of name calling, accusations as to the other ones ethics, all in as blunt a manner as possible.

It might stir readers to become commenters, wanting to put their two cents in, sticking up for the blogger who;s blog they have been reading.

It's a grey area for me, one I've not thought through all the in's and outs. Not sure if I'm truly comfortable with the idea, but curious to know if it might actually work.

Would probably be prudent to agree beforehand to stay away from issues that may offend a third party, or to stop if it looks like it is getting that way.

Also, would probably not want things to spill beyond the comment section of a blog either, ie make an actual post about whatever it is you are pretend arguing about. Then the whole blog becomes a lie.

I don't think it should go on for too long, just every now and then to give a boost to participation. (With any luck, they'll be bona-fide aresholes to deal with once the proper traffic comes)

Is this ethical? If so, how effective do you think it would be? How would you know when to draw the line? Does it already go on? (I'm sure it does, there is nothing new under the sun)

People with existing blogs, do you allow annonymous comments, and do you sometimes leave on those that you may have otherwise moderated were it not good for buisness?

skleiner · #2 February 6th, 2008, 10:15 PM

If it makes people feel unwelcomed, I would have to say I disagree, there is enough competition and enough turmoil out there already. It is tough being a newcomer to any forum..blog..social networking site, and if you are truly trying to learn and are viciously attacked, or ignored it begins the spread of malicous behavior.

Tambo · #3 February 7th, 2008, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skleiner

it begins the spread of malicous behavior.

Good answer, that makes for a decent case against it.

Personally, I'd be reluctant to use it as if it worked, it would be hard not to do it all the time.

enterpriseJM · #4 February 10th, 2008, 03:08 AM

I am not interested in watching Jerry Springer - on TV or the Internet. You have to define your own ethics, but when I have run across forums or blogs that seem to be popular for these kinds of antics, I move on. When it is staged, it's even worse - and you can't fool all the people all the time.

There was a great flooring forum that was ruined by constant bickering and malicious attacks. Then another became mired in rumors of hacking (which turned out were true) and it also lost favor. The owners of both these forums were disturbed by the loss of participation and got the word out that it was okay to post anything - a free-for-all - and the traffic did improve, but it was all the same old crap.

My flooring forum was started almost 2 years ago and one of the hard and fast rules is the Jerry Springer antics are not welcome. It took a while, but we have above average thread lengths for a niche site. Lots of participation from members and a very friendly atmosphere. I do not disallow topics about politics or religion, which are 2 of the most volatile topics you can have on a forum, and our members just don't bring those topics up much. When they do, those topics are among the least participated in.

But you make your own decisions about your personal ethics. If they don't match those of your visitors, they won't spend much time at your site. If it's traffic and participation you are after, don't do it at any cost. There are plenty of sites that will help you market and popularize your site, whether it's a static site, a blog or a forum. If you are looking for instant gratification, it will likely be fleeting.

Yes, there are websites that are very popular for their controversies and barbs. If that is your true joy, forget everything I have said. But even those sites have ethics that prob'ly don't include fooling the visitor by giving them fake arguments to read.

Just my opinion,

Jim