February 8, 2009
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A Question of Blogging Etiquette
As I travel through the interwebz, I have found that lately it has become common practice that if you are going to quote or link to a blog you leave a comment on the original source with a snippet of how you utilized the piece, perhaps with the title of your post. To me, if you quote a blog, link to it in your post and then leave a comment on the original blog letting the author know that you quoted them, you have a higher form of the citations and bibliographies we were all taught to create when in school, because not only are you citing your sources, you’re also letting your sources know that they have been cited.
To me, this is a perfect example of what living in the Information Age is all about. Let’s say that I write a piece, link it in my post and then let the OP know that I have been inspired by his work. He now has a direct link back to my piece where I quoted him and there exists the possibility of open communication between the both of us, further expanding upon the ideas that were put forth in his blog. Because we are discussing something that the original author himself wrote about, I don’t have to worry about drawing him in; he should come ready to see what I have said about what he said and give an immediate reaction if he thinks my thoughts merit such a response.
(That is not me writing in the photo.)Recently, I wrote a couple of different pieces where I was combining a whole bunch of thoughts and resources, but in my haste to post and cross-post, I forgot to go back and let the author know that I had used his work. Yes, I linked to the original piece prominently, but I feel bad for forgetting to let the author know I had used his work. I don’t feel like I’ve plagiarized, but I regret that the authors won’t have a chance to react to my piece while it is fresh. By failing to properly comment them, I have also deprived them of interacting with my audience and reacting to my reader’s reaction to my piece.
I wonder what is the proper way to handle this situation now that I’m aware of my blunder.
What is proper etiquette: comment the blogs like I just posted only to let them find that the entry has long since past or not comment that I’ve used their material?
Comments (17)
I’d just go back to the entry and tag them.
@jediwa72 – I was planning to anyway out ouf conscience, but I wanted to know what my readers thought.
Thanks for the validation.
I so hate finding my words are the source material for an entry, or I am personally being discussed. And I find that out, by way of footprints.
The only thing worse is to find out by way of someone asking me way I believe such a so. Things I have never said and don’t believe, but they found it on another site. The entry topic was me. and I was never told about it. I know that happens in protected posts, but it really sucks.
I would tell them and apologize for being late. If they are like me, they would respect you for doing that. Even if you did it belatedly
I think people misconstrue what others write too frequently. I personally wouldn’t want to know if someone cited me because then I’d be inclined to check it out and correct them if necessary if they didn’t get what I was saying. Just seems like unnecessary work for the person being cited.
@trunthepaige – Thankfully, I’m not dissing anyone. I echoed a point that was made on a film review site and I used another blogger’s (NOT a Xangan) post as a stepping stone for a critical self-examination.
Still, it’s the principle of the thing that bothers me.
@misswonderj - That’s the blessing and the curse of living in the Information Age. You get to see what others say about you and what you said and have the ability to comment on it. Whether you choose to do so or not is up to you.
The person quoting you may be showing a flaw in your logic or personality; they may also give you validation and vindication.
I just really like the way that you felt the need to tell us that it was not you writing in that picture. Does that picture really look like you that much?
Haha. But hmm, I think it’s more polite to let people know when you’re quoting them.
@storiesandsinker – I was hoping someone would pick up on that.
@ProfessorTom - The IA always has the perk of peer review. =)
@misswonderj – If you can call it a perk.
@ProfessorTom - Only when the feedback is constructive. XD
Your comment about the picture is funny!
A lefty in a church window, not bad!
I simply tag a person or post a link when it is about him/her.
@nattata – heh. I didn’t even notice he was a South Paw like me. Bonus! I thought it would be fun to mock The Theologian’s Cafe a bit.
As I explained to Paige above, both of the articles I linked to were external to Xanga. Furthermore, the issue discussed here is not as relevant to Xanga as it is to vertical and so-called “professional” blogs.
Thanks for stopping by!
I’d just say you forgot in the comment. That’s understandable. I usually provide a link & tag, but I don’t normally leave a comment.
This never happens at livejournal. People are too mature, and polite. I think its limited to Xanga.
@ehowton – What never happens: forgetting to let a source know that you’ve cited them?
I admit that when I write a counterpost, I don’t tell the other blogger that I did so… >.> Somehow that would seem to aggressive to me. “Hey, I wrote about how I disagree with your dumb opinion! Want to read it?”
Ha. That’s probably just me. But when the post is positive, I guess I don’t worry about it. Every so often people mention me without telling me, and I don’t mind. But again, that’s just me.