Better Blogging Behaviour, at the Expense of Traffic

A free e-mail newsletter hit my Inbox today (not spam, something I subscribed to), and I applied my usual critical lens while reading it.

Normally, I would write up my thoughts in a blog post, and send it out into the online world to express my thoughts, attract attention, perhaps draw comments from others, and maybe add to my small bit of online immortality.

But the snarkiness of being a blogger is starting to get to me.  I'm not Maury Povich, Jerry Springer or Bill O'Reilly.  I don't have advertisers demanding that I deliver an audience.  I do this because there are things about the world of public relations and human behaviour on which I want to share my opinion.

When it feels right, I still believe in forceful, blunt writing that draws attention to intolerance, stupidity, arrogance and naivete.  But this time, it didn't feel right.

So, instead of yet another post about the blunders that surround us, I wrote down my thoughts and sent them off to the author of the newsletter. And because it was something written directly to that person, I toned down the language, and made sure I included equal comments about the things I thought were well done.

Next time I sharpen the daggers for a well-aimed public stab at someone's errors, I hope I remember to do the same thing -- ease up on the nasty comments, and include appreciation for what was done well.

That approach may receive less attention, but that's okay with me. When criticizing or attacking someone, it's easy to forget they are people first.

(No, this is not a promise to never act like a boorish ass in the future.)

Comments

[Saskboy]

I feel the same way sometimes. It's easier to think that the Internet insulates us from the people we are talking about. But it's a good idea to imagine they are your neighbour across the hall in the same appartment building, and word any criticism the same way you'd speak to them face to face. If more people pulled punches like that, the world would be a more helpful place.

P.S.

And remember the Saskblogs BBQ is this Saturday :-)

[Eric Eggertson]

I haven't forgotten, but I better go back to your sites to get more details about when and where the barbecue is. See you there!

[Spamouflage]

I'm all about bluntness when it comes to personal communication. I do enough polishing at work and I never take work home. Good post.