Losing Control Over What We’ve Written on Blogs
SJ writes in response to me typing that I’d rather post a particular comment on my blog rather than his: “Don’t forget that as soon as you publish something, you’ve already lost control over what you’ve typed… Many philosophers have spent the last part of their lives trying to regain control over their philosophies.”
Do I really lose control over what I’ve written on a blog?
In some ways, I do because I have no control over who reads this blog or who links to it and where that info goes. Some bloggers, like Je’, repost my words on their blogs. And posts get aggregated, too, and who knows where they go from there.
But there are different levels of control. Lately, I’ve been wondering about how comments work with copyright law. If I comment on someone else’s blog, do I retain copyright on my words because they’re my words? Or do I waive my copyright by posting to someone else’s blog? Likewise, do I now own the copyright to all the comments on my blog, whether I typed them or not?
Another level of control is more basic. Sometimes, I go back to edit my words, fix a typo, correct spelling, or add something else to a post. If I comment on someone else’s blog as opposed to writing on my own blog, will I be able to edit my words later? I learned recently that I can edit my comments on some blogs using Manila if I am logged in as a member.
Also, if I post on my blog and decide later that I don’t want the post anymore, I can delete it. Granted, I don’t necessarily know who’s already seen it, linked to it, etc., but the words can magically disappear. I may be able to edit my comments on someone else’s blog, but I haven’t yet figured out how to delete my comments without contacting the blog administrator.
Addendum 11/26: Je’ responds, appropriately, on his own blog.
Addedum 11/29: I found a case in point. Let’s see how long it takes SJ or someone else to edit my comment again. (I reread the other comments I’ve placed on his blog recently and they seem to be intact.) If a blog administrator gets a reputation for editing people’s comments on his blog, does he lose integrity? Will people hesitate to comment on his blog because he might change their words, even slightly? Is it like a journalist fabricating sources?
(SJ, I’m being hypothetical here. I’m not necessarily saying that I won’t comment on your blog anymore because you changed my words. I think in this instance, I may have typed something in my comment that you could delete my comment if you considered it comment spam. I didn’t expect you to rewrite it. I’m intending this in good humor. I’m not angry about it and don’t mean for people to think less of you and your blog for doing what you did.)
November 22nd, 2003 at 4:55 am
One of the main reasons blogs work it s the subtle psychological pressure from posterity that makes us think twice before posting.