Bloggers and Self-Censorship
Michael responds to reactions to a controversial photo with some thoughts on bloggers and self-censorship.
My thoughts: Sometimes it is difficult to know when to “protect” readers from something that might offend them and when to write something without caring whether it’ll offend someone or not. There’s a balance between the attitude “If you find my blog offensive, inappropriate, etc., don’t read it,” getting readers, and maintaining a readership. It’s one thing with personal blogs. With this blog that I hope to be a professional development tool, it’s very different. Like I’ve typed before, there are certain things I don’t want on this blog because they’re inappropriate in a professional development context. I probably wouldn’t post a picture of a topless woman here because I don’t think such a photo in itself is appropriate content, but I don’t particularly mind if someone else does it on his own blog as it suits him. Intellectual freedom, you know.
