I read where Tim O’Reilly is drafting a call for a Bloggers Code of Conduct, and I, being a writer, find myself with some questions:
1. I use the word fuck a lot. Am I flaming myself?
2. Is this Objectionable Content?
3. Does freedom of speech mean only nice people?
4. How many narcissists can dance on the head of a pin?
5. Did Mark Twain say anything funny about a pig?
6. I am not connected to the business side of the internet in any way. Should I just shut up?
7. Online Journals. When did that die. Maybe ’03. Writers, photographers. Artists. One brief, shining moment. Jeez. The web in all its dark enormity seemed born for art.
My question is: doesn’t that sound fucking ridiculous?
8. I believe the free web still exists. I know it does, I know it serves bloggers in Iraq, just as it will serve in the struggle for democracy wherever people can access the tools. I also know that this sorry little flap in what is called the (heave) blogosphere is as ingrown and self-absorbed as it gets … that all our problems don’t amount to a hill of beans .. oops, sorry, wrong speech. There’s a question in here, too. Are you man enough to discern it?
9. How does anyone know who their friends are, when money changes hands?
10. After the widespread behavior of blogging web professionals during the recent Big Stink, can you imagine how anxious a person like myself is to ever hear the word Marketing again. Ever.
