PREFACE
AN ARTICLE appeared in the Guardian Newspaper, dated 21 December 2007, written by James Ball, concerning the issue of ‘Blogging’ and, appeared on-line within its ‘comment is free’ section (Cif). Cif is highly recommended by this site. The section is run by very high calibre journalists and writer’s, many of the articles of which have appeared in its broadsheet newspaper that day.
The particular article mentioned is annexed within our docquet, ‘MarKat’s External Publications’. Please do refer to this article if the need arises.
However, I do agree, that blogging has a number of wide and far reaching implications. It is not my intention here to criticise James Ball’s article but, rather, merely to add to the complexity of issues that are arising. I think there is a need for further exploratory analysis, of which I hope readers will become enlightened by our writing on this subject.
As with other articles on this site, this journal is likely to be updated on an on-going basis.
‘MD for MarKat (Scotland)’
INTRODUCTION
A blog – short for web log – is an online diary or collection of writings and creative works that looks, in essence, like a web page. It is fairly easy to create and update by changing text, photos, or links to other sites.
‘Standard-Off-the-Shelf’ web frames may be accessed free of charge from Blog site suppliers such as Blogger.com. Individuals can customise these sites according to their needs given an appropriate level of skill in instances where individual specifications are more than just what is on offer. However, saying that, there are some very good frameworks available from Blogger.com giving a range of different layouts and how information can be presented. A form of registration is required, option accessibility’s for completion according to requirements and facilities for changing the colours and styles of the blog.
A Short History of Blogs
It is ironic that a nickname for a tool that creates simple Web pages has had such an impact on early 21st. century culture. Although earlier technologies such as news wires or amateur “ham” radio networks share blogs’ community-making function, blogging took specific form around the mid-1990s as electronic communities and browsing became popular. It wasn’t until 1997 that Jorn Barger coined the term web log as it is used to describe the simple web pages people made to post links to interesting sites that they had found or came across while surfing the web.
Authors of the Wikipedia.com web-based encyclopedia seem to agree that Peter Merholz first used the diminutive blog in the spring of 1999 when he posted the phrase “we blog” in the sidebar of his web log.
Blogging grew more popular after 1999 when several enterprising programming engineers began distributing some web log publishing tools over the Internet. Evan William and Meg Hourihan launched their company Pyra Labs to market their publishing platform, Blogger.com. Other blog software innovations distributed around the same time were Six Apart’s Movable Type publishing system, Type Pad, and LiveJournal.
At the beginning of 2001, blogs had gained enough of a readership that more people felt comfortable looking to the blogosphere to share their opinions and feelings in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and subsequent military activity in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Blogs focusing on the war and, politics itself, gained much currency by 2003. The mainstream media began to appreciate and acknowledge the impact of bloggers in 2004 as politicians, corporations, and consultants began using them as tools for influencing opinion or spreading a specific message. Whilst blogging does gain negative criticism from certain quarters, I believe this is more to do with ignorance and entrenched perceptions bound-over. It is extremely rare to see or read a balanced argument on web-blogging. However, it is fair to point-out that if people are sensitive to either insulting or contrary opinions to their own, then web-blogging might well be an area you should avoid. The process of maintaining a web log will, inevitably, lead to writers of such sites researching subjects and potentially taking part in dialogue elsewhere.
The Power of Blogs
The real power of blogs lies in their capability to store, organise, and retrieve information. When blogging software first became accessible, people quickly realised the publishing program’s potential for using links to store random bits of information found while surfing the Web. A person searching the web for information about gardening, for example, could clip and store any news stories, scientific papers, book reviews, or journal articles on his blog and know that he could access it easily. This discovery gave birth to extra ways of using the system. People could share their online discoveries by linking to a website and writing commentary around them. Others liked to create personal diary entries, never really expecting others to read their writing. The result, however became a “hive mind” where everything was connected a few short clicks from one another. People began to see blogs as a viable resource for research.
The world of blogs as a collective group is called a blogosphere. Individuals can benefit from the information someone else has already discovered which might raise questions as to why the need of performing a search using a variety of search engines and databases arises? It does of course depend on individual blog credibility but, as our section labelled: ‘Recommended Blogs’ shows, some of the blogs – such as ‘Climate Ark’ – are written by very senior scientists. The level of resources contained within an individual blog can, therefore, not only be resourceful but highly relevant to the topic or search under consideration. The long-term objective of our site here, MarKat (Scotland), is to provide a ‘library’ of information that will, inevitably, use links to other sites and web logs.
Recognising Blogs
Blogs can be categorised either by function or by their format. Blog publishing software options allow users to customise their blogs. Blogs can be organised in the form of a personal diary, a form of electronic clippings, publications that invite feedback commentary from readers, or a unilateral communication device that publishes the writer’s thoughts and opinions without a feedback option. A blog’s structure will inform the blog’s function. For example, a blog that invites reader feedback becomes a dialogue; the diary format serves the function of giving the creator’s voice a platform for expression.
Blogs are created for a variety of reasons. Blogs are software for publishing web pages – therefore, a web log could take the form of anything. Some people may create a magazine by assembling it from links, text, and pictures on a variety of topics but, generally, blogging does take a great deal of time and effort. A blog may become so popular with readers that its authors may feel obligated to keep putting fresh content on the site. However, one way to combat fatigue is to recruit other people to contribute material content. This type of arrangement takes the pressure off blog-writers who may feel inclined to continually provide fresh input on a constant basis.
Search Strategies
Making a search strategy is the best way to improve your chances of finding what you are looking for on the Internet after just one attempt. The best approach for searching any information resource is to develop a variety of concepts or keywords search terms that truly define your topic.
Search engines are becoming more and more sophisticated and may be capable of finding research based on a query written as a sentence or, potentially, as if you are asking a question. Principally, that is the selling point fundamental behind the ‘Ask Jeeves.com’ search engine. Another good trick is to put your ‘question’ in quotation marks. You are more likely to bring up better hits.
Patient and thorough seekers often look at many information resources before turning to Internet search engines. They may look at magazine indexes, full-text databases, or card catalogues. When you start searching on the Internet, start with a directory such as Yahoo!, which indexes websites by topic. Search engines such as Google.com are also excellent resources so long as you use the right strategy. Be sure to start with a specific keyword and broaden your search strategy, if you get too few sources. If a search returns too many sites, look over the first half-dozen for clues on how to improve your search strategy. If you still can’t find what you are looking for, blogs themselves maybe an excellent alternative or complimentary source.
For example, how would you obtain information on the history of our favourite toy mentioned from the 1960s – the slip and slide? You could search for it on the Internet using search engines such as Dogpile.com, Google.com, and Yahoo.com. And, you may find enough information about the basics, but you’re not satisfied. You want more details about the toy’s origins, litigation case history, cultural impact, and places to obtain one in the present day.
Researching via blogs may be a good step. Where do you look first?
Unlike websites, few consistently reliable blog directories are available, and it takes time and patience to work your way through them. Research doesn’t imply necessarily specific answers at the touch of a button, it may well require the application of good strategies.
Blog Search Engines
1. Technorati
Techorati was one of the first blog-search-engines. The search-engine helps users keep in touch with all the topics under discussion in the blogosophere by tracking the number of links connected to a particular post and, by inference, determining a blog’s popularity in comparison to other blogs. The site is set-up to automatically receive notification from updated web-log posts so that it can track what topics and subject matters are under discussion within the blog community.
2. Bloglines
Bloglines is a special section of the ‘Ask Jeeves.com’ search-engine-tool. Bloglines is a full service site that lets you analyse blog linking traffic and trends in conversation topics, create and update your own blog, and read and clip articles via news feed subscriptions all in one visit.
3. Feedster
Feedster is an Internet search engine and an indexed collection of syndicated feeds of text from various blog sites and other media sources that is updated several times per hour. Bloggers can use this resource to publish content from other sites directly onto their own or review updated information from content delivered via a subscription.
4. Blogpulse
Blogpulse.com is a fairly recent addition to the blog directory scene. It also analyses and delivers automatic trend information of topics under discussion within the blogosphere. The site has several tools available that allows visitors to track key issues under discussion, search blogs for specific content, follow a particular thread of conversation on any particular blog, or creating trend charts to compare popular discussion topics.
5. PubSub
PubSub (short for Publish and Subscribe) aims to do it all. The service provides an ongoing search for relevant information requested by a subscriber. Its search engine monitors information as it passes through any variety of information resources such as blogs, newsgroups, and web pages. Think of it as your own personal news monitor.
Quick Search Tips
Having found a few blogs that mention the topic you are interested in, try looking at links listed on the main page of those individual blogs. The interconnectedness of blogs makes them the ideal medium for quickly finding information.
As always though, you should evaluate anything you find on the Internet. There is far to much misinformation to trust the medium blindly. You should bear in mind a number of questions to help you decide whether a source of information on a blog is true:
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How recent is the information or the blog post?
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What motivated the writer to post this entry? Does the writer’s choice of words highlight any possible ulterior motive?
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Does the online information contain links to other sites, and what does the blogger communicate about them?
Links on blogs can be an excellent way to explore. You often find yourself on sites you would never have considered with a straightforward search. Random jumps between links on other blogs is an excellent way to research. Such utility is not actively used anywhere near as much as it should be but does offer a potential array of information that would otherwise be difficult to acquire as quickly. It is a common trait for many bloggers to link to other web logs that share similar subject matter or outlooks.
Another quick trick for finding a blog is to utilise the Search function at Technorati.com (see link above). Technorati lets you search by keyword, website URL, and tag search. If you find a blog that fits your topic, use Technorati’s website URL search box by entering a website or blog’s URL to find other blogs or sites that link to it. The Technorati program and software checks its database to see whether another blog has linked to the site. Utilising this search feature is a quick way to increase the number of blogs to consult.
Whilst it is our intention in continuing with this article on a number of important related themes, the introduction to this topic, we hope, has added a degree of knowledge for users in terms of blogging, blogs in general and how searches using the Internet can, and should be made.
Privacy Rights
Although bloggers are ‘free’ to spread the word – particularly people living in the west, bloggers should be aware of a few boundaries.
Lawmakers do install restrictions, from time to time, on our freedom to protect others from harm. We are not ‘completely free’ to behave in a manner that injures another person. Whilst different laws may well be interpreted differently, a claim for injury, other than claims for libel would also require the consideration of damages under a delictual claim (Scotland) or, in other countries pursuing a claim for tort.
It is right to acknowledge that blogging became possible after the enormous explosion in US freedom laws, the west caught-on very quickly and the ease by which many people can now publish should be seen as a major benefit for cultural diversity, dialogue and openness. Whilst slight differences may occur from time to time on points of interpretation according to national laws, I would feel a good starting point in how ‘privacy’ is determined is by looking closely at what the US Constitution has written into its laws. This will be the basis by which other countries will either adopt or amend articles within its articles.
Primae Facie considerations:
Gossip and speculation could be considered harmful behaviour if it hurts another person’s livlihood or reputation.
Some states or regions within the United States have privacy laws that prohibit the publication of private facts about someone else. Bloggers must consider the privacy rights of the people and individuals they blog about. Unless you are sure of your legal position it’s always a good idea to avoid naming people, especially when you are relating an anecdote about their behaviour that they might otherwise prefer remain untold. These laws are similarly applicable to websites in general.
If you really cant help yourself , it might be wise to assign fake names and details to prevent your intended victim from identifying him, or herself.
Under most national laws now, that stemmed directly from the US, an injured party can sue anyone for revealing private facts that are offensive to a reasonable person in public and such facts are not a matter of public concern.
A private fact includes details about someone that have not been exposed to the public, such as a person’s sexual orientation, sexual history, or medical condition. The elements that must be proved to win this type of invasion of privacy do, however, vary from country to country. Generally though, a pursuer (or plaintiff) has to prove that the disclosed fact was not a matter of legitimate public concern and had never been publicly disclosed. Publication on a blog would be considered public disclosure, but if the private details were deemed “newsworthy” it might be legal to print despite the fact that such a revelation might be offensive to a reasonable person.
Another way to breach a person’s privacy is intrusion into seclusion. If you were to obtain and publish photographs of a person in his own home, like the paparazzi does with celebrities, that act would be considered an intrusion. However, if you took a picture of someone in a public place, including a bar or restaurant, you might have some protections because a reasonable person would hardly expect to be secluded in public spaces. The law also protects the disclosing party if the injured party gave her consent to take his picture or write about him in her blog or on a website in general.
Free Speech Limits
Journalists run into privacy concerns all the time. For this reason, the right of free speech is sometimes restricted to balance privacy concerns. The right of free speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment in the United States, the precursor, also considered privacy concerns that gained support in other countries, Britain included.
Private facts can generally be disclosed if they are newsworthy and there is a legitimate public interest. Most courts have allowed the disclosure of private facts if they are about a person involved in a news event or a person who has attained the status of a public figure such as a politician, doctor, minister of religion, actor, criminal even.
Like journalism, blogging is considered a form of expression. However, internationally, the courts have carved out some additional exceptions to free speech to protect the larger community. As I have said, Free Speech and the laws that have been enforced around the world on this topic, where either a direct acceptance from the US code or indigenous national amendments to it. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), for example, sets out its vision on levels which are deemed acceptable. In America, as in Britain, the law says that you can be penalised for saying something that threatens national security and public order, health, and morals as well as statements that may hurt another person’s reputation. If you didn’t know this, or refute what has been said here, I recommend you consult independent legal advice, particularly if you are engaged in either running a blog-site or frequently participate in public discussions.
Even with restrictions like privacy limits and exceptions to free speech, bloggers have a pretty large area to express themselves. Indeed, limits strengthen the legitimacy of blogging because they allow the maximum number of people to be exposed to arguments and debate being presented. Blogging, potentially, has a worldwide audience.
Ladies and gentlemen, ’statements made of fact’ which may be embarrassing for an individual has no right of redress – either in terms of raising an action for libel or exceeding the authority granted under laws related to Freedom of Expression and Speech. However, you must consider any statements made against another to be of a legitimate public concern. It is for the courts to decide on guilt or innocence, the presumption of innocence remains until proven otherwise.
The explosion in blog popularity is due to freedom, which blogs provide in two different ways. Blogs, for instance, are ‘free at the point of delivery’, individuals can create one at no cost, and in essence you are free to say whatever you want. This simple sentence and what it implies speaks volumes about the world of web logs. However, your blog is your responsibility. You will be responsible for what you write, how you display it and whether anything you say exceeds lawful limits. For example, do you have something on your mind you need to tell the world? Have you witnessed or been subjected to an injustice that needs exposure? Today’s web logs are currently the most “free” communication medium available to the world’s Internet audience. In Scotland, an action of solatium exists for feelings that have been injured by another person’s statements.
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© Copyright MarKat (Scotland) 2007: all rights protected
Filed under: Ask Jeeves.com, Blog Search Engines, Blogger.com, Blogging, Bloglines, Blogosphere, Blogpulse, Feedster, PubSub, Quick Search Tips, Search Strategies, Technorati, Weblogs
