Dome question
Submitted by James on Mon, 01/04/2010 - 8:50pm
Steve Harrison's post on the front page links to an article by Rob Christensen on the main N&O website. If you follow the link, you'll find that there are easy opportunities to comment and even post links in comments.
It's different Under the Dome. If you go to their website (there's a link in the BlueNC blog roll in the column just to right), you'll find that you can't post links in comments there anymore. At least I can't.
If this is a new policy choice, I understand the motivation. The editors at the Dome put up with more bullshit comments from more assholes than any hard working journalist should ever have to deal with, including tons of spam. That said, the policy is problematic for me.
Links are the currency of the blogosphere. Unilaterally blocking them, in my opinion, breaks the flow of value in a way that violates the basic principles we operate under.
Which raises this question: Should BlueNC have a policy about linking to sites that don't reciprocate? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?
A wise person once said, "never get into a pissing contest with someone who buys ink by the barrel." And there's certainly much wisdom in that expression. On the other hand ...
Your thoughts?
James
PS The Dome has long listed BlueNC in their blog roll, which I greatly appreciate. When I created our own new blog roll last week, I was sure to include them in the list, as you can see in the center column of your page.
My take on this:
That way lies madness. I mean, we could say, "We're not going to link to the Teletubbies site anymore, because those things freak me out." But not long after that, you start thinking, "I wonder what the hell they're doing over there. I bet they're up to something, and I'm sure it's not good." The next thing you know, you're wearing camouflage fatigues and greasepaint, buried in the leaves and watching your own house with binoculars. oo
As far as the Dome is concerned, maybe Ben or one of the other folks (who might be reading this) could let us know if they've (intentionally) modified the comment function to block live links, or if it's just some mysterious website thingie.
I don't mind having Dome on the blogroll
I've long questioned UtD's newsworthiness. It's more of a gossip site that's not fact-checked (or time sensitive or first source) than a serious news or research blog - and I'm talking about the posts, not the comments. But when you lay off reporters by the busload...
This is a case where you lead by example. Keep linking here.
Thanks
Consider it done.
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.