All HK Bloggers, Please Remove Glutter

I’ve removed Yan, but I didn’t want to. I think putting yourself out there will eventually result in good and bad comments. I myself have been the subject of ridicule, not just in my own comments sections, but in others as well. So what? It’s all part and parcel of being there. Sometimes you need a wake up call. I did anyway.

I thought one of the cardinal rules of blogging was to never resort to personal attacks? Here are some good rules:

Agree to disagree respectfully. Opposing opinions can generate a lively discussion, but if you cannot persuade someone with your presentation of the facts or argument, move on instead of resorting to personal attacks. If you are upset about something or someone, consider taking a break to calm down before you respond.

As in real life, activities such as verbal assault, name-calling, and harassment — including racial, religious and sexual harassment — carry penalties. For example, it is not acceptable to use profanity, vulgarity or hate speech against another.

Feel free to express strong opinions about any group, but please do not use slurs to disparage a group of individuals based on their ethnicity, gender, national origin or sexual orientation.

I think we have ALL been a little guilty of breaking some of these rules, but then no one said you had to follow them in the first place. I just personally think they are a good idea.

The one more rule from that page:

Respect other members¬í requests to refrain from conduct they or others may find offensive, and be forgiving of others’ mistakes. If someone asks you to stop a certain line of communication with them or conduct towards them, and you do not, your actions may constitute harassment. Please choose whom you continue to interact with.

Got that? Be forgiving of others’ mistakes. We all make them. All of us. Can’t we all just make up?!

Maybe not just yet, so even though I’m sad Yan wants us to remove her, we have to respect that decision.