A Lesson in Blogging Ethics: The Mommy Bloggers

Great things to hear on CBC Radio.

Ethernet Ethics 

by Mike Gange 

Interesting and invigorating are the words I would use to describe my time spent writing this blog. Interesting because I get clarity of my own ideas. Invigorating for the connections I make through readers, such as you.

 My cluster map add-on shows I have had readers from every continent, and most countries in the world. We certainly are able to flatten the world with the World Wide Web. Hockey games that I broadcast are heard by Canadian soldiers in war zones, by some of my cousins now living in California, by prospective hockey players who are hoping to play for the top-ranked UNB Varsity Reds (the team I web-cast), and by parents four time zones away, who cannot possibly come to every game their sons play in this league on the eastern coast of Canada.  The blogs and web-connections are a way of extending the reach of the writers and creators so that audience members can tune in, enjoy the experience and wisdom of the bloggers and rely on their judgment about that part of the world. Sort of like a review of a book or movie that influences and shapes a reader’s perception.   

But a disturbing trend in blogging is now visible in the blogosphere. Lots of bloggers are taking money just to endorse a product. The authenticity of voice in time and space is getting trampled by commercialization. Yes, I would like to get some money from the 20 thousand regular readers for what I write. But I am not doing this for the money. I think something is lost when something is gained.  

For more on this issue, I urge you to listen to the CBC Sunday Edition story on Mommy Blogging. It’s well done, and worth presenting to your classes, if you are teaching. It’s an interesting presentation on ethics, without getting into finger pointing and tongues wagging. Here is the link. It’s called The Mommy Bloggers.   Yes, indeed, we live in interesting times.

http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition/