Blogging (un)ethically, and why it matters?
Yesterday I was preparing for one of my MBA final exams, Strategic Management. (Yes that’s why I slowed down with my blogging, sorry about that). One of the topics covered was ethics. It said:
If you have a clear moral compass guiding your priorities and those you set for the company, you will be a more effective leader.
This observation is repeatedly one of the first thing effective leaders mention when they answer a question about what they think is most important in explaining their success as leaders and the success of leaders they admire. ~ McGraw Hill, Formulation, Implementation, and Control of Competitive Strategy.
While reading it, I couldn’t stop but relate it to blogging. How important ethics in blogging? I personally think it’s very important, especially in professional blogging. By professional blogging I refer to bloggers who blog in certain niche, have authority in that particular field, and have large number of regular readers (followers).
Why it’s important that these (popular) blogs be ethical? Well, there are several reasons for that. One of the main reasons is that, some people look up to them - they want to follow in their footsteps, they want to be just like them, and most importantly they are being fed by them on daily basis. So it’s only natural if these bloggers affect them positively. Instead of influencing negatively, and making all the unethical things look normal - as if it was okay to do those (unethical) things.
What constitutes to “Ethical”?
But definition and perception of ethics is very subjective. Behavior that is accepted by one person (or community) as ethical might not be the case with another person (or group of people).
Brittanica dictionary describes ethics as:
the discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad, right and wrong. The term is also applied to any system or theory of moral values or principles. ~Brittanica
People are inherently capable of distinguishing major and distinctive behaviors that are right and that are wrong. (Eg. Cheating, stealing, killing…etc) But when it comes to small things that are not clear, there is always an argument, and you will find people on both sides of the argument. And this is where culture, religion, personal values and principles come to play major role in their decision to determine whether it’s right or wrong.
What constitutes to “non-ethical” in blogging?
Some bloggers like JohnChow have chosen “evil” as their marketing strategy, some bloggers do sponsored reviews for gambling and online casino related sites, some bloggers do not disclose their sponsored reviews and some bloggers go as far as cheating their readers, so that he/she can make few more bucks… all of them are done for the sake of earning more!
I guess for some people, money comes first and everything else second.
I didn’t list all the things that are considered unethical in blogging. That’s for a reason. Because, I want to ask you - readers, for the rest of the list. So, in your opinion, what is unethical in blogging? List the things that you personally think unethical in blogging. (It should not be limited to blog posts alone, it can be anything that is related to blogging, blog design, monetization methods…etc)
I hope readers who read this blog through RSS will take one minute of their time to answer this question too. Thanks in advance!
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10 Responses
to “Blogging (un)ethically, and why it matters?”
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- Jan 31, 2008: Authority » Blogging (un)ethically, and why it matters?
- Feb 4, 2008: Week 8 - The Overview
- Feb 22, 2008: My 2 Cents 02/22/08 | Blogging with Cents
By Christopher Borja on Jan 31, 2008
True, being ethical is subjective ranging from religion, culture, tradition, etc. But there is one major common denominator to, at least, bring ethical blogging to a higher set of standards and that is the bible. Not everyone may believe in the bible but you have to admit it has some pretty good standards in there.
I also wrote a blog about this somewhat - Blogging Is Like Leadership. And I still have to post the second part of it. Cheers!
By Ades on Jan 31, 2008
Hi Chris, I do agree that revealed books (Torah, Bible, and Quran) are the main sources of laws, principles, and ethics for the majority of the people in the world.
Members of every religion believe that only their book is to be followed, if one wants to be a better human being and succeed in this world and hereafter. While it’s one thing to state this kind of statement, it’s another thing to prove it or make others believe in it.
I think it’s every individual’s own responsibility to find the Truth. Because at the end of the day, it’s their own soul that they are rescuing or destroying. In this age, people do not have the means to be ignorant, materials from books and internet on any religion is readily available for anyone who wants to research. If his/her intention is to find the Truth, I am sure he/she will succeed.
As for me, I have done my own research (on three revealed religions) and have come to conclusion that Islam is the Truth, and I have chosen to be a Muslim, Alhamdulillah.
By Sergio on Jan 31, 2008
nothing to add, the ethic is everything in life, include blogging
By Dining Room Furniture on Feb 1, 2008
Why should blogging be any different from any other activity. You are ethical or unethical. One cannot be partially ethical. The best form of ethics is not to do anything that you would not like being done to you. This is a universal value which is easy to follow in all walks of life.
By Ades on Feb 2, 2008
DRF, very well said, totally agree!
By Eddie Poh on Feb 2, 2008
In business world, ethics are important in terms of promises made and are they delivered. Never overpromised but always overdelivered. This keep the customers coming back and you get more referrals.
In blogging world, I would say about the same. Blog represents you and your brand just like the real world. JC uses his mild ‘evilness’, actually the right word is ‘indiscreet’ to spice up the site. But it’s only one of a cool ways to get more traffic.
In my opinion, unethical blogs are like own personal army, either spreading propagandas, faux news, slander, and etc. But as far on monetization, it’s up to how you are comfortable with it. If I wish to portray myself as an expert, let’s say in SEO industry, it’s ridiculous to have gambling text links.
Customers are smart, they can smell something fishy miles away. I always be extra careful with them. :)
All the best on your exams!
By Daily rapidshare on Feb 6, 2008
I think that blogging is what you make of it. Eventually unethical blogging backfires though.