Blogging

Removing Links – a Blogger’s Obligation?

I have had a few comments in the 2,000 odd Bloggers post requesting that links to their blogs are removed. These seems to be for two main reasons:

  1. The bloggers never asked to be involved in the project (as, incidentally, I didn’t)
  2. They are worried that Google will see it as a big link farm and punish them accordingly

I haven’t got round to removing the links, largely out of laziness rather than any objection to the request.

But it set me thinking – does anyone have a right not to be linked to? The 2,000 Bloggers thing is an exception, given the numbers involved, but can people legitimately request that a link to them from a blog – or any website – be removed?

LibDems launch Manifesto Conversation

The BBC points out a new site the Liberal Democrats have set up to discuss their manifesto for the next election.

MP Steve Webb, running the web-based project, said it would help frame “detailed policy”, but that the party would retain its core principles.

Subjects discussed so far include whether to scrap short prison sentences and how to reform inheritance tax.

Members of all parties were “fed up with being taken for granted”, said Mr Webb, who is writing the manifesto.

The Liberal Democrat Manifesto Consultation site is open to the 67,000 party members, with 20,000 being emailed this week.

The aim is to produce an online manifesto at least several months before the next general election, which has to take place by 2010.

Even better – the site is running WordPress!

[tags]liberal democrats, manifesto, steve webb, wordpress[/tags]

ClickInfluence

ClickInfluence is Nick Wilson’s new venture. It looks good, and I’m subscribed. He links to an interesting document on community design by one Patrick Duparcq of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Scoble and PayPerPost

Robert Scoble has enraged many in the blogosphere by accepting an invitation to speak to a conference organised and sponsored by PayPerPost – everyone’s most hated blog-related company.

I know this conference will be controversial — one way to get discussions among bloggers broiling is to bring up PayPerPost. Certainly more controversial than speaking at Gnomedex, LIFT, or Northern Voice or something like that.

Why do it then? Cause I’m a capitalist and because I think that blog advertising is something that we should talk about. Disclosure is something those of us who accept payments are figuring out how to do. I didn’t do it well last weekend. Microsoft didn’t do it well when they handed out laptops. And I’m still not that satisfied by PayPerPost’s disclosure policy either. I’m sure we’re far from seeing the last controversy here

Unsuprisingly, he is getting a kicking in the comments. His co-author and friend Shel Israel doesn’t hold back himself:

I am personally dosappointed that you have chosen to do this. To me Pay for Post represents everything that the book you and I wrote opposes. I wish you would change your mind. This will not help your reputation.

One more thought, Robert. You taught me the standards for blogging that I adhere to. It is what you taught me that makes me so passionately oppose Pay per Post, who have shown themselves to be the sidewalk hookers of the blogosphere. Robert, I really hope you cancel. In the long run, you will be doing PodTech a service.

It seems like Scoble is on a mission to destroy the goodwill he has built up for himself, what with this and last week’s hissy fit. Very strange behaviour.

[tags]scoble, payperpost, shel israel[/tags]

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