Comments on: Should All Great Blogs Have A Comments Policy? http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/should-all-great-blogs-have-a-comments-policy/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Holly Jahangirihttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/should-all-great-blogs-have-a-comments-policy/#comment-5095 Holly Jahangiri Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:19:19 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1314#comment-5095 Copying some basic HTML is okay, but copying complex, customized layouts, photos, and other content without the site owner's permission is not. In the early days, that was about the only way - certainly the best way - to learn HTML, and most of us were happy to share basic HTML layout code, background tiles, textures, etc. But why would anyone WANT their site to look just like someone else's? To mislead visitors and gain popularity on someone else's coattails? Seems kind of sleazy. When I see a layout I really admire, I try to think of ways I could use its structure but change it to be all my own. After all, there are only 26 letters in the English alphabet - there's bound to be some copying. But the specific arrangement of those letters over a few sentences, or paragraphs, is art. Copying some basic HTML is okay, but copying complex, customized layouts, photos, and other content without the site owner’s permission is not. In the early days, that was about the only way – certainly the best way – to learn HTML, and most of us were happy to share basic HTML layout code, background tiles, textures, etc. But why would anyone WANT their site to look just like someone else’s? To mislead visitors and gain popularity on someone else’s coattails? Seems kind of sleazy. When I see a layout I really admire, I try to think of ways I could use its structure but change it to be all my own. After all, there are only 26 letters in the English alphabet – there’s bound to be some copying. But the specific arrangement of those letters over a few sentences, or paragraphs, is art.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/should-all-great-blogs-have-a-comments-policy/#comment-5094 Joel Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:04:08 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1314#comment-5094 Once back in the day, I had a personal website. One of the other music students at my university copied the layout and content almost verbatim. All he changed was some of the details (name, etc.). It was frustrating to say the least. Ultimately there's very little we can do to prevent that kind of stuff, nut establishing a policy can give ground to stand on should such a problem arise. I did email him, ask him to change it, and pointed out my copyright at the bottom of the page. It was flattering but also kind of surreal! Once back in the day, I had a personal website. One of the other music students at my university copied the layout and content almost verbatim. All he changed was some of the details (name, etc.). It was frustrating to say the least.

Ultimately there’s very little we can do to prevent that kind of stuff, nut establishing a policy can give ground to stand on should such a problem arise.

I did email him, ask him to change it, and pointed out my copyright at the bottom of the page. It was flattering but also kind of surreal!

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]]> By: Holly Jahangirihttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/should-all-great-blogs-have-a-comments-policy/#comment-5093 Holly Jahangiri Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:34:58 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1314#comment-5093 GB, this is why "Creative Commons licensing" came about. Because while you may be "flattered" to have someone steal your work (and many people are), that's just not how copyright law works. Those of us who make a living as writers aren't "flattered." If we give explicit permission to use our writing freely, that's one thing - but that permission is NOT given merely by the act of posting on the Internet, an act that does, in fact, constitute "publication." It's not some inferior, special class of publication where the standard intellectual property rules don't apply, but that misconception is so prevalent that it confuses people and gets them into trouble. It also creates animosity towards a law that's designed to protect original, creative works and their creators. It protects the creator's right to determine when, where, how, by whom, and in what context their original expressions - words, art, music, photos - can be used. I don't mind being quoted, but I'm not flattered, honored, or tickled pink - not in the least - to have my writing ripped off and replicated on some splogger's site so they can rip off Google AdSense advertisers. I'm not pleased and excited to see my words on some porn site. I'm not playing - and you shouldn't, either. At least consider spelling out what uses of your work are acceptable and what are not. Copyright also protects your right to freely give it away if you want to - or to let others use your work freely provided they give you credit - or to let others use your work on the condition that they study hard and be good to each other. You know? It's yours, and it has value. Just like money - you can save it, spend it, or give it away - but I'll bet you're not happy if someone breaks into your house and steals it to buy drugs. GB, this is why “Creative Commons licensing” came about. Because while you may be “flattered” to have someone steal your work (and many people are), that’s just not how copyright law works. Those of us who make a living as writers aren’t “flattered.” If we give explicit permission to use our writing freely, that’s one thing – but that permission is NOT given merely by the act of posting on the Internet, an act that does, in fact, constitute “publication.” It’s not some inferior, special class of publication where the standard intellectual property rules don’t apply, but that misconception is so prevalent that it confuses people and gets them into trouble. It also creates animosity towards a law that’s designed to protect original, creative works and their creators. It protects the creator’s right to determine when, where, how, by whom, and in what context their original expressions – words, art, music, photos – can be used.

I don’t mind being quoted, but I’m not flattered, honored, or tickled pink – not in the least – to have my writing ripped off and replicated on some splogger’s site so they can rip off Google AdSense advertisers. I’m not pleased and excited to see my words on some porn site. I’m not playing – and you shouldn’t, either. At least consider spelling out what uses of your work are acceptable and what are not. Copyright also protects your right to freely give it away if you want to – or to let others use your work freely provided they give you credit – or to let others use your work on the condition that they study hard and be good to each other. You know? It’s yours, and it has value. Just like money – you can save it, spend it, or give it away – but I’ll bet you’re not happy if someone breaks into your house and steals it to buy drugs.

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]]> By: GBhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/should-all-great-blogs-have-a-comments-policy/#comment-5090 GB Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:59:00 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1314#comment-5090 Holly, I'm not a computer science teacher (although I have worked in the technical support industry), but I've used puns playing off the pronunciation of ASCII (I think mine was "ASCII, and ye shall receive"). To the topic: I don't think I've ever cared about a comments policy. For one, I assume that most people who might care to use my materials (unlikely, in my opinion) will either use it because it's on the Internet or will ask my permission for it. If I didn't want people to use what I've written, I'd publish it in print rather than online. (Not that I would ever expect people to buy it! I'm fortunate to get readers as it is.) If someone posts something that is obviously meant primarily to plug their site and not to engage in substantive discussion or respond to the content of what I've written, then I'll take it off, and I might remove comments that are incendiary or which contain profanity, but that's about it. I'm pretty open to whatever people have to say, and I'm so used to assuming that free and open discourse is the norm (despite knowing plenty of places where it's not) that I don't even feel compelled to make that obvious. Holly, I’m not a computer science teacher (although I have worked in the technical support industry), but I’ve used puns playing off the pronunciation of ASCII (I think mine was “ASCII, and ye shall receive”).

To the topic: I don’t think I’ve ever cared about a comments policy. For one, I assume that most people who might care to use my materials (unlikely, in my opinion) will either use it because it’s on the Internet or will ask my permission for it. If I didn’t want people to use what I’ve written, I’d publish it in print rather than online. (Not that I would ever expect people to buy it! I’m fortunate to get readers as it is.) If someone posts something that is obviously meant primarily to plug their site and not to engage in substantive discussion or respond to the content of what I’ve written, then I’ll take it off, and I might remove comments that are incendiary or which contain profanity, but that’s about it. I’m pretty open to whatever people have to say, and I’m so used to assuming that free and open discourse is the norm (despite knowing plenty of places where it’s not) that I don’t even feel compelled to make that obvious.

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]]> By: Holly Jahangirihttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/should-all-great-blogs-have-a-comments-policy/#comment-5082 Holly Jahangiri Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:19:00 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1314#comment-5082 Betty, I use it - doesn't mean I can explain it well! See this site: http://openid.net/what/ My provider is Blogger. (If you have a blog on Blogspot, just go to your Settings > OpenID) There are other providers, and not all sites use it for authentication, but it's nice when they do since it provides a single, secure logon ID and doesn't require you to register individually at each site. Betty, I use it – doesn’t mean I can explain it well!

See this site: http://openid.net/what/

My provider is Blogger. (If you have a blog on Blogspot, just go to your Settings > OpenID) There are other providers, and not all sites use it for authentication, but it’s nice when they do since it provides a single, secure logon ID and doesn’t require you to register individually at each site.

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]]> By: Holly Jahangirihttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/should-all-great-blogs-have-a-comments-policy/#comment-5081 Holly Jahangiri Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:13:11 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1314#comment-5081 More annoyingly, they think they INVENTED the darned things. Yeah, like Al Gore "invented" the Internet! Smack 'em with a trout! << l337 and txting they can keep. My daughter's boyfriend is both amused and amazed by my text messages. "Your mom uses SEMICOLONS in her text messages. Who does that?" More annoyingly, they think they INVENTED the darned things. Yeah, like Al Gore “invented” the Internet! Smack ‘em with a trout! <<

l337 and txting they can keep. My daughter’s boyfriend is both amused and amazed by my text messages. “Your mom uses SEMICOLONS in her text messages. Who does that?”

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]]> By: Bettyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/should-all-great-blogs-have-a-comments-policy/#comment-5080 Betty Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:10:50 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1314#comment-5080 Holly, Could you tell me how to use OpenID? Holly, Could you tell me how to use OpenID?

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/should-all-great-blogs-have-a-comments-policy/#comment-5079 Joel Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:07:23 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1314#comment-5079 Ahh, the good ol' days. I remember the first time I saw one back in the early 90s. Most people had absolutely no clue what they were. Now I see kids writing them in the notes they write to their friends! Ahh, the good ol’ days. I remember the first time I saw one back in the early 90s. Most people had absolutely no clue what they were. Now I see kids writing them in the notes they write to their friends!

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]]> By: Holly Jahangirihttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/should-all-great-blogs-have-a-comments-policy/#comment-5066 Holly Jahangiri Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:41:46 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1314#comment-5066 Yep! They used to be strictly ASCII, but not come in cute little colorful graphics - some are even animated. I once attended a lecture where a woman who had clearly JUST learned of the existence of the fascinating phenomenon known as "emoticons" expounded upon them at nauseating length... "And they're called ee-MOTE-eye-cons," she said, her voice rising several octaves on the "MOTE" part of the word. "Like this one: :) - See? Can you tell what that is? It's a smiling face..." The guy next to me had the original "WTF?" look on his face. I whispered to him, "Cock your head over onto your left shoulder, like the RCA Victor dog. Now look really hard..." "Oh, sh*t." "Yep, an ASCII smiley face." We both got up and left the lecture hall. We had already stayed longer than social politeness required. ASCII silly question, get a silly ANSI... (the computer science teachers may be the only ones snickering at this one) Yep! They used to be strictly ASCII, but not come in cute little colorful graphics – some are even animated. I once attended a lecture where a woman who had clearly JUST learned of the existence of the fascinating phenomenon known as “emoticons” expounded upon them at nauseating length… “And they’re called ee-MOTE-eye-cons,” she said, her voice rising several octaves on the “MOTE” part of the word. “Like this one: :) – See? Can you tell what that is? It’s a smiling face…”

The guy next to me had the original “WTF?” look on his face. I whispered to him, “Cock your head over onto your left shoulder, like the RCA Victor dog. Now look really hard…”

“Oh, sh*t.”

“Yep, an ASCII smiley face.”

We both got up and left the lecture hall. We had already stayed longer than social politeness required.

ASCII silly question, get a silly ANSI… (the computer science teachers may be the only ones snickering at this one)

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]]> By: gYM334http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/should-all-great-blogs-have-a-comments-policy/#comment-5065 gYM334 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:33:36 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1314#comment-5065 "emoticons" I did not know that was what they are called. I am not sure I could write on the web without them:)You guys are so fun. I just love teachers:) “emoticons” I did not know that was what they are called. I am not sure I could write on the web without them:)You guys are so fun. I just love teachers:)

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