On The Responsibilities of Blogging

I started out the day with the intent to post something completely different, but then I came across this post by Rob Goodlatte, which led me to this post by Paul Scrivens, both regarding the recent sequence of events surrounding Bryan Veloso and his blog Avalonstar. My wheels started turning, and though I might be a little late, I couldn’t resist the urge to post my thoughts about all the drama.

Let me state for the record that I respect both Paul and Bryan for different reasons. Paul for his direct, “no bullshit” writing style, and the fact that he has accomplished so much at his age… Bryan for his skill as a designer and entrepreneur of sorts.

Anyway, my first thought after reading both posts and comments in their entirety was OMG, what’s the big deal? Everyone seems to be making Paul out as an executioner, and Bryan the victim. I never got the sense that Paul was attacking Bryan personally, only his actions. Yes, Bryan can do whatever he wants with his site, but I think many of the people who rushed to his defense missed the point. The fact is, he made a choice by not taking action, and if he isn’t willing to own up to that choice, he deserves to be called out.

There are consequences for every action (or lack thereof) we take in life. In this case, Paul discontinued Bryan’s 9rules membership, and he was within his rights to do so. No blog, and no response to inquiries about blog = no membership in blog network. It’s not complicated. It’s not unjust. It’s the terms that every member must agree to and abide by.

What makes this controversial is that, in some circles at least, Bryan is well-known and highly visible. Herein lies the point [I think] Paul was trying to make… because Bryan has a strong presence in the public eye, he has a responsibility to that public. If tragedy had struck, he should’ve had someone fielding his calls and emails. If it were something less dramatic, but still personally draining that he didn’t feel comfortable talking about, he could’ve at least issued a statement such as “Thank you all for your friendship and support, but at this time I need to take a break from blogging.” and left it at that.

Had Bryan done either of the above, I’m sure the supposed “defaming” by Paul would never have been done, and the membership never terminated. Even saying nothing at all wouldn’t have raised as much alarm. Almost anything would’ve been better than the brow-raising entry his girlfriend posted.

While I don’t follow Bryan’s blog per se, I know he’s had the site for several years, and he ought to know better than to make (or allow) such a vague statement. For those who maintain that he doesn’t have to talk about personal issues - you’re right - but you must also acknowledge the very nature of blogging is personal! Otherwise, the relationships that are formed and cultivated mean nothing.

We all have our own dilemmas to wrestle with, but blogging comes with responsibilities - especially if you’re an A-lister. When you know thousands of people are reading you, it’s careless and immature to disappear without giving some thought to a deserving explanation for your readers. If the site had been service-based, and repeated attempts at contact relating to it were ignored, Bryan would’ve lost business. Period. Why should losing stature be any different? The folks at 9rules have to maintain the integrity of their network or it’s worthless.

Bryan has the right to blog - or not, to keep his site live - or not. No one can tell him what to do with Avalonstar because it’s his personal site. But if he affiliates the site with a network, then takes it down and ignores everyone, there are going to be repercussions. Some will be concerned. Some will recoil.

What I find most interesting in all this is Paul’s composure. He isn’t afraid to be “called out” himself, and I guess that’s what prompted me to speak my mind about it too. Being a blogger sometimes means being controversial. How you react to the controversy is what dignifies or condemns you. While I tend to avoid confrontation, I know as a blogger that’s impossible. Someone, at some point, will dispute my point of view (perhaps with this entry), and I’ll have to deal with it. Besides, if we all shared the same perspective, the world would be a dull place.

Tags: blogging | cyber-culture | networking | publishing