Category: blogosphere
Akismet Vs. TypePad AntiSpam
Anybody that runs a blog knows what a PITA comment spam can be. Even smaller blogs like mine routinely receive comment spam, its an unavoidable fact of blogging life. Any tool that can help combat the spam plague is a welcome addition in my book. But how should I feel about solutions that aren’t marketed as standards but as proprietary formats?
How I ultimately feel about Typepad AntSpam ultimately depends on whether Typepad allows non MT based products to access it via API or other method. Akismet has worked well so far, but I am always willing to look for alternate or additional methods of combating the plague known as comment spam. I hope that 6A considers opening up the standard to everyone if it’s successful. They well might given it would be a chance to provide a consistant anti-spam standard. Then again, they may not if they take any ques from Apple.
Posted: 05.29.2008Is Blogging Bad For Your Health?
The New York Times seems to think that the act of blogging is somehow responsible for causing stress-related death. John Candy, John Belushi, and Chris Farley all did comedy, and they all died young. Obviously, comedy killed them. Same flawed argument, same faulty conclusion.
Sometimes (or maybe more than sometimes), the main stream media gets things wrong. Or as in this case, they completely miss the point. Stress kills people, it always has and it likely always will.
Posted: 04.07.2008The Blogosphere Loses Transparency
While doing some early morning websurfing, I ran across this article at Blogworks. I’ll admit I know none of the players involved but I do agree with one key statement made by Rich Miller, the author of the post. Namely:
It’s been a bad week for transparency and honesty in the blogosphere, demonstrating that once blogging starts making money, the rules change.
I frequent many “blog” sites in my routine web surfing that utilize advertising in various forms. Everything from Google Ads to sites that utilize banners and specific sponsorships. And the pesky issue of objectivity is always at the back of my mind. Is the author of the site stating what he/she truly believes, or is there a creative throttle in place because of a desire not to piss-off advertisers and site sponsors?
Blogs give people a chance to say what they want withing certain limits. I am not 100% against blog money infusions, site sponsorships, and/or adverts but advertising and site sponsorships can only limit expressiveness.
Posted: 11.18.2006