Programming Blogger Criticizes Wordpress
I think I’ve been running into these problems for awhile now.
CYBERSPACE — A prominent programming blogger sharply criticized the Wordpress blogging platform for exerting too much strain on users’ computers.
Jeff Atwood of CodingHorror.com offered a full analysis of how a Wordpress-powered blog interacts with its database and makes use of its computers central-processing unit, or CPU.
CNN Producer Fired For Blogging
Policy called vague
CNN has fired television producer Chez Pazienza for blogging without the consent of the network.
Pazienza started his blog in May 2006 while on medical leave after an operation to remove a brain tumor. During that time his blog gained popularity and he recently began blogging for The Huffington Post.
In a post Pazienza explains how he received a call from his boss Ed Litvak that eventually led to his firing. "Ed, seeming to channel Bill Lumburgh from Office Space, informed me of that which I was already very well aware: that my name was ‘attached to some, uh, ‘opinionated’ blog posts’ circulating around the internet. I casually admitted as much and was then informed of something I didn’t know: that I could be fired outright for this offense. 24 hours later, I was."
Pazienza says that one line in the CNN employee handbook was his undoing. The handbook states that any writing produced for a "non-CNN outlet" is required to be checked with the network’s standards and practices department. He says the rule is vague and did not specifically cover blogging.
"I told both my boss and HR representative that a network which prides itself on being so internet savvy — or promotes itself as such, ad nauseam — should probably specify blogging and online networking restrictions in its handbook," Pazienza writes.
Two things that seem hard to believe about CNN firing Pazienza is that it took them almost two years to discover his blogging and that the company does not have an official policy concerning such activity.
Answers To Your Blog Commenting Questions
I guess that could be the case if you’re not very serious about your blog. However, if you truly possess the passion to even take the time to blog, you’re going to want to make the most of it.
First and foremost, you want readers. But how do you get them there? I had a nice chat with two well-known bloggers who gave several helpful tips relating to blog comments.
Leo Laporte, host of TWiT.tv and blogger of Leoville.com, told me a few pointers for driving traffic to your blog:
1. Have good content
2. Update your blog regularly
3. Present it well
4. Have a clear point of view and clear speech
5. Participate in other blogs, conferences, and forums
6. Use social media tools
Another important point relating to blog comments is how to get readers to comment. Matt Mullenweg, the Founding Developer of WordPress and blogger of photomatt.net, echoes Laporte’s word that content should be solid and well written. He also suggests leaving your content open-ended. According to Mullenweg, readers are likely to respond if this criteria is met.
What happens if someone leaves a negative comment? Everyone’s first instinct is to delete anything negative, but is that always right?
Laporte and Mullenweg both believe some negative comments are good. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and if they choose to share it, they have that right even if you disagree with them.
The experts say it is appropriate to remove a comment if it is not intelligent and is slanderous to the blogger. However, if all the comments on the blog are positive and praise the blogger, it could turn readers away and result in low traffic and few or no comments.
Laporte points out that it is a good idea to have a set of commenting guidelines. Let the readers know if you do not allow racist, homophobic, or obscene comments. It is also good to specify what age group the audience is.
To find out more information on blogging and blog comments, tune into the WebProNews video, “A Few Comments on Commenting…”