It’s My Blog and I’ll Do It My Way

Among the motivations for Friday’s post about the Elderbloggers’ List is the recent flurry of discussion – online and off - about blogging codes of conduct. As I mentioned in my rant on that subject, I have never posted a code because there is so little need for it on Time Goes By. People who comment here are remarkably capable of disagreement and argument without vitriol.

But who knew that such a nuts-and-bolts, little housekeeping post as Friday's would become contentious. In explaining how I choose blogs to list or exclude (subject to change without notice), I noted that I exclude wingnuts of the right (and also of the left) and blogs that support the Bush administration to which The Savvy Boomer responded in the comments:

“I'm amazed. You don't include Bush supporter blogs but I guess that means you must include other party supporter blogs? I'm amazed. I always thought the US was based on equal rights but I guess I'm wrong. And he's the President of the US!! We don't much like him up here in Canada either but you would think that an American based blog would at least allow links to several points of view, particularly one based on the leader of their country, no matter how much you don't like him.

“I was going to ask to be linked because I qualify for all the criteria (I think) but I'd rather find a non partisan group to be associated with.”

Bonnie agreed:

"We now know that all opinions or points of view are not welcome. I was with you including right wing nuts, but I agree with the Savvy Boomer. Talk about discrimination!"

That is a misunderstanding. Anyone may claim any point of view in the comments. I just don't link to Bush-supporter blogs and to no more than two, maybe three, other political blogs out of 200.

There is no way to know where Bonnie hails from, but perhaps there is a misunderstanding in Canada about equal rights in the U.S. Our Constitution does a pretty good job of guaranteeing those rights to everyone - in theory if not always practice - but there is no obligation on the part of any citizen to support points of view they do not agree with.

Perhaps, too, The Savvy Boomer and Bonnie are confusing American equal rights with the Fairness Doctrine that applies only to the broadcast media: if a television network, channel or radio station gives any registered candidate for public office free air time, they must give an equal amount of free time to his or her opponents. It doesn’t always work this way, but it comes close.

There is no obligation for any other media to be non-partisan. Most newspapers have a political bent to the left or right. So do some cable news networks as do most political magazines. I have had a keen interest in politics and government since childhood and have been an activist since I attended my first demonstrations against the death penalty at San Quentin prison leading up to the execution of Caryl Chessman on 2 May 1960.

In fact, if I didn’t write a blog on aging, I would probably write one on politics. But that space is well covered in the blogosphere. There are thousands of partisan blogs and I mostly confine my political commentary here to issues that directly affect elders.

Additionally, I choose to exert my political rights by not supporting governments, people and blogs with whom I do not agree or find offensive. It’s my blog, to which I devote more time than any paid job I ever had, and I’ll do it my way.

Of course The Savvy Boomer is welcome to try to find a non-partisan blog with which to associate himself. All I can say about that is good luck – there aren’t many. Oh, and by the way, Mr. Boomer, that your blog was not included in the recent update was an oversight. I had intended to add it, but my bookmarks are not well organized and I often unintentionally miss some.

My purpose in keeping the Elderbloggers’ List is to promote blogging among elders and to let readers know of other elderblogs they might like if they enjoy their visits here. Time Goes By has its personal sensibility, as do all blogs, which reflects my thoughts, opinions, concerns and yes, prejudices – some of which I’m aware of and others of which I am probably not. But the point is that the blogs on the Elderbloggers List are personal recommendations and I choose them carefully. Readers will always find something of quality in them.

Since Friday’s post, I have received about two dozen requests to be added to the list. Some not included in this update round were, as with The Savvy Boomer, oversights. Some are new to me and have been bookmarked to look at when I have time. Two or three asked for an explanation for not being included. I do not respond to those requests. It could be an oversight that will be remedied later or it could be that the blog doesn’t meet the criteria. But I haven’t the time to write analyses of individual blogs.

Do I make mistakes in some of those decisions? You betcha. I’m human. But it’s not one of my greater sins and since I hand code that sucker, which is profoundly tedious, I’m not going to worry about it. The next update will take place in two or three months.

UPDATE: Another email arrived, this one expressing the belief that one is not an elderblogger unless listed on the blogroll here - as though it is an award of some kind or a designation bestowed by me. In case anyone else has misunderstood, let us be clear: elderblogger is just a word, one that in this case indicates a blogger who is an old or older person. There are many groups of loosely-associated like bloggers: mommybloggers, daddybloggers, cooking bloggers, knitting bloggers. And so on.

I like referring to old bloggers as elderbloggers. Others may call them something else - senior bloggers is not unknown - or nothing at all or elderbloggers. I don't own the word. I don't decide who is an elderblogger. In fact, I once removed a link to the blog of someone who hates the word.

Being included on the Elderbloggers list confers no special distinction beyond my having chosen them as a worthwhile read. There are no badges, no trophies, no citations. It is just a blogroll by another name.

[EDITORIAL NOTE: There is a housekeeping update at The Elder Storytelling Place today.]

Comments

[Rain]

I am as surprised as you that you got complaints regarding how you decide on blogs being listed in your personal recommendation list. That is not about censorship. It's about a personal recommendation. People who want to read other viewpoints can easily find them. If the blog hosts themselves start limiting who they allow based on censorship, then people can start to be concerned.

I consider my blog list the same as you do-- personal opinions that these I read and consider good. I don't worry about whether the blog likewise lists me. It's not about agreeing with everything someone writes but that they have an overall logical approach to life or problems.

What people from out of this country might not realize is that a lot of those here, who support one side or the other, are only outlets for talking points. If a blog has many things it writes about and politics is only one, if it's well thought out for its opinions (even when I disagree), then it's of interest to read; but talking points and kneejerk (left or right) anything are not.

[kenju]

There are people in the world who look very hard for something to be offended about. I ran into trouble recently when I posted a mild rant about blogs that have music which loads and plays automatically. One woman thought I was referring to her blog (I wasn't); I got a snippy email in which she referred to me as "high-school" and she never visits my blog anymore, though I have read hers every day since then. Apparently, we will run into that from time to time, no matter what we say or how carefully we word it.

[M Sinclair Stevens]

Right on, Ronni. Equal rights means anyone can start a blog if they want to and freely express whatever ideas they want. It doesn't meant the rest of us are under an obligation to link to those blogs, to agree with those blogs, or to promote those blogs in any way.

[The Savvy Boomer]

Of course it's your blog Ronni and you can do whatever you want. Here's my response:
http://www.thesavvyboomer.com/the_savvy_boomer/2007/04/time_goes_by_bl.html

[deja pseu]

You're absolutely correct. As I've pointed out elsewhere before, the First Ammendment only guarantees that the government will not interfere with your speech; it does not guarantee you a venue.

However, I should point out that the Fairness Doctrine as it used to apply to news and commentary was repealed back in 1986 by the Reagan Administration, which has allowed well-funded right wing radio talk shows to proliferate without corresponding viewpoints on the left. There are still rules regarding campaign advertising: broadcasters must charge the same rates to all candidates, and cannot refuse advertising from any candidate who can come up with the $.

[Chancy]

No way can you please everybody all the time. I just don't understand why anyone should suggest that "Time Goes By" be "required" to link to blogs supporting GeorgeW.Bush or any other politician. This is not a political blog or a governmental blog or a get out the vote blog. It is a blog about aging and agism and the blog owner has the right to set her own parameters for inclusion in the blog roll.

[Gizmo]

"...if she hates the President of her own country that much then go ahead and post a disclaimer that it is a pro-Bush blog and let her readers make a choice. "

This is a quote from The Savvy Boomers blog. This makes no sense to me at all.
Ronnie chooses links that she finds of interest and believes her readers would enjoy. I read this blog because I enjoy Ronnie's posts. I have looked through The Savvy Boomers blog, and I cannot find links to blogs that are pro-Stephen Harper.

[deja pseu]

"by the Reagan Administration" should be "during the Reagan Administration".

CBC* at work.

*Commenting Before Coffee

[Mage]

Darn, well, I will try for next time. :)

[ronni prior]

I have been associated for several years with a blog run by a very outspoken woman, who ran into trouble from her commenters when she refused to give equal time to those who would offer opposing views.

The debate spawned a whole series of "hate blogs," where the main criteria for acceptance was to bash my associate. No equal time allowed there, either.

The whole controversy has died down now, thank God, but not without a lot of trouble spilling over into my friend's real life, including visits from the police, CPS, attempts to get her fired from her job...to this day, if you google her name, you will find it associated with some pretty vile insults, thanks to these people.

It's amazing how these things can spiral out of control.

I, for one, am very pleased and flattered that you found my blog interesting enough to link here.

Thanks for this place. This is my first visit on my daily rounds!

[Kay Dennison]

Oh my!!! I find all of this sort of grade school playground stuff. My dear departed Daddy often said that opinions are like belly buttons -- everybody has one and is entitled to one. I think that is a good thing and makes the world a more interesting place.

I confess that I was intensely flattered to be added to the blogroll here as I was just a rookie blogger at the time and having seen many of the wonderful blogs that were on that list, felt honored to be included. However, there are loads of great blogs out there that aren't on the list and I read lots of those, too.

As kenju said, some people get a rush out of being offended and they have my sympathy. Life is too short to waste time arguing about things like this. I have much bigger issues to deal with and prefer to direct my energies toward those.

You have a button here that calls blogs "little first amendment machines." That means that the content here is YOUR choice. that.

You keep doing what you're doing, Ronni. As you said, it's your blog and I, and hundreds of others, love it. I don't always agree with everything here but I appreciate your intelligence, hard work and dedication to your beliefs as well as the opportunity to get a different perspective on an issue.

[Bonnie]

I absolutely agree that you do not have to link or list any blog for any reason because it is your blog. I read you often because you have well researched things to comment upon that are of interest to a large majority of folks. I was just shocked that you were so adamant about anyone supporting the Bush administration. I had assumed that you were open to all opinions if argued rationally, but this criteria seemed to indicate otherwise. Sorry if I misunderstood, but each issue should be evaluated by reason, not prejudice.

[Matty]

Ronni,
I may not comment often but I read your blog daily. It's our blog and we can add whoever we want to our blogroll.
I personally do not like blogs with a sexual tone or people who swear a lot. Its my blog and my right!
I'm fortunate I found your blog 6 months ago..now I don't look at aging in the same way...and its nice to have elders leading the way. Thank you for all the research and hard work you do to enlighten us.

[Kate]

Interesting...as always. I've just been over to SavvyBoomer to see what's up over there. I started to leave a comment, but I would just be restating what is being said here, and the points about this issue being a bit juvenile are well founded, I think.
What I did find interesting there were some fairly ageist statements in the post about his purpose and a whole lot of assumptions.
I'll stick with you, Ronni. When I want political discussion I have resources for that, too, but rarely go to private bloggers for that sort of news.
A couple of the reasons I read this (and am proud to be linked) is that you do NOT endorse anyone's politics and always state your sources and identify your opinions.

[Vera]

Hi Ronnie,
I'm so glad I was introduced to your blog.You have a wanderful command of the English Language.
Love Vera

[Deejay]

While inclusion on your elderblogger list is not an award, as you say, I'm afraid the reality is that a listing there has acquired that sort of status. Much like a Michelin listing for a restaurant or hotel: there are many fine eating and lodging establishments that aren't in the guide, but those so honored cherish their listing, because of the increased traffic it may bring, and those who are left out are resentful. For after all, aren't customers (readers) what we all really want?

As for excluding some blogs on political grounds, I'm OK with that. Blogs are a throwback to free-wheeling and unfettered early American journalism, when even the smallest localities had as many newspapers as they had printing presses. And every paper reflected the political biases of its publisher ... period. If you consistently disagree with the paper/blog, or find its writer's views offensive, then don't read it, or better yet start your own. The traditional rules of journalistic non-partisanship don't apply here, and I'm far from convinced they should.

[jason kenny]

You could put out those hanging nets with bird feed in them to hang in trees. They seem to go down very well. You can get them in all hardware stores.