I occassionally lurk at a new site I've discovered. I've never posted a comment and I'm pretty sure he's never been here although there's no way to be sure.
A recent post indicated that he'd driven drunk. From the sounds of it, wasted-type drunk. Not I-had-a-glass-of-wine-an-hour-ago-with-dinner drunk. Now, I'm all about live and let live, but this involves the safety of others. See, it's these idiots that get into an accident and live, and the other people that are in the wrong place at the wrong time (someone like me) gets killed. One or more lose their lives, affecting the extended families forever. The killer hires a high-power law firm that gets them off with a slap on the wrist by pleading that he's really a wonderful man who's really nice and even does some volunteer work! Oh, and you can tell what a great guy he is simply because this is his first offense!!!
But, from his other posts, the consumption of massive amounts of alcohol to a degree where he doesn't know what he's doing, where he is, how he gets home, etc. seems to be a pretty common theme in what he writes. So I doubt this is the first time for drunk driving and probably not the last.
It raises an interesting conversation about this blogging experience. His writings aren't private. Does that mean people can hold him up to random scrutiny? What is the role of a blog author? Do they have any limits on what they can/should write about? What about the behavior of their readers? Should they only post positive messages? This is drunk driving...if it was something else, would that make a difference?
My question to you...
Thursday, July 05, 2007
A "Why Oh Why?" Reader Blog Etiquette Poll
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9 comments:
I guess my response would be different, given that I am a bleeding heart liberal. It would go something like this.
"kudos to you for admitting you did that; one of the power of blogs is the ability to say things that you normally wouldn't. We've all done it on some level, and it's important to get if off your chest. You survived, and you did not kill anyone else. But use this as a warning and ensure it doesn't happen again. Or it will ruin your life, or even worse, someone elses."
I'd probalby say "drunk driving is uncool at any time" and leave it at that. Unless you personally know this person.
I'm just imagining if, at some future day, he's caught or causes an accident while driving drunk, some prosecutor finding his blog and introducing it as evidence.
Legal question: he's confessed to a crime on his blog. Could some eager prosecutor use that to track him down (by subpoenaing his hosting or blog provider) and press charges?
Well, I'm actually inclined to not do any of the options, but instead write a personally specific email to him, outlining what I see as concerns around what is ultimately a dangerous game.
In terms of actual tone, I would take an approach similar something in between the "nice post" and the seriousness of the bitchy one.
Having said that, being seen as bitchy would be less of a worry for me than the potential of being seen as not overly concerned which is a risk I'd worry about if posting a "Nice" comment.
If my sense is correct regarding the blog you refer to, and that's not a subtle way of asking for the "dirt", it just is an experience that I know from the same personal sense you are expressing now. I actually have indicated similar concerns in an email to the specific party. The response was unfortunately to de link me, and never speak after the lengthy and somewhat public detailing of how my email offended him.
I guess my take home message would be act in a way that best suits your concerns, but be aware there is always a potential for your actions to come back and bite you in the ass.
That is a tricky one.
I use my blog to work through my bad stuff and hopefully come to some resolution, and he might be doing that too.
Other people use their blogs to project a slightly fictionalised view of themselves, so all these drunks he's describing could be weeks and months apart.
I don't know what your laws are like there, but his blog posts might be self-incriminating, which my protect him from prosecution.
Maybe a simple offline message from a new email address, signed Concerned. It sounds like this guy could really use AA.
I would just leave a comment along the lines of 'dude, you should get some help'.
So I drive drunk.
Sometimes those kids, just have to get school.
I chose "bitchy comment," but what I meant by that was "strongly worded." I might just say something like "Wow, I'm really glad you didn't kill anyone, Paris."
I might post a link to another blog about someone who lost a loved one to a drunk driver.
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