Blogging Ethics and Safety

Blogging is a very public activity. Anything that gets posted on the Internet stays there. FOREVER. Deleting a post simply removes it from the blog to which it was posted. Copies of the post may exist scattered all over the Internet. That is why we are being so careful to respect your privacy by using pseudonyms as digital signatures. We also NEVER use pictures of ourselves. If you want an image associated with your posting, use an avatar– a graphical identity - something that represents you but IS NOT of you.

Blogging Guidelines:

1. Students using blogs are expected to treat blogspaces as classroom spaces. Language that is inappropriate for the classroom is not appropriate for our blog.

2. Copy and Paste from the Internet at your own peril! Copying without permission from the author or without clearly citing your sources is called plagiarism whether it is on paper or online.

3. Never EVER give out personal information on our blog. Our blog exists as a public space on the Internet. Don’t share anything about yourself that you don’t want the world to know. For your safety, be careful what you say, too. NEVER give out your phone number or home address. This is particularly important to remember if you have a personal online journal or blog elsewhere.

4. Again, our blog is a public space. If you post it on the Internet, odds are really good that it will stay on the Internet. ALWAYS. That means ten years from now when you are looking for a job, it might be possible for an employer to discover some really hateful and immature things you said when you were younger and more prone to foolish things. Be sure that you are proud of any work you post to the Internet. If not, it may come back to haunt you.

5. Never link to something you haven’t read. While it isn’t your job to police the Internet, when you link to something, you should make sure it is something that you really want to be associated with. If a link contains material that might be creepy or make some people uncomfortable, you should probably try a different source.

These guidelines will serve as the basis for posting to our blog. They are grounded in the CRMS core values of Respect, Responsibility, and Excellence, as well as common sense. Above all, the guiding principle to keep in mind before clicking the PUBLISH button is that your work is a reflection of who you are.

In the comment section below this post, leave a comment stating that you have read, understand, and accept these blogging guidelines.

This post was adapted from postings by Darren Kuropatwa, and “Bud the Teacher”.