Re: Blogger and Garden Blogs

**D* G* <d*@kos.net>**

On 12/17/07 1:55 PM, "Kathy Purdy" <kopurdy@gmail.com> wrote:

Kathy - thanks for the link, I confess I don't read too many Southern
bloggers although I'd surely like to become one after this past weekend's
storm. ;-)  

I find it interesting that Blogger doesn't yet automatically strip out html
(although I had read some of those suggestions in a non-blogging post) or
classify it instantly as spam.  I'm not sure I'd want my blog url to be
listed using black-hat techniques in any case.  And given Googles latest
zero-ranking of sites not using the rel=nofollow command for ads, I'd want
to be very careful before venturing down that html road either as the blog
owner or the comment-poster.

While I'm glad the garden blogging world is picking up on it, (Susan at
GardenRant just posted as well)  I think the issue is of more consequence to
pro garden writers than it is to hobbyists or journaling writers.  My 02 -
if you're a serious garden writer/blogger - get your own url for your own
work.

Back to the keyboard.

Doug

> Doug,
> It did cause a minor tempest. Pam Penick's blog Digging addressed it in this
> post with links to other bloggers' posts:
> http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=391
> and then there are more responses in the comments.
> 
> Kathy
> 
> On Dec 17, 2007 9:07 AM, Doug Green <dgreen@kos.net> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> I just posted a note on my blog about Blogger that some of you might wnat
>> to
>> consider.  IMO... In short, Blogger has implemented a new policy of making
>> all commenters on your blog have either a Blogger account or "register"
>> with
>> a non-linking account in order to make a comment.
>> 
>> In the short run, this isn't likely too big a problem as the Blogger
>> network
>> is fairly large and the numbers most garden bloggers are talking about
>> with
>> subscribers are still pretty low.
>> 
>> In the long run however, professional garden writers may want to ensure
>> they're in a system where all visitors can comment equally.  Have your own
>> self-hosted blog.
>> 
>> Why?
>> 
>> The deal is fairly simple.  Blogging is about networking and creating
>> relationships between blogs and writers.   If I, as a non-Blogger person
>> can't include my blog-link in a comment on your site, then you and the
>> other
>> readers don't know who I am and can't include me in the conversation by
>> visiting my blog or back-linking through.  I ran into this on the weekend
>> where I wanted to make a comment on a Blogger garden site but couldn't
>> because I didn't have a Blogger account and I wasn't all the keen on yet
>> another registration for a non-linking identity.
>> 
>> Blogger has created a wall around it's blogs and writers and while it may
>> not have been the intent, effectively created a long-term policy of not
>> allowing any other blogger outside the network to interact.  A closed door
>> policy reminiscent of AOL back "in the day."   You won't see the effect of
>> this in the short term but in the long term, I suspect that Blogger blogs
>> will increasingly talk to themselves.
>> 
>> A useful strategy might be to have two blogs - one inside the system and
>> one
>> outside the system.
>> 
>> But that's too much work for me. :-)
>> 
>> So that's a heads-up if you're using Blogger.  You'll see inbound comments
>> from other Blogger readers but likely decreasing numbers of comments from
>> non-Bloggers over the next few years.
>> 
>> I haven't seen this issue raised in garden blogs even though it has been a
>> bit of a firestorm on other blog areas I follow.  My apologies if I've
>> missed it in my travelling and moving.
>> 
>> 
>> On a lighter note - a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season to all
>> fellow
>> garden writers.  May the simple gifts of the season be yours this year.
>> 
>> Doug
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Doug Green
>> Ist in Online Gardening Publishing
>> Homesite http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com
>> Blog http://www.douggreensgarden.com
>>

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