Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Escorts who breach copyright,exchanging links, and weblog ethics
I get numerous requests from other bloggers to exchange links. I do not exchange links with everyone who contacts me, and felt that it was time that I did a post on who I am likely to link to.
Andy Wibbels thinks link exchanging is tacky and link farms are so 1997. Andy will not link to anyone who he has never met. I have the same policy on my professional site as I mentioned in people power and choosing friends.
I do not have the same policy on my blog.I link to bloggers who I find interesting, who I believe are authentic, and who make me think. I may not share their views, but they have to interest me in some way. I do not link to bloggers who I find boring, or overtly promotional.
Rebecca blood has a chapter in The Weblog Handbook
on weblog etiquette where she discusses asking for a link. What Rebecca says, rings true for me. She talks about receiving emails where the blogger asks for a link exchange, and wants confirmation that she has added them to her blogroll. She acknowledges that the experts will advise you to trade links to increase traffic to your site. However, she says our reputations are built largely on the quality of the links we provide to our readers, especially in the case of filters. Rebecca ignores these requests and so do I. She says that she finds bloggers who threaten not to link to her puzzling, as she did not ask. I feel the same way. She says in contrast to telling another blogger that you admire their work, it is iffy to suggest that they would enjoy yours. She says these sorts of emails put bloggers in an awkward position, and if your goal is to gain allies in the blogosphere, putting others in an uncomfortable position is a poor strategy. I do not assume that because I link to a blogger, that they will necessarily link back to me.
I recently had a request from a black London escort, that asked me for a link exchange. This black escort was exposed on a messageboard for copying pages of text from another black escort's professional site. I discovered last year that she had lifted my entire Faq page from my professional site, she did not copy chunks of text, but an entire page. I did not confront her at the time, but was aware of what she did. Escorts who do this sort of thing, do not realise that anything you write is publicly accessible and permanently archived. I have clients who only see black escorts, and they are up to date on who is new, and look at their sites. Some of them have emailed me, and informed me of escorts who have stolen text from my site. This is not unusual in the industry.
I am baffled that the escort who emailed me, has the audacity to contact me to exchange links. I think she has no understanding of copyright, or chooses to ignore it. She is mannerless, and clearly is not aware that this is not how to make friends in this industry. Her exposure on the messageboard is not something that I can forget.
Why would she feel that I would ever consider having anything to do with her?
I believe bloggers who copy text from blogs without revealing their sources, by crediting links,or referencing it are unethical. They attempt to pass the posts off as their own, and will be exposed. This is the world wide web, and someone somewhere, will pull you up on it.
Rebecca has a good article on Weblog ethics which is an essential read. I would also recommend her book to any bloggers out there.
Labels: Andy Wibbels, Black escort, Blogging, books, Escorts, link exchanging, London, Rebecca Blood, Thoughts
Monday, April 30, 2007
Gillette on Blogging
Another sunny weekend in London. It makes such a difference.
Over the next few weeks, I will post interviews with a number of bloggers on my blogroll.
I read Rebecca Blood's interviews on bloggers on blogging, which I thought was a great idea.
The first interview is with Gillette, an ex courtesan in transition.
A Former Courtesan, Former Wife, Former Business Owner, Former Midwife who laughs at life as she begins anew.Gillette is a Courtesan of ten years but now in transition. She writes about adventures of courtesanship, sex, mysticism,love, relationship, orgasm, spirituality, life both exciting and simple, ideas, opinions, Tantra and other forms of Sacred Sex.
What is the first weblog you came across?
Not sure, but the first one I remembering reading regularly was Postmodern Courtesan.
Why did you start blogging?
I needed an outlet to talk about what was going on in my life and simultaneously take my mind off it. It was a diversion. Plus I like to write and had many people over the years telling me I should write a book. Blogging is an easy way to publish. I can write in short spurts on various topics (which appeals to an ADD person like me), and then move on to NEXT.
Which blogs do you read?
All the ones in my Blogroll.
What appeals to you about the blogs you read?
I like stories of people's lives and what they have figured out for themselves. I tend to read ones that make me think more than pure erotica ones, but love an occasional erotica writing when the writing is good or is attached to some other theme.
Whose writing do you particularly admire?
Hm..particularly? So many...wow...can't even begin to go there....I like most of the writing styles of those in my blogroll. I appreciate the variety.
In your reading do you seek out different points of view ?
Yes..but if the style is rude, mean, unhappy, constantly confrontational, sticky, gossipy, icky inside me, I try to find other place to spend my energy. I like being happy and don't like to involve myself in other people's angry dramas too much for too long
How do you choose items to link?
I try to find who links to me and return the consideration.
What is your policy on comments?
I have moderation on but do that to avoid spamming. In addition, if any of the above mentioned things about not happy blogs are there in comments, I will not publish. I have had a few comments that are gossip about other people and not published them. It's not my thing so I don't want to be a vehicle for someone's issues.
Do you ever receive abusive comments, how do you handle it ?
I haven't yet directed at me. I would delete them. Probably swear a bit before that, muttering something like...asshole...or something. But then let it go, tralalala... People who feel the need to be mean have my pity. Happy people are not mean.
Where do you find interesting links?
On other people's blogrolls
Do you ever write to provoke a reaction, how do you do that ?
I haven't yet. I have written pieces that have provoked a reaction, but I was just being me in the moment. Oh...maybe one..I wrote a piece on a Tantric session. One piece of that for me, but not all, was a hope that people would be able to feel the energy and feeling of what it can be, because it's so different from much of sex.
How much traffic do you get?
Not tons.
Has your writing changed since you started blogging?
I hope it's better.
How many hours do you spend online a day?
Lots. I have started an online business.
How much time do you spend on your site a day?
On the Courtesan site? Depends on how long it takes to write the piece. I write long pieces. And while I write really fast, it still can take time.
How many blogs do you read?
Lots.
How do you find new blogs?
Blogrolls
How much reader email do you get?
More now. The stuff that the writing brings up for people has been really interesting lately.
What do you think makes a successful blog?
Haven't a clue. I've seen many very successful blogs that bore the hell out of me. Others are not well known but they intrigue me. For me, I think the writing has to be good and presented in a fun way. Most of the really succesful blogs are ones that are funny, have some quirkiness to them that catches the eye of the 20-30 something crowd. (who I think the majority of Blogland is).
What is your advice for a new blogger?
Keep writing. Be yourself. Find your own voice. Enjoy it.
How has blogging changed your life?
Well...hm...I've met some really nice people so far. I am starting a blogging based business thing so we'll see if that changes it in different ways.
What blogs do you think deserve wider recognition and why?
Hm...wow...sorry...haven't a clue.
What are your hobbies?
Sailing. Walking. Anything Art- I am obsessed.
How has your blog changed over the years?
Um...well...not sure. I find it more difficult to think of topics. I hope to make it look better soon/get it prettier, more techi-esque.
Are you fairly accurate in predicting which of your items will be widely linked?
No.
Do you have a background in writing?
No.
When do you blog?
When the ideas come to me.
With regard to blogging what was your most memorable moment?
Hm...when I posted something that was really difficult..I was scared to post it because it was so raw and I was in pain. I almost didn't publish it. But then wonderful people were everywhere and supportive. It really hit me...this kindness of strangers and how this is a community of sorts.
Would you read your site?
Yup. Definitely. Every day. I think the writer is really smart. Plus, she's cute.
Over the next few weeks, I will post interviews with a number of bloggers on my blogroll.
I read Rebecca Blood's interviews on bloggers on blogging, which I thought was a great idea.
The first interview is with Gillette, an ex courtesan in transition.
A Former Courtesan, Former Wife, Former Business Owner, Former Midwife who laughs at life as she begins anew.Gillette is a Courtesan of ten years but now in transition. She writes about adventures of courtesanship, sex, mysticism,love, relationship, orgasm, spirituality, life both exciting and simple, ideas, opinions, Tantra and other forms of Sacred Sex.
What is the first weblog you came across?
Not sure, but the first one I remembering reading regularly was Postmodern Courtesan.
Why did you start blogging?
I needed an outlet to talk about what was going on in my life and simultaneously take my mind off it. It was a diversion. Plus I like to write and had many people over the years telling me I should write a book. Blogging is an easy way to publish. I can write in short spurts on various topics (which appeals to an ADD person like me), and then move on to NEXT.
Which blogs do you read?
All the ones in my Blogroll.
What appeals to you about the blogs you read?
I like stories of people's lives and what they have figured out for themselves. I tend to read ones that make me think more than pure erotica ones, but love an occasional erotica writing when the writing is good or is attached to some other theme.
Whose writing do you particularly admire?
Hm..particularly? So many...wow...can't even begin to go there....I like most of the writing styles of those in my blogroll. I appreciate the variety.
In your reading do you seek out different points of view ?
Yes..but if the style is rude, mean, unhappy, constantly confrontational, sticky, gossipy, icky inside me, I try to find other place to spend my energy. I like being happy and don't like to involve myself in other people's angry dramas too much for too long
How do you choose items to link?
I try to find who links to me and return the consideration.
What is your policy on comments?
I have moderation on but do that to avoid spamming. In addition, if any of the above mentioned things about not happy blogs are there in comments, I will not publish. I have had a few comments that are gossip about other people and not published them. It's not my thing so I don't want to be a vehicle for someone's issues.
Do you ever receive abusive comments, how do you handle it ?
I haven't yet directed at me. I would delete them. Probably swear a bit before that, muttering something like...asshole...or something. But then let it go, tralalala... People who feel the need to be mean have my pity. Happy people are not mean.
Where do you find interesting links?
On other people's blogrolls
Do you ever write to provoke a reaction, how do you do that ?
I haven't yet. I have written pieces that have provoked a reaction, but I was just being me in the moment. Oh...maybe one..I wrote a piece on a Tantric session. One piece of that for me, but not all, was a hope that people would be able to feel the energy and feeling of what it can be, because it's so different from much of sex.
How much traffic do you get?
Not tons.
Has your writing changed since you started blogging?
I hope it's better.
How many hours do you spend online a day?
Lots. I have started an online business.
How much time do you spend on your site a day?
On the Courtesan site? Depends on how long it takes to write the piece. I write long pieces. And while I write really fast, it still can take time.
How many blogs do you read?
Lots.
How do you find new blogs?
Blogrolls
How much reader email do you get?
More now. The stuff that the writing brings up for people has been really interesting lately.
What do you think makes a successful blog?
Haven't a clue. I've seen many very successful blogs that bore the hell out of me. Others are not well known but they intrigue me. For me, I think the writing has to be good and presented in a fun way. Most of the really succesful blogs are ones that are funny, have some quirkiness to them that catches the eye of the 20-30 something crowd. (who I think the majority of Blogland is).
What is your advice for a new blogger?
Keep writing. Be yourself. Find your own voice. Enjoy it.
How has blogging changed your life?
Well...hm...I've met some really nice people so far. I am starting a blogging based business thing so we'll see if that changes it in different ways.
What blogs do you think deserve wider recognition and why?
Hm...wow...sorry...haven't a clue.
What are your hobbies?
Sailing. Walking. Anything Art- I am obsessed.
How has your blog changed over the years?
Um...well...not sure. I find it more difficult to think of topics. I hope to make it look better soon/get it prettier, more techi-esque.
Are you fairly accurate in predicting which of your items will be widely linked?
No.
Do you have a background in writing?
No.
When do you blog?
When the ideas come to me.
With regard to blogging what was your most memorable moment?
Hm...when I posted something that was really difficult..I was scared to post it because it was so raw and I was in pain. I almost didn't publish it. But then wonderful people were everywhere and supportive. It really hit me...this kindness of strangers and how this is a community of sorts.
Would you read your site?
Yup. Definitely. Every day. I think the writer is really smart. Plus, she's cute.
Labels: Bloggers on blogging, Erotica, Ex-Courtesan in transition, Interviews, Rebecca Blood, Tantric
Thursday, February 15, 2007
The power of the Blog
The more I read about blogs, the more I realise that some bloggers can make an impact.
They have an ability to affect the way some people run their businesses. A good example is Jeff Jarvis, and his experience with Dell, here.
Jeff, clearly has a presence on the Internet, and I believe he has a right to share what happened to him. I believe Jeff sharing his experience with others, prompted Dell to alter how they treat customers.
Then there can be repurcussions. Bloggers who write about their employers, who are discovered and then sacked. Rebecca Blood has an interesting piece about reaping what you sow.She talks about how some political bloggers have had to face the consequences here.
The Courtesan connection has two important posts about Security. He outlines how important it is to cover your tracks here and how to put it into action here. He encourages Providers who write blogs to consider making them invitation only.
Reading all these posts, reinforces the impact that blogging can have on a blogger's life,for me. As well as how a blogger can impact other lives, too.
It is hard for me to gauge who is reading my blog. Occasionally, I have readers contact me, who are not comfortable leaving comments on my blog, for various reasons, sharing how a post has impacted them.
Food for thought.
Labels: Blogging, Courtesan Connection, Jeff Jarvis, Rebecca Blood, security
