Atheista -

I’ve received a copy of a so-called manifesto that was being drafted by the framers of an organization that wishes to call itself the National Blogging Association. I’ve publicly responded to the parties who were trying to form this group via Twitter and my answer has always been an emphatic NO. Many people have been writing about it (Juned and Jayvee - two of my blogging idols) so I think it wouldn’t hurt if I threw in my two cents regarding the issue.

For all intents and purposes, I would like to believe that blogging as it stands now is free from regulation and no one person or party can claim that they have the mandate to directly influence it or somehow make resolutions or standards that would be the de facto conventions of an entire community. Blogging has become so big now in terms of breadth and reach that a club composed of the big guns in the scene couldn’t possibly organize and herd a large group of independent minds.

Bloggers are from very different backgrounds and the idea of homogenizing the way that one is supposed to blog (one of the main thrusts of the proposed group is to have a ‘code of ethics’) was a red flag for me – and yes, to anyone who believes in free speech; any attempt to curtail freedoms should be resisted with the strongest possible terms. Considering that the possibility of curtailment is coming from within the community, I would even suggest that such a move even triggers a chilling effect among those who support the right of people to self expression – caveat: the legal limits still apply regardless of how much freedom we have.

I also have an issue with the name. Calling your group the National Blogger Association can come across as a bit misleading.  There was no mandate to begin with – what essentially happened is a meeting of the minds of two relatively influential bloggers who also attempted to form a strong bloc by approaching bloggers who could somehow bolster the significance of the manifesto. I would have to give the organizers the benefit of the doubt that they really want to do something good in behalf of everybody else who blogs. Unfortunately, the perception of false representation in this context is really hard to ignore. I am very uncomfortable about the notion of being called a founding member of an organization like the National Blogger Association. It just feels wrong. It’s almost feels like the name “blogger” is being hijacked. I would like to think that that wasn’t the intention of the organizers but it’s really easy to make the connection if you don’t give them the benefit of the doubt.

On the other hand, if no one will do it, there’s a good chance that someone else will try to do it – a wily traditional politician perhaps, or another blogger who clearly is less qualified than the two people who are putting their necks on the line to lead a community (that isn’t exactly asking to be led). Should there be another party who dares to attempt what Janette and Tonyo are trying to do now, I’m pretty sure that they will face the same amount of resistance.

At the end of the day, this whole issue isn’t about Tonyo and Janette – it’s about whether or not we need an National Blogger Association. Those two people could’ve been other people and the result will still be the same. Perhaps the rebuke will even be stronger had it been other people, to be honest.

Homogenizing what is good from bad blogging under the umbrella of an organization just sets off alarm bells in my head and I’m sure that’s the case for a lot of bloggers as well.

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