I was browsing the Internet, as you do, to when I came across something called Blogshares. The concept that this web site works under is that it uses a search spider to find blogs. These blogs are then listed on a virtual stock exchange and people buy and sell virtual shares. The blog’s value is based on incoming and outgoing links. Imagine my surprise when I realised that my blog was listed on Blogshares. As I thought about this my initial mild irritation became an increasing niggle and eventually annoyance. Now like most people who write blogs I want my writing to be seen and read by as many people as possible, that’s why we do it surely. However, those sites were I have listed my blog in order to broaden its exposure such as BritBlog, are sites where I have initiated the contact. I have registered my blog and I have controlled the information shared with that site. Blogshares is different in that it extracts information using a search spider. Therefore my site is listed and registered in the virtual game without my consent or knowledge. Upon delving further, I find that removal is not a straightforward click on this link to remove. No, I have to contact support and prove that the blog is mine.
Excuse me?
I have to prove that the blog is mine? Since when did the owners of Blogshares bother to satisfy themselves about proof of ownership when they listed the blog in the first place?
Thinking about it, even if I were required to register with Blogshares in the same way as I do with BritBlogs or Globe of Blogs, I would probably not do so. A search engine or list of blogs in a particular area of interest, is fine. However, I have no particular interest in online gaming of any sort. Therefore to find that I have been entered in a game with neither my consent nor knowledge is something that I find irritating and discourteous. To me, basic courtesy requires that the owners of the site at the very least let people know what they are doing. Is it not too much to ask that they requested permission to involve people’s blogs on the site?
Or am I just being oversensitive?
Edited to add: Looks like I’m not the only one.
Further edited Well, they’ve honoured my request and delisted my site. So 0/10 for ethics, but 10/10 for a quick response.
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