I noticed that this blog had found its way onto Blogshares. A year or so ago, I’d asked for my old blog to be delisted once I discovered that it was included on their system. Yes, I know it’s just a game and, yes, I know that they are trading using the links as a means of pricing blogs. However, as I mentioned when this cropped up last time, I am one of those cranky bloggers who objects. I object because I disagree with the idea that pinging weblogs (I don’t) or Technorati (I do) somehow makes my blog “fair game”. Sorry, it is my intellectual property and if people want to use it as a trading chip in their game, they should ask. They don’t, therefore, I object. Comparisons with Google, Technorati et al just don’t hold up. A playing chip where people trade in your name is not the same as a static listing in a search engine and no amount of attempted justification changes what is an unethical practice carried out without peoples’ knowledge or consent.
To be fair to Blogshares’ technical support, delisting is effortless and quick (although I still believe it should be opt-in rather than opt-out); they removed Longrider Blog from the system within half an hour of my polite request. Thanks, I appreciate it. This means that the person trading as Spin Trekker no longer “owns” 80% of my blog. Maybe I’m being picky, but seeing my work blatantly plagiarised (yup, it’s happened) irritates me less than someone trading in and “owning” my blog.