There is an interesting article over at Intuitive Systems about blogging and work, specifically blogging about work. The article raises some questions and gives a few answers on the limits that you can go with your blogging and just how far your employer can go.

I personally rarely blog about work. I may mention something general about the issues that concern all IT professionals… something along the lines about users, or software, or programming hassles, I never get into any specifics. It is my opinion that each blog entry should be tempered with a little respect for your employer and stay away from anything that could be detrimental to the company.

Take for example: talking about how hard a time you are having solving a programming problem is okay if you don’t get too specific, whereas talking about how crappy the product your company produces is going over the line. If you get the urge to blog about your work, think about it a good long time before you write the entry then edit the entry with a scrutiny of a microbiologist before posting it.

Another example: the company asks you not to blog about work specifics is reasonable and expected. What is over the line is the company telling you that you cannot blog. As you have to respect the company’s expectations of productivity and competition, the company also has to respect your right to express your opinion in a public forum when it doesn’t concern them.

Now here is a sticky point, what if the company is going something grossly wrong or illegal. Well, your first inclination should be to report it to authorities and bypass the blog. The authorities will not listen and the only venue left is the blog? You better damn well have some proof to backup your allegations before you blog about it.

The bottom line is to use just plain ol’ common sense.

Respect your employer and the employer must respect you.

And that “I pay you, I own you” philosophy by some companies that Dave Taylor mentions in the article is a bunch of crap. While on the clock, you are their bitch, but when you are off work you are your own person. We abolished slavery some time ago. That doesn’t mean you should lie about the employer or disrespect it but that does mean that the employer does not run your private life.

I hope that muddled the issue a bit for you.

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