Tanggera and Cyber Bullying

The iBlog Summit was held last week and it well-attended by bloggers, want-to-be bloggers, etc. One of the talks centered around etiquette and integrity. I've always said in my post that blogging with integrity is more than just placing a badge in one's blog. You don't have to shout it to the world. Either you have integrity or you don't. There is no middle ground.

Anyhoo, one of the participants in the iBlog Summit has come forward to speak her thoughts and, in the process, started a spirited online debate.


Simply put, Tanggera discussed the talks of one lifestyle blogger and how her actions contradicted what she was sharing. The speaker is now commenting on her fan page that she's the subject on online bullying. I'm not one to take sides but I think Tanggera's post wasn't about personally attacking the speaker. When a speaker espouses something, then he should practice it himself. His actions should reflect his thoughts. * I'm using the pronoun he to drive the point that I'm also not attacking the person, para lang malinaw. *

Resource speakers or, in this case, those who profess that they are digital marketing specialists/guru/expert, should be man enough to take criticisms from the audience. If you see yourself as an authority on a subject, then you should also practice what you preach. Matutuwa ka ba kung sabihan ka ng pari na huwag ka magnanakaw tapos nalaman mong siya din pala ay magnanakaw? Devah?

Let me repost my comment in Tanggera: "Speakers for blogging/Internet summits must be professional enough to take criticisms. If they are criticized, they shouldn't label it as online bullying or harassment what-not. If one feels that he is a celebrity, he should also take it like a celebrity. Huwag balat-sibuyas. Otherwise, you have no business teaching the blogging community about etiquette and integrity."

I'm glad to see that more and more people are making a stand to ensure that the blogosphere is clean and that bloggers should uphold to a set of moral standards and etiquette. Sana lang more active bloggers realize that criticisms are not always about them.

Oh, and Tanggera's post cannot be classified as online bullying. There are several factors to be considered before one can say that he is being bullied:
* the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others"
* when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person
* continuing to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender, * may also include threats, sexual remarks, pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech), ganging up on victims by making them the subject of ridicule in forums, and posting false statements as fact aimed at humiliation
* may disclose victims' personal data for the purpose of publishing material in their name that defames or ridicules them
* and more..

Again, and this goes out to bloggers/digital marketing gurus/resource persons/experts, if you go out there and share your thoughts, you also have to walk the talk. If your actions are not consistent with your words, babatuhin ka talaga ng audience mo. And make sure huwag kang balat-sibuyas. Because if you are, you have no business teaching the blogging community about anything. Babuh!