Freedom of Speech

Blogs are public forums. Those of us who blog know that what we say is fair game to positive and negative feedback and comments. It is often a place for debate. People disagree. That's okay. I have gone toe-to-toe with commenters in the past, those who did not know enough about what I was blogging about to judge me so harshly. However, I still felt that they had to right to state their opinion. In fact, one of those commenters and I have even become good bloggy friends! I follow her blog now and she still follows mine.

I recently posted something on my homeschool blog and received a couple of comments. Neither one offended me in the least, although one certainly had an opinion of her own about something I had said. I noticed later that she had deleted her comment. I wasn't sure why ... I was actually worried that maybe I had offended her by not replying to her comment. (I don't always get replies back in a timely manner, so please don't be offended if you don't get one quickly, or at all sometimes. Life happens.)

Anyway, this commenter, who is also a very respected bloggy friend, e-mailed me and told me that she had deleted it because she had received a nasty e-mail from someone about it.

PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.

I want my followers to feel free to express their opinion(s) to things I say on my blog. If I didn't want comments, I would not allow them. At the very least, if you disagree with something someone has left in a comment, please reply ON the blog so that all can see. It opens up a lively conversation and does not make someone feel as though they do not have the right to have an opinion and comment.

I just felt like I really had to say this.

I believe in the Freedom of Speech on my blog. (That being said, if you do have a snarky comment, DO NOT post it as "Anonymous". That's annoying and cowardly!)

Now, Keep Calm and Comment On ....