Ethical Blogging: What Are The Monkeys Afraid Of?

It's a shame I have to make this post, and although it may seem petty to some - I believe it needs to be made. Scared Monkeys, Steve Huff, The Political Teen and I all wound up going down the same road together with our web logging of the Natalee Holloway story.

Unfortunately, one of that groups appears to have decided to try and set itself apart in a most unethical manner - Scared Monkeys.

For non-web loggers, Site meter is a standard in measurement of web log traffic. It registers a tick when a visitor comes to view the page. It is also linked to advertising revenue for web logs who run ads - which I do not. Clicks can come from comments, as well as people coming to read your web log.

Two weeks or so ago, Tom at Scared Monkeys sent around an email slamming Ian at The Political Teen for practicing, in his opinion, unethical blogging. This resulted from Ian posting a story possibly emailed to both, but perhaps first posted at Scared Monkeys.

Here is that email to Ian CCing all named above:

Guy, we have worked long and hard the last month to get into a pissing match, but this has got to stop immediately. We are all working hard, giving information back and forth, helping each other out. But when you copy a post off of another persons site without a link or attribution, and then say you got it from someone else on it, that is crossing every line that bloggers hold over the mainstream medias head.

We did a post at 11:13 today: At 12:19 you guy put up this post. Thanks to arubagirl for bringing this information: (she translated it into English)

So we called Aruba Girl on the carpet, asking why she translated something we found and gave it to Ian. She said she did not and got her feelings hurt and created an awkward situation for us all. We came to find out that the post was taken from our site and no attribution was given.

Guys, this is the lowest breach of protocol that we can do in the blog world. I do not want to get into a battle, the cause is not about that, we are all trying to help Natalee. But you can not lift posts from another site. That is not cool. Please remove the post, or at least have the common courtesy to give attribution. It is my understanding that Aruba Girl emailed Ian and asked what happened and he responded that he figured she emailed it to him. Be that as it may, mistake do happen, but as of 10:35 tonight, there is still no attribution. We are bloggers , not the MSM… Tom

I want to be clear here. I have never entered Scared Monkey's chat area. Because their traffic was spiking so dramatically I thought I would take a look, only to find out I have been banned from there without ever even having entered. Perhaps the Monkeys were afraid I would figure out those silly Shango posts, who knows. Above left is a screen cap of that notice - click to open. Three emails for clarification have gone unanswered. My last email from them was asking for a link to their Miller interview - which I did link to, as did Ian.

Now I have been informed that they are misleading people with their readership numbers. They have placed a site meter counter within their chat room. See image at right . This makes it appear as though their work is being read by tens of thousands everyday and matches the readership numbers they have at TLB - a web log ranking system where they appear to be the 14th highest read web log at present. That's a sham.

Here is their actual web log readership statistics - less than 25% of what they would have people believe. Every time someone makes a comment in an area where there is relatively nothing to read written by the web log authors, they take credit for a new reader of their work. Given their previous heavy handed treatment of Ian, for what amounted to perhaps a slip in protocol - from a solid blogger while he was on vacation with limited access to email, I have no choice but to call them on this unethical behavior. They are taking advantage of a terrible tragedy through unethical practices designed to make them appear as something they are not - good web loggers. At least not in my opinion given the facts. Chat host? Maybe. And there's nothing wrong with that. But what they are doing is simply misleading.

I would never advocate boycotting Aruba, frankly - but I am advocating boycotting their chat room as a result of this discovery. And, please, I do not want any more traffic on my web log from commenters. I have more than enough already. Please consider using the chat features at Blogs For Natalee - hosted by Ian in the future if you value genuinely honest, ethical and collegial behavior in web logging.

I apologize for this post. But, as I said, I felt it needed to be made.

In terms of full disclosure - I currently am averaging from 1000 to 1500 comments a day and that should be taken into account as regards my own site meter numbers currently averaging about 45,000 visitors a day.

Comments

[!]

Dan, you are the best !!! It's a shame things of this nature have to happen.
It will not effect my faith in RIEHL WORLD VIEW.
The best blog on the net ! Period !! :O).....

[Huntsy]

Sticks and Stones baby!

[A]

Dan, I understand you are angry. Forget about those morons. Your site is the best. It stands for itself, even without this commentary.

[Guest]

Dan, you sound so "in the know" about numbers and such, you're running this place here, tell me.. Why do you not KNOW the difference between a BLOG and a CHATROOM? Also, from what I see Scared Monkeys seems to be more than just the Natalee Holloway case, are you jealous they're opening their horizons while you are not? Boycotting them?.. haha

[A]

Further, that site is too disorganized feeling. There are links all over the place and it isn't easy to follow. I like your site because stuff is easy to find. Again, forget those fools and this petty nonsense.

[marci]

Well, I am glad to see that you are finally acknowledging Scared Monkeys contribution to this story. I look at both blogs and they seem to have what you always posted, but first!

[Merlin]

you have faithful readers.... who respect your opinion

[FloridaPatty]

Dan I moderate a music website. These pissing matches happen when other sites are ( dare I say competing) for source for information and membership/hits.

Nothing is worth the sacrifice of your credibility. When you extended a dove bearing hand and it's rejected/ignored, that action speaks for itself.

Carry on. ~Patty

[dirtystockbird]

I think you are going off the deep end, but feel free to jump as it is your site. Why would you put this worthless post up top with all the new developments and a possible end to this case?

[hmmmmm]

http://www.scaredmonkeys.com/?p=1319

Here is the Tim Miller Interveiw transcript. In case you couldn't find it on the front page of their blog. No forum access needed.

Deepak

[Merlin]

Keep up the great work Dan..... I totally enjoy it... I think what you share with us is very interesting... to the whiners>>
There is no need for anyone to personally attack anyone.... unless you are wanting us to know just how "mature" you really are....... lol..... actually we are all on the same side.... :)

[(((AG)))]

Dan,
Running a large website myself I know all the ways others skew their numbers!! Been in a battle or two myself with others with sites carrying similar content and plain lying about visitors, etc.

Laugh it off, not worth the hassle -- we love YOUR blog!! :)

[A]

Dan, take this diatribe down. It is going to hurt your credibility. What those guys do or do not do is not important.

[Merlin]

I am a Dan Fan all the way

[JimL]

Free advertising for those jokers. Sleep on it, and then take it down. Who cares about those clowns??

[Anonymouse]

You big whiny baby, Dan. Like I told you in the post I made after your supposed Joran emails...(Insert X-Files theme music here)

You called ME stupid? Big laughs all around, Danny.

I can summarize Dans long, whiny post with one word... 'Wahhhhhhhhhh'

Seriously, you're losing it Dan.

[MarkleSparkle]

This is a personal problem between the respective parties. Making it public is petty and childish.

[gorgeous george]

Wow Dan. Ethical blogging? Does that include making accusations without proof of murder? In my opinion you all ARE in a pissing match and it has nothing to do with truth. You've posted stuff (such as the posts from Michell Gumm) and when it was pointed out to you that her information has to be a lie and you were shown time date stamped posts of hers showing when she returned from Aruba, you deleted that stuff and left her lies. Now you've decided that Deepak is a killer. A month ago you had your money on Joran. Who will it be next month? But don't worry, you're in good company, Geraldo, Nasty Grace, Jossy Mansur. Not one of them has any interest in the truth, it's all about the ratings. And posting private emails is just sad.

[JaZzY]

Most monkeys appreciate stories broken on other sites, and I think they give credit where credit is due. I think it's a misunderstanding and it's too bad. You're all great. I can't see Tom or Red doing anything deliberately dishonest or unethical. I know you didn't want comments, and I apologize for disregarding that. Like you said, what's important is supporting the H/Ts and Natalee's cause.

[JaneR]

I've always been a big fan of this site as well as Scared Monkeys, but frankly, this is too much for me. It's like a bunch of 5-year-olds fighting amongst each other. Grow up!

[arubagirl]

You've got to be kidding me.

Sometimes I wish I had never heard of this thing called 'blog'.

Bloody hell.

[GirlMusing]

Dan,

Your demonstrated integrity (personal and professional) will withstand the test of time.

Thank you for the information/insights your Blog has provided.

Be well,
GirlMusing

[FloridaPatty]

I think Dan is just trying to reaffirm to his readers his credibility in the event other blogs take a first punch.

I do agree that the regulars will probably read this by morning so take it off the archive and suffice it to say there has been an FYI. ~Patty

[JNC]

You've made a private matter ultra-public here. Why do that? I read your (and their) blogs for the news that I can’t find in the MSM. Remove this ridiculous personal tirade from a previously reliable news source!

[arubagirl]

Oh, and it isn't "possibly e-mailed to both".

It was e-mailed to ONE person, and it wasn't Ian. It wasn't done out of malice, I just replied to the person who sent me the link.

I just canNOT freaking believe this.

[Merlin]

Dan you do what you feel is right for you and tell everyone else to kiss your butt.... this is your blog..... your space........ in case they were not aware of that yet.......

[Jane]

I stopped reading there about two weeks ago because the lynch mob mentality against the riehlworld blog was just ridiculous. Something about being unethical for not being like the MSM despite the fact Dan has said he is free to write about what he wants. Not to mention running off eyewitnesses in the Holloway case. It's discouraging to wade through hundreds of pages of writings about domestic disputes and how much everyone had to drink only to see eyewitnesses run off in tears with the help of moderators.

The news and discussion here is so much better.

[GranHouston]

Dan, What a mess! I am so sorry you are having trouble. I really do not understand. I do understand that you are providing a wonderful service for many anxious and puzzled people. I hope some people responded to your request for funds. Alas I cannot. I am a senior citizen and have an extremely limited income. Even having a computer and connection is a luxury for me.
You are super. Thanks for keeping your site clean. I read really filthy stuff on Yahoo. I am too old for such trash.
Concern about the Holloway/Twitty family keeps me interested in this case. How could . . . well you know.

[mulder]

Dan says

"I'm not defensive, are you defensive? Because someone is defensive ... but it's definitely not me. Nope, not me, I'm secure. Real secure."

"And by the way, I have lots of visitors. Lots."

"And I'm not defensive."

[looker]

ahhh that was sweet granny!!

[globetrotter]

Excuse me while I go puke...

[musicgirlms]

Ooh, I love this site, but it might be better if you and other bloggers keep your disagreements between yourselves.

Seriously. I think this post makes you come out as the petty and childish one.

[katie]

i am disappointed this is tonight's focal point. seems to me priorities have been skewed. there are much bigger fish to fry. remember natalee and her family tonight as you contemplate the petty stuff. respect.

[Guy]

Dan...are you serious? Keep your personal business to your self...your making yourself like a child.

[Roy]

Dan,
This is what happens when you are the best.
Others can't take it and will resort to any tactic they can think of.
I visit your Blog every day, read almost all comments.
Even get frustrated by those whose only goal seems to be 'Arubabashing'. But I still come on again and get frustrated again. Luckily most of your readers are better educated and well informed.
My compliments and admiration for your hard work.
And THANKS!!

[Merlin]

Dan, I am sure you have justified reasons for posting what you have posted.... I respect your decision to run your blog the way YOU want to....We all know how much free advice is worth...and the value of those opinions.. who so freely give it... You sure seem to get alot of it from all over also.....The gall of some folks (chuckle) well it goes past wearing boots.... where are my waders...... lol

[THolloway]

ARUBAGIRL seems to be the true leader here.

I thought you all had some inside track. I'm disappointed and from now on will look to whichever site Arubagirl believes in the most.

[michele in bham]

Someone said "Remove this ridiculous personal tirade from a previously reliable news source!"

Dan, you know I totally support you and I give you full credit for everything you have done here.

Please don't ruin it with this petty fight.

We don't care who has the most hits or how they get them.

[Merlin]

Let Dan be Dan and let him run his blog the way he sees fit......... More Power To Ya Man! To thine ownself be true........

[michele in bham]

Thinking back over my years I guess I shedded some tears
Told myself time and time again ’this time I’m gonna win’
But in every fight things ain’t right, losin’ again
Takes a fool to lose twice, start all over again

Chorus:
Think I’d better let it go
Looks like another love tko
Think I’d better let it go
Looks like another love tko

Tried to take control of love, love took control of me
’cause you lose all thought, sense of time and have a change of mind
Takin’ the bumps and the bruises of all the things* of a two-time loser
Try to hold on, faith is gone, it’s just another sad song

Chorus

Think it’s time to let it go
Feels like another love tko
Think it’s time to let it go
Feels like another love tko

Tried to take control of the love, love took control of me
’cause you lose all thought, sense of time and have a change of mind
Takin’ the bumps and the bruises of all the things* of a two-time loser
Try to hold on, the faith is gone, it’s just another sad song

Think I’d better let it go
Tko
Think I’d better let it go
Tko

Think it’s time to let it go
Feels like another love tko
Think it’s time to let it go
Feels like another love tko

[Merlin]

very nice Michele :)

[TexasBelle]

Dan I have been coming to BOTH sites ( yours and scared monkeys) in fact I have then linked from my site for updates etc. ( I do not have a small site) I do not think " NUMBERS " matter here. Natalee is what we all come to read about. This is silly and I can not help but think it may have more to do with Red from scared monkeys being invited to Aurba with the Texas search team. Never the less I will still link to you both and visit " you both " daily. I hope for everyone that has come to know your site and the other one you can resolve this and get back on topic.

[michele in bham]

Thanks Merlin.

Maybe "Whipping POst" would be better suited, upon reflection.

:-)

[michele in bham]

TexasBelle said "I can not help but think it may have more to do with Red from scared monkeys being invited to Aurba with the Texas search team."

Can't anyone go who can pay their own way?

[websleuth2]

I agree with Jane R, above who said:

"I've always been a big fan of this site as well as Scared Monkeys, but frankly, this is too much for me. It's like a bunch of 5-year-olds fighting amongst each other. Grow up!"

DItto Ditto Ditto.

[Guest]

Yes, anyone can go who pays their own way, but TES has officially invited Red to be a part of the team, which is afterall, an honor. Dan, this kindergarten play needs to stop, we're all here for one reason, and one reason only.

[michele in bham]

TES invites anyone who can pay their own way.

Besides, the guy used to live in Aruba. I am sure he told them he might could supply some special insight.

I bet if all the facts were known about his going it wouldn't be "an honor" but rather something he finagled(sp) a way make happen.

It's not like TES is walking around looking for web bloggers to knight.

[Anonymouse]

See Dan. It seems over ninety-percent of the people here share my thoughts about the current state of your site.. It was a good source at first, until you started to take yourself much too seriously.

Scared Monkeys is so much better. They have a huge message forum, with large numbers of quality posts/posters, and the SM webmasters post the news, the developments, while skipping things like your purported Joran emails.

I really think it's a case of green-eyed envy that's your driving force now, Dan.

It's time to take this blog down and let the folks over at SM handle it from here. You've gone and messed up what you had by making yourself look extremely petty with your latest post.

I think the interview Tim Miller granted to SM and subsequent invitation extended to the SM operators was the final straw that caused you to fly into a jealous rant about hits.

Goodnight.

[Jane]

I'm glad Dan decided to address this. It's ridiculous to ban him from there. He probably has no idea of the content of the bash Dan posts over there. He's had more important things to do. They whip themselves into emotional frenzies over nothing!

[caseyschenkofsky]

Not sure if I understand the merit in taking sides, or with the public posting of the private email message. My bad? I guess you felt someone crossed a line...?

Could someone please clarify how people posting in forums (SM) differs from posting comments to disscussion posts (RWV)? It seems like the numbered discussions here are the same as the forums there; they aren't unique blog posts. Aren't the discussion posts here included in site traffic readings? Call me stupid, whatever. I would just like to understand what the beef is.