When to Delete a Blog Post or Comment
Written by Andrew G. Rosen in
23 Comments
Every sport has unwritten rules, and blogging is no different. One unofficial “law” is that you should never delete any of your blog posts or the comments left by readers. But I’m not convinced. People are always talking about “online life” vs. “real life,” but the reality is, we only have ONE life. The way we manage either component trickles into the other. That’s why I submit to you reasons when it is OK to delete a blog post or comment. These are 100% opinion-based, and this isn’t gonna be any fun if you don’t play along. Read my thoughts and comment below…I promise not to delete any of your thoughts. (Well, maybe.)
You should delete a blog post or comment if…
- Every time you see it, it makes your stomach drop.
- You are thinking about it obsessively. I’m talking about 2am on your wedding night, psycho.
- Your mom questions why you wrote it. If a post won’t make your mommy proud, don’t publish it.
- You think it might upset your boss. Your “real” job pays the “real” bills. Tread lightly.
- Someone attempts to assassinate your character. Most of us are never going to get rich blogging, so you shouldn’t endure any unnecessary grief.
- Unfounded behavior such as racism or prejudice. Freedom of speech might be a right in your municipality, but this is YOUR blog. If you think someone is off base, than feel free to edit accordingly.
- It’s attracting spam. I have had several posts that evil spammers have latched on to. I would never eliminate a strong post, but if these bastards attached themselves to a weak post, sometimes it’s easier to just kill the post then waste time filtering comments. At the very least, close comments.
Dealing with a few dead links or disappointed readers is easier than getting rejected for a job and wondering if it was the blog post that kept you from your dream career. The delete button was invented for a reason, use it sparingly, but use it!
Agreed! I’ve deleted one post. It was shortly after I started blogging, my hubby Pi$$ed me off and I ranted! I got a few comments, though valid, I was scared that he’d be upset if he ever decided to read my blog and deleted it. Blogging is worth divorce..just sayin’
No it ain’t, but it can result in it.
Think before you post, especially when annoyed. Remember that even though you might delete a post it can already be far spread, screencapped or indexed on other sites. You do not know who reads you.
Main rule: keep professional rants and personal issues OFF the internet. Same applies to Facebook and Twitter.
Great post. Yes, a blog post is a personal thing. If you have second thoughts about what is posted, delete it. I deleted not only one post, but a whole blog one time when it started bending in a direction I hadn’t intended. Thanks for the great post.
i delete comments on my blog only if i found them spamming…..or 1 word comments
I think it depends. No matter how much we labor over our words and try to convey the “precise” meaning, people sometimes misunderstand them or misinterpret them. Can we be held entirely responsible for the weight of our words? Not always. Many moons ago I wrote a humorous article on why I don’t believe in “going dutch on dates”. It was hugely popular, but one guy just didn’t get it.
He sent me a “nasty-gram” that I’ll remember for years to come.
Whether it’s posting on your own blog or someone else’s you should be cautious, but not necessarily overly “paranoid”. If so we run the risk of becoming “politically correct” clones.
After all, personal blogs are supposed to be “personal” but they should also be appropriate and in good taste.
I delete all spam (or what I think is spam) and all comments that don’t meet my comment policy.
I have no issues in using the delete button.
Andrew
I have no problem with using the delete button either, especially for spammy comments. I don’t work hard on my blog just so someone can come along and advertise to all my readers. And seriously, it never even occurred to me not to delete a post that I thought better of later on. If it would make my mom unhappy, it goes…I just love her more than I love google
Cyndi, agreed. I think Matt said it best himself, your blog is like your living room:
Guy Finley said it best & I tend to agree “your opinion of me is none of my business!” so don’t rain on my parade and leave spammy messages on myblog/my baby/my livingroom!
Good post btw…
Clara.
I can to relate to many of these. I think the one about having the post on your mind and it keeping your awake is the one that affects me most.
Dealing with a few dead links or disappointed readers is easier than getting rejected for a job and wondering if it was the blog post that kept you from your dream career. The delete button was invented for a reason, use it sparingly, but use it!
Yeah, I was a bit confused in all such situations you mentioned and this time this article will help me. Thanks for sharing
I dont post much article on my blog but if comment are spam or not related to my blog . I delete it !!
Nice post on “when to delete a blog post ”
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I don’t delete a blog post. Besides, before I post it, I read it twice and think 7x before posting it. As for the comments, if the comment is not related to the topic, I delete it.
I don’t work hard on my blog just so someone can come along and advertise to all my readers.
Ultimately, it’s like you said, it’s yours. If someone else is trying to change your vision for their own purposes, you should have the right to delete.
If they want to espouse their ideas, let them blog
I absolutely delete spam message but normally people who post onto my blog are nice I got only few spammer
Yea true im sure the more spam there is …the more spam there will be .
Yea true im sure the more spam there is …the more spam there will be .
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