There’s nothing wrong about people blogging their thoughts away. That’s the essence of democracy. But that freedom comes with responsibility too. Haven’t we heard for countless times GMA7′s “Think before you click” campaign?

Blogging is no different from the way we converse or interact with people from within our circles. In real life, we extend basic courtesy expected of any decent civilized man. Now if you are a blogger, with one to a thousand followers under your circle of influence, you become responsible for the information you feed them and the way it is communicated. Garbage in, garbage out. Consider yourself lucky if it gets recycled. At least someone from your backyard knows how to filter.

Are Bloggers Writers?

Writers can be bloggers anytime. A blog, by the way, is a publishing tool that can be used by everyone. Writing, like painting, singing or dancing, is a gift. Not all people were gifted with this kind of creativity and the patience for such discipline. Accolades are rare and given to select few, so writing is not like some sport trophies that you can buy elsewhere. Therefore, not all bloggers can be writers in the same way that not everyone who uses graphic design software can be called an artist.

A no-brainer you say? Some people need to be reminded at times.

Everyone wants to be read

Hell yeah, why not? This is a free world and everyone can do whatever that pleases them. You can write about your crappy or happy experiences, and choose to turn the public or private view button on. But there is such thing called “abuse” once you let power drive you. We have countless examples of bloggers who made a living out of bullying people.

Things to remember should you decide that blog to go public

Know what you are writing about. Not all of us can be experts in many fields, but please, have time to do research and do not claim to be what you are not.

Make an effort to write a good post. If you are eking out a living from blogging for certain brands, there is more reason for you to write properly – from the proper use of the language, punctuations, to grammar and all.

It’s not all about the freebie, you know. The reality is that some bloggers get invited to press cons and media launches of certain businesses, an indication that blogging has recently become the new medium in the Philippines. I have seen bloggers who would just copy and paste press materials while print journalists would usually check on creative angles and still get edited. If you are a blogger, have the decency to write something original that is worth every penny or goodie bag.

Do not bite the hand that fed you. Because I know of a blogger who asked for a free dinner in exchange for a blog entry. The following day I was aghast to read about what he had written, making him one ungrateful asshole in this part of the universe. I really would have not taken offense if he had only paid for his dinner.

Be honest. If companies ask you to write a product review, be honest but don’t get too cocky. There’s a way of writing a decent review, and some people with limited vocabulary often miss that.

Keep these things in mind and happy blogging!

It was in late 1999 when my brother introduced me to the Internet. He was an engineer in an ISP company and would always bring home his IBM laptop to work on weekends. Micro sd was not a big thing then, but using a laptop was. The first thing he taught me was to sign up for an email account in Yahoo which I still use until now as a YM ID, too. Then he taught me to chat using mIRC.

I think he did regret teaching me to access mIRC. For the next two years that followed, I was completely, and insanely, addicted to it. Eyeball parties were huge back then. You bet, I did attend them. One of the few benefits it had was meeting people who were passionate about writing. They were actually the ones who introduced me to blogging.

The first free blogging platform I used was Livejournal. That’s where I practiced and developed my writing skills. It’s self-publishing, therefore, it gives you freedom to write down everything you want without getting attacked nor scrutinized.

My Livejournal is turning 7 in October this year. Reading through my LJ archives brought back lots of happy and sad memories of people I’ve met along the way and lost, the endless ponderings and musings and the decisions I made which morphed me into something you would both love and hate. (I don’t know what it is so go figure.) I did open a number of accounts at Blogger and Multiply but I discontinued them. Livejournal remains dearest to me. You know why? I have friends there who made my stay worthwhile.

What’s your story?

Mitch of Mitchteryosa

Mitch is a good friend who happens to be a co-moderator of Kuro.ph. We have been swapping links and ideas on how to cash on the Internet using our blogs. She has been busy with her virtual office while still finds time to bond with her daughter.

Vanessa of Absence of Sense

I am blessed to meet Vanessa Suquila in this lifetime. We used to hang around at now defunct Poetic Justice where she shared her haikus and I tortured everyone with my odd poetry. This girl cracks up jokes when things get somber, never runs out of kind words to say and encourages everyone just to have fun and enjoy life as it is. She is one of this generation’s brilliant and gifted writers who encouraged me to find my own “voice”. I think I already did.

Mayan of Baycrafts

Mayan Olano was a former copywriter in the company I used to work in. I admire the way she writes, be it funny, witty, serious, ironic, sarcastic or all of the above. Somehow that influence sort of rubbed itself on me. I promise to visit her hometown Naga City very very soon.

Jude of I-Speak

Celebrity and web writer, Jude Cartalaba of Pinoywriters was fresh from teaching English in China when Vanessa introduced him to me years ago. I needed someone then to teach my former officemates how to dance. He does not only dance but willingly models for my photos as well. You’ll find more of those Hey Jude shots soon.

Ferdz of Ironwulf

Travel writer, photographer, graphic artist, former neighbor and friend (whew, that was long) Ferdz Decena happens to be the main guy behind my two websites. He helped me put up this site last year, took care of my hosting bills while I was gone for half a year and stayed up late online during initial setups and upgrades. Marian Rivera has lost her golden chance to really get to know Ferdz up close and personal. (Oh no! Did I just hear Jude scream “Palengkera! Palengkera!”? Haha…)

That sums everything about having 200 posts and monetizing half of them. I have a birthday party to attend.