Recent events surrounding blogging community has caught my attention, in which a blogger was arrested in Singapore due to his racist remarks on his blog.
This is not the first case someone being arrested for writing irresponsible things in their website or blog. We had our share of bloggers which has been slapped with court action against them due to their writings.
For years, internet become more than a medium to communicate free speech. However blatantly using the freedom of the internet is not what we should do. We all have to abide by a set of rules and code of ethics when we write, especially when we are addressing the public.
Making undesirable remarks, spreading lies and misinformation should be avoided at all cost because it has negative impact to the community, as innocent lives might be ruined by what we write.
Similarly, those who has a website (or a blog) should learn from the hobby of Amateur Radio, where hams are bound by a similar code of ethics practiced throught out the world.
A good ham avoid talking about topics that are argumentative as well as sensitive issues which might hurt people feelings, even when it is just a guideline, the code of ethics are maintained and is still there. The bloggers community should adapt such code of ethics so we could have a better blogosphere, as I believe it is better than to be force to take legal action against the relatively few unethical bloggers.