Blogging is a mode of expression where people are given the chance to express their thoughts and opinions easily to an online audience.

Indeed, blogging is a tool where we can express our thoughts freely without any limitations. We are not restricted with the rules in writing unless we choose to. We can have wrong grammars, wrong spellings, inconsistent idea flow, rants and even a post full of lists! We are free to do and talk about anything we want and no one has the right to dictate us and steer us away from our own original intentions.

This is why many people consider blogging as free writing… Is it?

I bet most of you may have already heard the news about BoyBastos.com, the website that had been ordered to be temporarily closed down by local authorities after being urged by Senator Loren Legarda that the said site contains materials of explicit content that may pose as a threat to the young internet users of today. [Sources: here and here]

Mark Verzo (the owner of BoyBastos.com) was then invited for questioning and was later released as the authorities decide what course of action to take against BoyBastos.

For a seemingly everyday and common post of Mark Verzo that aims to express and entertain his readers, things suddenly went out of control and everything turned out into a total disaster. It happened to him on his website, it could happen to us on our blogs.

What happened to BoyBastos is really unsettling. Aren’t we on the internet where liberated and radical ideas are common and widely accepted? Isn’t blogging a place where freedom of expression reigns? What happened to free writing?

I have stated earlier that blogging is a form of free writing where we could write about anything that we want without any boundaries whatsoever. Yes, freedom of expression still remains, however, such a concept is nothing more than just a mere illusion.

Why do I say so?

We all know that free writing really does strip off restrictions on writing, however, we are forgetting about one important factor in the world of blogging: Our readers.

Even if we say that we blog just to express ourselves, our readers will always be part of the equation. Once we have published our posts on our blogs, we have subjected ourselves under the judgment and understanding of those who read our works.

We must understand that there are certain consequences in everything that we write and say to our readers. We can’t just insult anyone openly and freely without expecting that someone would stand up against us and fight back. Unknown to many, a huge number of bloggers from all over the world are being sued and arrested because of carelessly expressing their ideas and opinions.

My advice to everyone is this, always be mindful of what you say and do on your blogs. We must be responsible in what we would write about. Be wary of your actions and with every word that you use. Reread your article and make sure that you could defend your own ideas extensively. For even if blogging is considered as a form of free writing, we must not forget that there must also be a sense of responsibility on the part of the writer.

Just another one of my thoughts, happy blogging!

What are your thoughts on this? Can blogging still be considered free writing? Do we really need to be responsible for our actions? For more rants about the Pinoy blogosphere don’t forget to subscribe to my feeds!

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