I recently wrote a post that apparently caused some “problems” among some people locally. I have since been told to remove the post and refrain from talking about this group on my blog again. At the beginning of this year, I wrote a post that I was not going to censor myself again. I would write about my family, my faith, my schooling, and whatever else I wanted. I did not mention any names or places in the post that I was asked to remove. In fact, you don’t know who or where this situation took place unless you are privy to the details.
My question is this… who has the right to ask you to remove posts from your personal blog? I am not being paid by this company, I am not implicating anyone nor giving away any identities. The post was my own personal feelings and asking for help (like I so often do from you readers) on how to work through a difficult situation. I did make the post private but I am hurt beyond words that I was even asked to do so and feel it was wrong. My free speech apparently doesn’t mean much if I have to remove a post about my own personal feelings on my own personal website.
Thoughts?
Nicolle B. says
I think I know what post you are talking about. I don’t see anything wrong with it. Obviously that person has some growing up to do OR just leave the group. Either way, this is your blog. If you can’t say your piece here? then where can you?
Winter says
I know I didn’t get to meet with you at the Showme The Blog but I was very interested in meeting you. I love your blog and have been following it for awhile now.
You are the owner of your blog, you are the owner of your thoughts and can say what you wish. Big Hugs! I hope you get this sorted out and if you need a witch teehee we’re not real but we’re happy to give a kind ear.
Aleksandra says
I disagree with katklaw777. You can host reviews and giveaways AND have a personal aspect. I try to do just that on my blog. I personally like to know something about a person when I read their reviews.
As for the post you were asked to censor…I find the request absurd. It was not a “rant” – there was no cursing (believe me, I’ve seen it on other blogs, but whatever – I still love them) there was no bad mouthing…you were mearly soliciting advice. You did not include names, pictures or personal identification. I’d make it public again for sure.
katklaw777 says
A diary is personal, a journal is personal…a blog , even if for personal use is not personal.
It is out there for the world to see.
You have 758 followers on GFC. You do reviews and giveaways. Free speech is one thing but you can’t really call this a personal website when you are soliciting products and giving reviews in want of more web traffic.
It almost sounds like you gave a “review” of these people.
I understand that you don’ want to be told what to do about your post, but I would think twice next time before venting in public.
Denise says
If I were you I would put the post back up. Of course, no one wants you to display them in a negative light but a situation is a situation and you can’t change the facts. Whatever happened (I’m a little behind in my blog reading so I missed it) obviously affected you enough for you to need to write through it. Some people talk, others write, while others just pretend it didn’t happen. By taking down your post, you give in to them and admit that you were wrong in your feelings.
As long as you were respectful enough not to identify them then you are entitle to voice your opinion. They, in turn, are entitle not to read it.
Denise says
I just went back and read my RSS feed and I did see your post. I think you did an excellent job of writing about how YOU felt without giving any identifyign information. If someone else can identify who that person is then maybe that person’s attitude isn’t such a secret and she should do something about it:)
Debby Pucci says
I am so sorry this happened to you. I read you all the time and I can’t think of any post that you have written that would need to be taken down.
melissa vaught says
Im guessing u decided to take the post down because I couldn’t find it again. I do remember reading it last week though. I am kinda in the middle of the road on this one. I definitely feel that you have the right to say whatever you want, as long as it doesn’t call a particular party out by name. We all have that right. I don’t think anybody can tell you who or what to write about. On the other hand, I can see how it would cause problems, too. I guess you have followers that read every word you say, that are in that group and because it pertained to them, they didn’t like it. BUT, obviously if there wasn’t a problem to start with, then you wouldn’t have had a reason to vent. Nobody wants to be “talked about” but if I was that person or in the group, then I would probably really think about how I was behaving, in order for someone else to be bothered by it enough to post it publicly. Maybe it will shed some light on how they treat people. From what I can remember, you had already tried to have a discussion about the problem, and got nowhere with it. I guess what I’m getting at, is like someone else said-You have to do what you feel is best, and if its worth fighting for. Do you want to deal with what happens next, like when you go back to the group? Just stay strong, and stand up for what you believe in! Good Luck!
carol says
I know which post and no names were mentioned, only the guilty would know it was them unless everyone else was bothered by them also. I think its all about control. You have a right to vent and thought it was well written.
Heather ~ Acting Balanced Mom says
My take on it is, ifit has potential to do more harm than good in the future, I’d probably take it down… no one can make you do anything, but sometimes it’s worth taking the high road…
Alyssa M says
I remember the post. I don’t think there is anything inappropriate about what you wrote. You were venting. You were very vague and I wouldn’t take it down if it was me. Instead of attacking you maybe the people who got upset about the post should attempt to fix the problem that caused you to post in the first place.
Miriam T. says
Call me a detective but I think I know which post you are referring to. I’ve read the post and I definitely see why someone could ask you to take it down for many reasons.
First, I think you give enough details to narrow it down to a specific group of people as “potentials.”
And second, chances are you are not the only person who notices the things you are noticing, so within that group, I’d bet they all know who you’re talking about.
I could see how the over-arching organization might worry that it would make them look bad – especially having the sort of person you’re talking about included in that group. They are probably also worried about showing division in the leadership.
Honestly, if I was the person involved on the other end of your story, I would probably know that I was the one you were talking about and would suspect that everyone else knew that as well. Which begs the question – if someone had an issue with you and wrote a blog post about it, and you thought that your entire company might read that and know that it was you, would you want them to post it? But I guess that’s more on a personal level question.
Ultimately, I don’t think the organization has the right to tell you to take it down. But if it was the person you were talking about who asked you to, I’d strongly consider it.
Peace & Blessings. 🙂
Chantal says
Write what you want! I don’t know what the post was, but if the company or situation made you unhappy you are entitled to your opinion! Bad press happens everyday, but I guess people think that because we are mommies we can be bullied. WE CAN’T!!
Jenn h says
I’m curious now to what the post was. But if you can’t be sued, then you should be able to write about whatever you want.
Julie says
You have the right to write about what you want. You have your voice and unless you have a contract (and getting paid for it) that you can’t write about something. And as stated above that the person can’t sue you for slander – which if you are keeping everything anonymous – you should be free to write what you want.
Hope you can get this all worked out.
Melissa Erickson says
I do not know what blog post is in question… I am curious now though. LOL
No, they can not make you remove the post unless what you write can be considered slander. If you did not name the company or anyone by name then that can not be the case.
You also have to look at the other side of it. In these instances I think of something Dr Phil said once, “Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?”.
Sometimes when you look at how the decision affects you, being right is not as important as being happy. Only you know if this fight is worth fighting.
LisaLisa says
I agree with Paula…if you didn’t slander anyone or there company there should be no reason to remove your post. However some people are so sensitive toward certain post or contents on people blogs. I think the best thing to do is move forward and not allow yourself to wallow in what was said or how it may have been said. Pick yourself up and dust yourself off and move forward with being YOU! God knows your heart!!!
Krista says
Censorship. Seems lately that everyone wants to censor yet no one wants to be censored. It happens constantly.
I agree with Paula. If you can’t be sued for slander don’t take it down. Lots of things make people upset. But their upset is only about them.
Paula@ Frosted Fingers says
I think as long as you can’t be sued for slander, that there’s no reason to take it down.