Comments on: The FTC’s Blogging Rules Are Blatant Favoritism

By: supra vaider

supra vaider — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:09:00 +0000

Perhaps this is one of the most interesting blogs that I have ever seen.

By: Michael Cole

Michael Cole — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:29:27 +0000

So, who told you life is fair?

Remember what George Orwell said in "Animal Farm"? "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others."

Then there is the quote, "I used to cry that I had on shoes til I met a man that had no feet."

Rather than whine about what someone else has create it for your self.

Does it really matter what someone else has? That's just LIFE, deal with it.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:56:50 +0000

Who paid the FTC what, or how much, to get that ruling? Or who paid what to whom inside the FTC to influence that ruling? Corpocracy: the shadow government of these United States of America. Follow the money…you'll find 'the rules?'

By: mkhall

mkhall — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:15:16 +0000

@TheDudeDean — Perhaps Twitter could require that people participating in Tweet-for-pay programs or otherwise receiving freebies must check a box on their account indicating this, similar to the “Verified Account” flag. Then “Paid” could be appended to their account name, indicating “follower beware.”

@dorizinn — While ~we~ know that media dinners are free, not all your readers will. A case can be made for requiring some kind of legalese boilerplate on blogs, with relevant posts simply linking to the boilerplate via standardized text. That way it won't get in the way of the writing, but will still educate the public and satisfy the FTC.

By: TheDudeDean

TheDudeDean — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:53:13 +0000

Yeah how about those paid for Celeb tweets? How is Kim Kardashian supposed to say this is a paid for tweet in under 140 characters?

By: dorizinn

dorizinn — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:24:05 +0000

I think as a journalist and blogger, it's just ethical to disclose that I have received the anything for free. I have, like when Bonefish Grill rolled out their new menu and invited me to it: http://fatkidsclub.com/?p=188

You may not have to say “free” so blatantly. Like here: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/cleanplatecha... I said “media dinner.” I've never been to a “media dinner” that *wasn't* free, so I feel that was disclosure.

I am irked that radio personalities – South Florida based and otherwise – don't disclose their freebies. I've always believed that this was a problem and if bloggers have rules (which they rightfully should), than the rest of the media should follow suit.

I could care less about celebrities.

By: mkhall

mkhall — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:47:29 +0000

Personally, I think ALL advertising should carry a disclaimer: “This is marketing and/or promotional material, and should be assumed to be misleading. Do not base decisions on this material.”

But that's just me.

By: mkhall

mkhall — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:47:29 +0000

Personally, I think ALL advertising should carry a disclaimer: “This is marketing and/or promotional material, and should be assumed to be misleading. Do not base decisions on this material.”

But that's just me.