Now we really will be Our Brothers Keeper.. or How I Became a Comment Nazi
Recently NAR had its semi annual meeting, they went over this and that and clarified some items and tabled some other items, with Technology growing faster than Superman's speeding bullet we are all trying to keep up. NAR is no exception. BUT .. back here in the Real WORLD.... where I and most other people, realtors, buyers, sellers, humans all reside, live eat and breathe... do the POWERS THAT BE realize what they just said?
I like most others do try to watch our ethics, and not blantantly badmouth or curse at others in any way. Especially in writing! OHMY ... but now it has become my responsibility to make sure YOU do not do any of that on my blogspace, my facebook, my twitter and countless of other social and not so social media places I have a name at in the wide wide electronic media INTERNET world.
This was brought to my attention by the worthy post of Deb Hurt, of New Mexico in her blog about Professional Standards Update.
While we all have those 6yr old moments of ranting and raving most of us are adults and try to keep the name calling to a minimun.. my whole thing here is I do not think I should be held responsible for something that is clearly written by someone else. PERIOD END. If I did not write it, I am not professing to believe it. OK OK, so If I see a bad comment on my blog, facebook etc, yes of course I will do my best to delete it, edit it... or comment on the fact I think its bad for whatever reason I see it is bad.
What if I don't see that piece where MRJOHNNY wrote a derogatory comment about MRSSMITH on my blogpost about Greeksoceity? Am I liable to make corrections to MRJOHNNY'S comment? welll, yes according to NAR I am. Just great, just when I thought I had my kids raised, now I have to be grandma to strangers.
Life is ever changing.. but why would someone make such a ridiculous rule?
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale
I have to believe this will change. How CAN we become our brother's keepers. Good points.
May 23, 2009 04:17 AM
Sky Realty South Austin - Austin, TX
Sally, thats my whole point. Of course I will delete or whatever I can do to keep my blog wholesome and factual. But to be responsible or liable in whatever way its just plain ridiculous, with all the social media sites out there .. again, I wonder what they who made this ruling was thinking?
May 23, 2009 04:26 AM
Marketing Specialist for CJ Realty Group/Cindy Jones Broker - Springfield, VA
If anyone hasn't read the new proposed Article 15.3 then they need to ASAP. There are some who have been vicious in their attacks on other bloggers on AR. Hopefully this new article will settle a few down and make them realize there is liablity attached to their attacks.
May 23, 2009 04:27 AM
Sky Realty South Austin - Austin, TX
I try to keep out of those scrimmages, I am protesting to being held responsible IN ANY WAY for something someone else wrote. This is still a country of free speech, its not MY JOB to be the comment police.
May 23, 2009 04:30 AM
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate
I don't think there is a change in the rule. Just a SOP telling those who don't understand that they can not bad mouth their competition (or another business model) via drawings on the cave walls, stone tablets, advertising, on billboards, verbally, by starting a rumor, on TV, via writing on bathroom walls that they can not do it via blogs or social media. Or the next thing that comes along either.
Those of us who have blogs or are involved in social media should have sense enough to not be used by someone else to spread poison especially within our own community. Brothers keeper? Maybe... I won't let my blog be dirtied with garbage denigrating anyone.
I remove comments that disparage individuals and businesses all the time from my blogs. Not necessarily usually other members of NAR or within my board, MLS but I have.
May 23, 2009 04:33 AM
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
Gail you are correct, it has been and always will be a country of free speech. You just may not always like that free speech privledge we enjoy.
May 23, 2009 04:35 AM
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Gail, I read the rule, heard it debated on a few blogs. Seems there is a conflict between NAR rule and a few court cases saying otherwise. It will be interesting to see how this whole thing unfolds.
May 23, 2009 04:47 AM
Sky Realty South Austin - Austin, TX
Maureen, I agree that my blog posts and facebook spaces are not the area for someone to be mean, petty, spiteful or vengeful. I would not allow that either. I have never had it happen, my thoughts are only that I am being held accountable for something that I should not be held accountable for.
Andrew, yes we all have varying opinions... and our right to voice those opinions. Thanks for stopping in.
Missy, Yes, it will be interesting to see just how accountable we will become. My concern is will all this damage our freedom to blog? I sincerely hope not.
May 23, 2009 04:52 AM
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate
You are not being held accountable for anything. If you are not aware of something on your blog or social media presence or have now way of knowing it is false and misleading you are fine. There will be a discernable pattern if anyone gets a slap on the hand.
The slap on the hand is nothing. The lawsuit is another matter.
I worry about my old abandoned blogs.. and social media. Important to shut down comments or set up moderation.
Of course I am probably already a comment Nazi...
May 23, 2009 05:01 AM
AllMountainRealty.com - Big Canoe, GA
Homes - Big Canoe, Jasper, North Georgia Pros
I am not my brother keeper nor should I be liable for what he says. Id craigs list liable for the creep who assualted people? Wake up NAR
May 23, 2009 05:06 AM
Sky Realty South Austin - Austin, TX
Aww Maureen, your just fine, your a very consciousies, concsiouneoxu, conse### capable and concerned individual, you do just fine. :)
Charlie, I just can't get over the fact that some folks think they can regulate and legislate ethics or morals or just being nice to each other.
May 23, 2009 05:46 AM
Sky Realty South Austin - Austin, TX
The older I get the less government I want in my life. Is that part of getting cranky in America?
May 23, 2009 05:47 AM
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate
Hi Gail, Does this affect posts by realtors about other realtors who remain nameless but are ridiculed nontheless? I see this on AR quite a bit. just wondering...
May 23, 2009 05:58 AM
Sky Realty South Austin - Austin, TX
Shirley, I can only surmise what the intention and the meaning of the rulings are, and thats never a good thing to do. I wonder how anyone could swear that a post about nameless was about a particular person without names or links. It's just supposing... I suppose. :)
May 23, 2009 08:26 AM
BLRGUY(Beach & Luxury Realty Inc) - Saint Pete Beach, FL
Gail,the country is in the worng direction....no one takes responsibility anymore...it is always someone else's fault....now you must babysit your comments....too funny!
May 24, 2009 11:42 PM
WJK Realty - Austin, TX
Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY
I just don't see how they expect to police this. So now everyone has to go back to each post and check to see what others wrote?!? And chastise or correct them?? This is totally crackers! What ever happened to free speech and all that stuff our kids are dying for over seas???
May 25, 2009 06:55 AM
WJK Realty - Austin, TX
Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY
I had to come back a use a new word I heard last night..
This is redonkulous!! Normally I would have said ridiculous, but apparently this is what the world is coming to.
May 25, 2009 06:57 AM
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