Posted by: Brian Krueger, PhD
Posted on: Sun, Dec 19, 2010, 8:28 pm CST
The guest blog is just an incubator. If someone puts a name on the list on the google docs sheet, I'll invite the vetted person to write a post. I didn't think this was going to be a problem since anyone can put a name on the list. You all are also open to use your own blogs to invite people to give guest posts. I've done this twice with my blog, and GR did this to promote Thomas Joseph. If we like what the person blogs about, we can talk further in the private forum about them and have a real discussion and a vote if that's necessary. It's totally informal. I don't see any harm inviting unknowns or people who have never blogged to post on the guest blog. It's a space for experimentation. I think more scientists would blog if they realized how easy and enriching the process was. Of course, we'll be inviting established bloggers to post too, but I'd like to see them use different media forms or write on a topic outside of their comfort zone, again, another experiment. I don't think the goal of the guest blog should be to only highlight already great bloggers who are well established. That only helps us and doesn't open the door to other people.
I will always censor trolls on my blog posts if they have nothing to say and only coerce arguments. Trolling has no place on the internet. It's cancer. I will not tolerate personal attacks on me or anyone else. If people don't have constructive comments and only comment to disparage me or the website, their comments will be deleted. This is one of the few things I will not compromise on. Everyone is welcome to control their comments however they see fit. I can count the number of posts I have deleted on one hand, and half of those were made by the same person.
I didn't have time this weekend to code the private forum. I'll try to get to it one night this week!
BTW, no oen on the list currently is auditioning. They're just guest posts, but if someone stands out we can talk about sending an invite if everyone agrees! So Gerty, Everyone gets a say in who they would like to guest post, and they also get a vote on if someone new can join (if we're interested in bringing it to a discussion).