I am a true believer, avid follower and committed advocate of the Dofollow Movement. I don't know if you are aware of the phenomenon, but we are several communities of dofollow websites unified against the nofollow directive.
The nofollow directive, just like comment moderation, is a form of censorship and control. It has no place in a free society.
By moderating, editing and cutting comments because they are considered 'spam' by some, is a form of censorship that undermines the whole spirit of the Free Internet. Comments are meant to promote interaction, yet when this is censored it brings about an air of fear. The simple fear of getting moderated, edited or deleted.
Dofollow, mostly unmonitored commenting practices promote unbridled thought and expression. It sets commentators free to write what they are really feeling.
There will be those who use this for their marketing advantage by posting links to their websites, blogs and affiliate sites, however if this is the price for freedom, how hard is it to scroll over these 'ads'?
I am not criticizing Business.gov (I don't even know if you use the nofollow attribute or not any more than I know your moderation practices) I am fighting (writing) for freedom.
Please consider promoting a truly Free Internet, by apposing the nofollow attribute and only comment moderation in the sense to protect children from predators and obscenities.
I guess I don't understand how the nofollow attribute prohibits free speech. My understanding (and it is limited) is that the nofollow's only real function is to keep Google from passing PageRank juice to the link.
I don't believe it has any other effect. Am I missing something here?
I guess I don't understand how the nofollow attribute prohibits free speech. My understanding (and it is limited) is that the nofollow's only real function is to keep Google from passing PageRank juice to the link. I don't believe it has any other effect. Am I missing something here?
You are right, sir, in that nofollow is not a direct form of censorship. However it does discourage people from commenting, considering they see no benefit in doing so.
There are million of bloggers out there trying to grow their blogs. One way of getting links is, as you know, commenting. These bloggers search for dofollow links in their niche. These bloggers would be inclined to get involved in discussion with incentive of a backlink. After all, with so many blogs out there where they could comment, why should they get involved in conversation where they get no link when they can just as well get involved in conversation where they do get a link?
Alright, so blogs are trying to cut down on spam, but they are at the same time cutting down valuable interaction from bloggers (usually related to the niche of the conversation) just trying to grow their blog/business.
I am one of these bloggers. I like getting involved in conversations that interest me, affect me and mean something to me, but there are so many of these conversations out there, why shouldn't I choose those that offer me a backlink over those that offer me nothing in return? After all, I am trying to grow my blog/business. What's wrong with that?
ayazmian | Window Shopper | 11/7/2010 - 1:14 pm
legaljeff | Performer | 10/9/2010 - 8:35 am
tomretterbush | Performer | 10/9/2010 - 9:55 am
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