Blogging is relatively new, but not that new. At first, it was understandable to give a little leeway to those erroneous, misspelled, foul-mouthed comments left on blogs, but not anymore. It’s time that people start using a little discretion when commenting on blogs.

When I say discretion, I don’t mean that people should tip-toe around a subject to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. If there is opportunity for commenting, that means the blogger is open to differences in opinion. What I mean by discretion is good judgment. Give your opinion. Give it proudly, with character, with enthusiasm and passion. However, you should also keep in mind these simple suggestions.

The biggest thing to keep in mind while commenting is respect. First, respect the commenter’s policy. Many bloggers have certain criteria they would like commentators to abide by. If you leave a nasty comment on Barack Obama’s page, don’t expect to actually see it on the Web site because it won’t make it. Also, show a little respect for others and yourself. Of course, the amount of respect you give depends on the type of the blog. For instance, how much do you respect the guy on YouTube that purposely makes himself look like an idiot for attention? Probably not that much, and in that case, don’t worry so much about politeness. On the other hand, if you are commenting on Frontpage Milwaukee, keep in mind that those authors are your peers. You may disagree with them and you many not even respect their opinion, but at least respect them as people.

You should not only respect others when commenting, but also respect yourself and your own opinions. People view rude and foul comments less seriously than well-written and articulated comments. Impolite, aggressive and vulgar comments give other commentators an open shot for ridicule. Your opinion should be valued. Don’t let disrespect and rudeness get in the way of getting your point across.

Another reason others will not take your comment seriously is poor grammar. Blogging isn’t the same as texting. Spell the words out, use spell-check, commas, periods, apostrophes and other appropriate grammatical rules. Not everyone’s grammar is perfect, but a little effort goes a long way.

Anonymous commenting is understandable because of security and personal safety reasons. You may not want to put your full name on a comment, but do use a pseudonym. The point of blogging and commenting is to have a conversation. People need to refer back to what you’ve said, so at least give them a fake name to look for. When you use a pseudonym you are actually taking responsibility for your comments. Too often people don’t leave a name because they don’t want to stand by what they have written. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. If you’re not ready to back up what you’ve said, then maybe you shouldn’t be blogging or commenting about others’ blogs.

Don’t spam…ever! Do watch the length of your comment. When comments are too long people often overlook them. Also, look at other peoples’ comments and make sure you are not writing the same thing as four other people.

Blogging and commenting give people an opportunity to express things that they may not normally have the chance to express. Blogging is a part of globalization. It allows people to communicate across cultures, across the world. We have to respect others in order for the blogosphere to work. We have to think about what we write, how we write and how others might interpret what we write. Whether you are new to the blogging scene or a seasoned veteran, following these simple suggestions will make the whole blogosphere a better place.