Blacklisting is completely up to the blog author, and moderators can not alter who is on a blogger's blacklist. Blacklistng is a great way to make sure you're blog stays your own space. It is one of those things that distinguishes the blogs from the boards in that the blogs are, for the most part, self-policing.

Moderators get a lot of requests to look into blacklisting issues, but we have no authority over someone's choices. We trust that people will use the function responsibly. Moreover, we hope that if a blogger realizes they do not want comments in their blogs, they can simply choose to turn comments off.

If you find you have been blacklisted, it may be due to several reasons. The point is that bloggers can control who comments on their blogs. Keep in mind that the blogs are not primarily for discussion threads. They are more like ongoing journals, essays and articles. As long as that blogger is not violating any Terms of Use guidelines and are not posting objectionable or inappropriate material, then they control their own blogspace for the most part. People may comment on those blogs, but the blogger ultimately decides who.

This doesn't mean always that the blacklisted person did something "wrong". It may be more to do with the idea that people all have different views, and bloggers may not want every view expressed in their personal blogspace. Remember, it's sort of like their own "magazine", which means they control the content, too. But sometimes it happens because people say things that rub bloggers the wrong way. So if you're commenting and you have differing views, make sure you express them with respect and care for the blogger's views. If you're a blogger, make sure your blacklist is accurate and not overused, and remember that you can choose to turn off all comments.

Now, sometimes blacklisting happens by mistake. If the blogger clicks the wrong link in an email or next to the posters name in their comment fields, that posters name gets transported to their blacklist. Whereas it is the bloggers perogative to blacklist whomever they feel should not be responding to their blogs, it is also their responsibility to maintain that list, and to make sure there are no names on there accidentlally.

So remember - it's both a benefit and a responsibility - a repsponsibiltiy for commenters not to end up on too many blacklists, and for Bloggers not to overuse, misuse, or to allow their blacklist to become full of names they never intended to be there.

Me - I don't have anyone on my blacklist right now. But I check it from time to time to make sure I haven't accidentally added someone. And yes, once I did find a name in there I don't recall adding, so it can definitely happen.

Thanks,
DM out