Posted by Orin Kerr:
Blogging About Professors:
Should students feel free to blog about what their professors say in
class? How about out of class? Jeff Rosen's recent [1]New York Times
article raised the question, and it has led to some interesting
discussion in the blogosphere. See Will Baude's take on the issue
[2]here, and Michael Froomkin's [3]here.
I have mixed views on this topic, but want to emphasize an important
point touched on by Will and Michael: If you are a student and you
blog about a professor, you should always assume that the professor
will read the post and will know who you are. Even if you blog under a
pseudonym and don't refer to the professor by name, you're probably
leaving enough information behind to identify the professor and
yourself. Even if you keep your own identity secret, there aren't that
many law professors out there: particularly critical or juicy posts
are likely lead to someone recognizing the professor and tipping off
him or her to the blog. The professor may then take some time to try
to figure out who you are. You may never know about it, either: I know
professors who enjoy reading their students' blogs and don't want the
students to know they read them.
Of course, this doesn't mean that students should never blog about a
professor. But realize that openness cuts both ways: if you blog about
them, the chances are pretty good they are going to read it.
References
1.
http://www.discourse.net/archives/2004/12/is_class_bloggable_how_about_private_chats.html
2. http://www.crescatsententia.org/archives/2004_12_19.html#004820
3.
http://www.discourse.net/archives/2004/12/is_class_bloggable_how_about_private_chats.html
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