Inspired by a blog? Tell it out

It’s close to impossible for a blog to keep generating original articles every day. Even if someone managed to do it, blogging was not meant that way.

In it’s definition on “blogs” Wikipedia says -

A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic.

Recently, Kevin raised his concerns on content copying at this thread. Where he says, a similar article to his was featured on another blog, a few days after the original post was published. I’m unsure if this is a case of content copying but, it surely throws light a to the dark side of blogging.

Most blogs are online diaries (as the Wiki says) of the authors thoughts on a particular subject or a product or just about anything that they find interesting. Many a times it’s a judgement they make, or more rightly, kind of a review. So, regardless of what the blog is about, the content is mostly a reaction to another element. The element could be a product/service/thought..anything!

For example, in a niche like “Blogging tips”, it’s very natural for more than one blogger to write on the same topic. Just like in Kevin’s case, one particular topic can be interpreted by two blogs in two entirely different ways. This cannot be categorized as copying either, but thinking deep in to it, there is some level of copying as well. Now, there are no hard and fast rules, but I was wondering - Could there be a solution to iron out the issue of content copying if at all anything like that existed?

Indeed there are quite a few ways available to copy - but in a less irritating and more appreciable  way.

• A link to the original source in the post is the best idea to credit the original blogger.
• Quoting the lines from the first article giving the author’s name is yet another idea in case you are not comfortable linking.
• Adding a footer link, which is much smaller in font is yet another way to show your appreciation to the original source, without losing the importance of your article.
• Disagreeing, with the original source is also a way of showing that you respect the man, but differ in ideas.
• Criticizing the original source - when you cannot relate to an article, write about how wrong it is in your blog. May be you could win his attention by making it constructive criticism.
• Adding a comment on the original article stating that you’ve written a  better review or in a different perspective will show your appreciation to the original source.

I can think of more ways of doing it but I’d like to leave it with you guys. We all know that the blogosphere is all about sharing your knowledge and socializing. It’s about expressing yourself by contradicting, conspiring, reviewing and negotiating. There could be over laps, but showing a bit of respect and appreciation will only help us - all of us.