Adam Cohen Suggests Code of Ethics For Bloggers

Adam Cohen, in an editorial yesterday in the New York Times, questioned the ethics of Bloggers (POINT FIVE ACTION WARNING 177: subscription required). His piece has caused an uproar in the blogosphere, and has even inspired legislation from some prominent senators. Dubbed the "McCain/Kerry Unenforceable Internet Web Logging Code of Conduct Law for Bloggers Who Blog," this legislation will "create a sense of accountability among a largely unregulated media," said maverick Washington outsider Sen. John Kerry. "These bloggers were responsible for the unsubstantiated, irresponsible attacks on prominent presidential candidates last year, who, by the way, have served in Vietnam".

The law contains the following limits:

• Posts classified as containing 'false statements' are not allowed, unless they are directed against a sitting Republican President, at which time they shall be reclassified as 'true statements.'
• Irresponsible counters on blogs such as how long ago Kerry promised to sign a F-180 are to be replaced by more important counters, like the Iraqi civilian body count, or the Fallen Americans body count.
  
• The Drudge Report shall always be referenced as "The Drudge Report, a leading blog."
• Calling the Main Stream Media the "LSM" or Lame Stream Media is now a hate crime.
• There is no God but Allah (that one's for insurance).
• The difference between 99.9999% certainty that documents are forgeries and 100% certainty is the difference between civilization and anarchy. The former should always be referred to as "..the National Guard documents, which a few partisans have questioned the authenticity of..."
• Did you know that Blog stands for Web Log?
  

"I had to sponsor this bill," said Sen. McCain. "You don't get to be the biggest wanker in D.C. by getting up at noon and sitting on your ass all day."