Okay, so in the last few months, there's been a lot of talk about blogs, and how kids in schools, university students, etc., are all being repromanded for the content found in their blogs. Recently, a school student was suspended because he blogged about how he felt his school was bullying him.

While I personally belive that a blog should be a means of simply expressing your beliefs, feelings, or random thoughts, all without censorship or intervention from other sources, I do feel that it can also rightfully be used to identify individuals as hazardous, mentally or emotibally unstable, or just flat out insane. What I don't agree with, however, is this whole idea of suspending, firing, or incarcerating an individual, just because they make remarks about other individuals, businesses, organizations, or objects that may seem less than positive.

What's a good example? How about this:

DISCLAIMER: The following two blocks are illustrations and have absolutely NO relation to my life whatsoever.

Posted by Blogger-A I am so frustrated with my job. The guy in the cubicle next to me is CONSTANTLY shifting the responsibility for his work to me, even where I have my own workload to worry about. What's more, my boss is a total jerk for siding with the other guy. I think they should both be dragged into the alley and beaten to a pulp, because written citations and suspension haven't seemed to do any good. I hate my job.

Posted by Blogger-B Some lady looked at me funny in the grocery store today. I want to kill everyone who looks at me funny. I think they should all just die.

Both examples instill a bit of fear, sure, but can you see which blogger would be considered a threat and should possibly be monitored? Do you think that either one should have their blogging right taken away? Do you think others should be barred from reading their opinions?

I personally feel as though both bloggers should be allowed to continue, and that neither should be bothered with the possibility of losing their job, losing their driver's license, or being kicked out of school.

Blogger-A expressed a bit of a violent thought, but really did no more than say the same thing anyone else in his position would think. Granted, it's a bit of a far-fetched situation, overall, it still makes the point.

Blogger-B is indeed a potential threat, but he is simply expressing his right to free speech. If the blogging host has rules in place to forbid such content, he is bound by those rules. However, there is absolutely no law that would stop him from expressing his opinion.