In these days when we’re spun a line on most issues, bloggers in particular should retain their own ability to speak out freely and fearlessly on issues that matter to them. I say “bloggers” because the blogosphere is perhaps the one medium left where this can happen. For now. Even here in beta-land one can sense the big media players, and the law, beginning to close in like the gentle fall of a huge spider’s web.

In trying to formulate a code of practice for bloggers ~ and writers in general ~ we can start with previous attempts at defining human freedom of thought and expression. One of my favourite statements was made 2,500 years ago by Gotama Buddha. In the Kalama Sutta ~ sometimes called “The Charter of Freedom” ~ the Buddha tells the Kalama people not to bother themselves with what others think; not to listen to “wise” men’s pronouncements, or necessarily accept the views of authority. They should prove the truth of each statement by reference to their own personal experience. Even today, this is one of the most breathtaking expressions of personal liberty. It has, of course, been spun a lot, and explained away, since. But let the statement speak for itself :

“It is proper for you, Kalamas, to doubt, to be uncertain; uncertainty has arisen in you about what is doubtful. Come, Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumour; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another’s seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, ‘The monk is our teacher.’ Kalamas, when you yourselves know that these things are bad, blamable and lead to harm and ill, abandon them.”

As a code for writers and bloggers, it’s a very good start.