Frank. It’s all about the intent. Very few ever set out to be disruptive. Showing tolerance and patience while newcomers figure things out is a big part of a moderator’s responsibility. Given that the online community self-moderating (so to speak) we could do with a little more tolerance and patience.

BarterMan, we certainly still are in “a huge minefield waiting to explode” and this level of uncertainty is putting many off from getting stuck in. I spoke to people in work today about Twitter and Jaiku and they expressed amazement at the rate that things are changing online. Its getting harder and harder for (non-techie) business/marketing people to keep a handle on what’s happening.

Dan, with traditional media the journalist has the responsibility to ensure the accuracy of what they write. The essence of social media is that this screening is removed. Everyone is free to publish whatever they want. The more inaccurate information that is put out in blogs the more people will turn away from them as reliable sources of information. This is a challenge as some research earlier in the year from Edelman showed that blogs are now less influential than they were previously.

Thanks for all the comments guys. I’m glad that the topic is one that is in people’s minds. I’ll certainly try to figure out the rules, by both participating and watching, and document them where I can for others’ benefit.

Imagine if a business were to claim it was being harassed or squeezed out of the marketplace by a named entity but then never backed up its claims it would be laughed out of the room. That’s not the case with some of the elders or commentariat, either here or elsewhere. Whether it’s about Gov. Palin’s fifth kid or how great your new business venture is the model practised if not preached on-line is to get in there first with your claims to build traffic and then worry about accuracy later.

As to a business being any different to us ‘locals’…? The “Wild, Wild, Web” (as I prefer to call it) is still a huge minefield waiting to explode… with greatness or shrapnel, who knows…

If we can’t act in a civilized manner here in this virtual, anonymous realm, is there really any hope elsewhere…?

To expect those on the pitch to be patient for every single person that attempts to join this game is asking far too much. You’ll only get a bollocking when you do something wrong, you’re not going to be sought out and berated for just being new.

Equally to expect them to supply a set of rules for “their” game is also asking far too much. They want to a) play the game and b) the rules are still forming in front of their own eyes.

There will be others who are watching this match who will take time out to explain the rules to the best of their knowledge. You’ll find them as you observe the match.

As for harsh dressing downs. I think businesses experience the harshest of them because they are meant to be the pros, they are meant to have done the footwork and research because they have the resources to do so and when they ignore the same online rules which they adhere to offline then it’s arrogance not ignorance that’s to blame.