Blogroll Update

Hi, everybody, and welcome to the weekend!  As you may have noticed, our spring cleaning around the blog has gone very well (Thank you, Hermione!).  I wanted to follow up on our recent blogroll poll.  MBS readers confirmed by a wide margin my belief that the blogroll is valuable and worth the time it takes to maintain.

By a 2-to-1 margin, you said you weren't very interested in links to blogs written in languages other than English.  I have mixed feelings about this.  My inclination is to return links from legitimate blogs with similar content.  In addition, an English-only policy seems uncomfortably provincial to me.  However, as a practical matter, my lack of understanding of languages like Spanish, German, Czech, and Danish leaves me unable to assess the content of these blogs.  A link from me is a recommendation, or at least a suggestion.  I don't feel as though I can send MBS readers to a blog that I am unable to read.  I may change my mind, but for now, that's how we will handle this question.

The alphabetical versus chronological vote was a lot closer than I expected.  While a majority preferred the status quo alphabetical list, a sizable minority opted for the most recently updated format.  The only practical solution was to do both.  If you haven't seen it yet, I added a time-based blogroll at the bottom of the right column.  By default, it displays only the most recent 25 blogs.  However, readers can expand it to show all blogs.

I'm pretty enthusiast about this new blogroll.  Were I inclined toward hyperbole, I might claim that it's bigger than the Universe and better connected than the Network.  But I'll let you be the judge.  Whether you're looking for an old favorite or seek to discover the latest and greatest, I think you'll find there's something here for every spanking enthusiast.

I was pleased to see that the results from the content question were in line with my current practice.  The types of blogs you said you wanted to see linked are the same ones I've been trying to find.

I'm still pondering some sort of category notation on the alphabetical blogroll.  The challenge is that many blogs fit into multiple categories.  I don't want five little marks after a blog name.  Nor do I want to list a versatile blog in five different places.  At that point, the updates become insane.

I am grateful to MBS readers for telling me what you like (and sometimes don't like).  Working together, I believe we can make this a better blog.

All About Linky Love

Every so often, I get e-mails from bloggers who want to know whether I will link their blog, why I haven't linked them, or why I removed their link. I have answered these questions before, but it's been at least a year, so it's probably worth reiterating.

I can only link blogs if I know about them. I can and do watch for new spanking-oriented blogs. Helpful readers also share their new finds. However, it's impossible for me to discover every one. If you believe your blog might be of interest to MBS readers, please e-mail me the URL and I will take a look. Subject to the factors listed below, I will consider your blog for inclusion in my blogroll.

As you can see, my blogroll is fairly exhaustive. There are currently over 200 links. I think of the blogroll as one of the highlights of MBS and many readers seem to agree.

The list represents a wide ranging mix of topics including spanking, domestic discipline, dominance and submission, erotic adventures, bondage, and BDSM. Naturally, I cannot maintain a list that includes every blog that touches on any of these subjects. There are quite literally thousands of them. I look first and foremost for content related to consensual adult spanking. That is the main topic for this blog and the reason most readers come here. I also include selected blogs that discuss related subjects if I believe the author offers a unique and valuable perspective that spanking enthusiasts will appreciate.

There are eight elements that cause me to not want to link a blog:

1. Depicting or advocating the spanking of children


2. Absence of clear consent


3. Serious injuries inflicted


4. Misogyny


5. Gratuitous graphic sexual photographs


6. Wholly commercial content


7. Extremely crude or ill-mannered text


8. Minimal spanking-related content

Beyond these specific concerns, I tend to be open minded, especially if I like the spanking content. I don't assume that everyone's relationship will operate as ours does. In fact, I believe that presenting a rainbow of possibilities best serves a diverse MBS readership.

I routinely delete links for blogs that have become stale. I define stale as no meaningful posts for at least two months. By this stage, I have to assume the blogger has abandoned the blog or has taken an extended break. I also remove broken links and links to private blogs immediately. A blogroll full of stale and broken links would quickly frustrate readers, so I strive to avoid this problem.

If I removed your link, it doesn't mean I don't like you any more. In fact, making these decisions is very difficult for me. It feels like letting go of a friend.

If you've decided that you want to return to active blogging or if you think I've removed your link in error, please e-mail me and we'll get everything straightened out.

In summary, I maintain an extensive blogroll primarily as a service to readers. It simply cannot be all things to all people. Hopefully, however, it can be a useful resource for adult spanking enthusiasts.

To Link or Not to Link?

There's been a lot of discussion this week about links. With Tiggr and Dante leading the way, a number of other bloggers have joined the friendly debate. The questions center on when and why we link and how many links a blogger should provide. I don't claim to have the definitive formula, but I can offer some insight.

Over the past six months, I've evolved from being downright miserly with links to linking every worthy spanko blog I can find. This decision is one I've never regretted.

It's a lot of work to maintain a large blogroll, but I think it's worthwhile. I've had the pleasure of introducing a number of great bloggers and helping them to become established. I've met some wonderful friends and I have been exposed to valuable perspectives I might otherwise have missed.

But that's my experience. For a more general answer, let's consider the arguments on both sides.

More Links Makes blog comprehensive Builds community Helps new bloggers Service for readers Personal favorites list Reciprocal links Sources for inspiration Provides diverse perspectives No perceived snubs It's fun!

Fewer Links Less work Fewer dead links Better knowledge of links Maximizes reader interest Rewards friends More time for content No one can follow 100 blogs Higher quality links No perceived phoniness It's practical!

Each blogger must make this decision for themselves. In my opinion, there is no right or wrong, except in the context of one blog and one blogger. In the final analysis, what truly matters is not how you answer these questions, but that you gave them your consideration.

Keywords: blogging, links