What's the BIG FUSS all about? Selling the Blogosphere's Soul? Stupid and Evil?

Oh. Please.

To me, disclosure is critical. If I am taking money from someone to help them market their business, I am transparent about that. However, I don't think that a "blog post" can't be a vehicle for marketing something. Who made that rule? In fact, I think it could be one of the best vehicles. I don't see a problem with blogging about something for money, as long as the potential conflict of interest is disclosed.

Why? I respect the person reading what I write. I respect them enough to know that they can make up their own mind.

So, while Payperpost.com might not be very good about disclosing, the idea of getting paid to post my thoughts or hightlight someone else's is not stupid or evil. And it will not herald the end of the blogosphere.

I'd recommend that PayPerPost require bloggers to disclose that they are getting paid and I don't think they should require approval of the post by the advertiser. Then, advertisers would simply be paying bloggers for their attention. I'd much rather advertising dollars pay blogger's for their thoughts and time than finance another sitcom.

(I should note that I do not own this blog and I have never taken money to post a blog post. And I wouldn't do it on this blog w/out permission. And this post is my personal opinion and not the opinion of Creative Weblogging.)