Web publishing and accountability
Posted 19 April 2005, 16:58. (Filed under: Opinion by Andrew)
The whole process of accountability for articles and content takes on a life of its own when publishing on the web. No longer can someone say “You said this!”, and wave a real-life, black-and-white magazine article in your face to prove it. I can modify website content at will. I can choose to let you know I’ve changed the contents of an article, or I can conceal that fact, leaving only the evidence in your memory, and perhaps Google’s cache.
I think that this ability to update articles after publication is a double-edged sword. I’ve portrayed it quite negatively, but, used judiciously, I think it is advantageous. As I mature and change, my understanding of the subjects I write about will change too. I have seen Christian leaders panned for changing their minds over time and opposing views that they held previously as truth. I think that it takes humility and courage to admit that you were wrong, and it happens to us all. I want to be able to provide a viewpoint that is both steady, to show I don’t change my mind every time the wind changes direction, and also adaptable, so that I do not look obstinate.
To this end, I propose the following system.
- Spelling mistakes and bad grammar will be corrected transparently, assuming that the error did not change the meaning of the article.
- Modifications to supporting arguments and tangential issues will be annotated with the date of the change and possibly a footnote for explanation.
- Changes to my position, or theological standpoint, relating to the contents of the article will result in a complete re-write of the article, which will be published on the date of the re-write. It will contain a reference to the original article which will be preserved for posterity. A link to the new article will be added to the top of the old article for those viewing it from an external link.
This system should provide users of the website with the most up-to-date articles, while leaving a fairly comprehensive audit trail for those who want it.
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