README: A Blogger's Disclaimer.

[ibneko]

Blinkie readme gif from the readme site. Go read.

A few things, however:
Never contact the writer for more details on events or personal information than what they have already provided on the site.
No, if you have questions, or want to know more, please do, although being polite about it will definitely get you more information than being demanding.

First of all let them know that you read their site, especially if they did not tell you personally.
*cough* I know there's a few of you out there...

If someone writes about you and you don't appreciate it, approach them about it. Try to remain calm and polite. Explain that you are entitled to your privacy as well. There are many compromises that can be reached from using vague nicknames to protect your anonymity, or not mentioning you at all.
I will almost always use nicknames, or shorter versions of names (if possible). If I don't, tell me and I'll correct it immediately.

If you are upset because they are writing negative things about you, be reasonable, try to see if there is a way to resolve the issues and mend your relationship with the writer.
This has happened once. And um. Yeah. It falls under the next paragraph: Ex-friends, lovers and estranged family members who have been cut out of the writer's life should refrain from reading their journal.. Should it happen again, and you're a real life friend (implying that the above ex-friends/ ex-lover who has been cut out of the writer's life category doesn't apply to you), tell me! And um, you have my permission to beat me up next time to see me. Chances are, I may not have meant what you thought I said, but if I did write negative things on purpose... Hm. Meh, you know, I dunno. And if you're not a real life friend, but someone I've met online, I shouldn't be writing negative things about you. You're probably mistaken :D But feel free to ask for clarification.

Never ask someone to make you a layout, to help with your site or show you how to do a certain script or graphic effect that they have on their site, unless they specifically offer their help.
No, feel free to ask. 'course, search engines are out there, so you really should try those first, but...

Never use anything off a person's site, be it writing, images or html code, unless they say otherwise.
Use, if you want, but cite or link back to me. Especially if you're taking parts of something, and not all of it. Stuff out of context, when misunderstood, can be bad. :D