Should students feel free to blog about what their professors say in class? How about out of class? Jeff Rosen’s recent New York Times article raised the question, and it has led to some interesting discussion in the blogosphere. See Will Baude’s take on the issue here, and Michael Froomkin’s here.
I have mixed views on this topic, but want to emphasize an important point touched on by Will and Michael: If you are a student and you blog about a professor, you should always assume that the professor will read the post and will know who you are. Even if you blog under a pseudonym and don’t refer to the professor by name, you’re probably leaving enough information behind to identify the professor and yourself. Even if you keep your own identity secret, there aren’t that many professors out there: particularly critical or juicy posts are likely to lead to someone recognizing the professor and tipping off him or her to the blog. The professor may then take some effort to figure out who you are. You may never know about it, either: I know professors who regularly read their students’ discussions of class on their blogs, and don’t want the students to know it.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that students should never blog about professors. But realize that openness cuts both ways: if you blog about them, the chances are pretty good they are going to read it.
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