I've had a couple of folks raise questions about my decision to hook up with PayPerPost.Com. They have raised issues of integrity, of whether my advertising is somehow a debasement of my site or my writing, and the degree to which my other posts might be influenced. Let me address those issues.

1) How can my PayPerPost.Com really be seen as debasing this site, given that I've had AdSense up for a very long time, as well as Amazon. Heck, I used to have the LinkShare ads on the site, and didn't get a single penny in six months! I don't see the advertising posts, which are clearly labeled as such, to be any different.

2) My involvement in writing the ads doesn't raise an integrity question, any more than the practice of radio hosts doing ads on their own shows constitutes an integrity problem. Heck, I do more to make my advertising posts clearly an advertisement than some on-air personalities do, so does this really raise an integrity issue at all? I don't think so.

3) Will my paid writing impact my other posts? I do not believe so. I write what I believe, and only take offers I believe are appropriate. I've got one opportunity I've been looking at for some time, but I'm just not sure that I can endorse the product in question in the way they are asking. And if I won't prostitute myself for cash, why would I do so on posts I'm not being paid for?

Lastly, some of you want to know why I'm doing this at all. Blogging is a hobby, after all, right? Yeah, it is -- but the reality is that there are medical bills to pay, plus a mortgage and car payment, among other stuff. My wife can't work due to her health. If I can make a bit of money doing something I love in an ethical manner, why not?

Posted by: Greg at 06:10 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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