B.L. Ochman says bloggers need a code of ethics. I’ve always resisted this idea because blogging seems so…free. But I’ve always known that I’m subject to a “code laws” and would be liable for libeling someone. I’m not sure I’d trust other bloggers to craft a code of ethics, though.

Ethics aren’t rules or laws, of course, but who’d put together such a code? Lawyers? Business bloggers? Students? Homemakers? Would there be one code or several? My head spins just thinking about it…

The issue arises because of a big blog swarm last week. A Los Angeles Times reporter and blogger named Michael Hiltzik pseudonymously defended his own articles on blogs and attacked other bloggers on their blogs. That wouldn’t have been so bad if he hadn’t pretended not to be Hiltzik.

The Pulitzer Prize-winner (!) was exposed by Patrick “Patterico” Frey, whose blog he frequently commented on. Here’s Patterico’s first post. It’s a beauty. After noticing a pattern, Patterico started digging. He has quite a few posts about the scandal, so I’d recommend you start with the proper category, Dog Trainer, and start with the earliest posts.

Very simple to track this guy down. I can’t believe Hiltzik was that dense. The Times suspended Hiltzik’s blog, and the blogosphere is having fun debating back and forth whether he should be fired.

In a recent post Patterico criticizes the New York Time’s coverage of the scandal.
JustOneMinute calls for “An Army of Hiltzik’s.” Don’t get the reference? See this post.