Let Your Readers Decide Which Dynamic View To Use, When Viewing Your Blog

Some time ago, I pointed out that our readers should provide the final voice, in deciding how to view our blogs. Not everybody seems to agree with me.

I have been told by my readers, having viewed my blog, that they have the option to change which dynamic setting - because the drop down menu is accessible to them. I have tried this myself when not logged in, and it completely messes up the view I want. How can I fix this so only I can change the settings?

This blog owner believes that only he knows how his readers should see his blog.

It is possible, through the use of the right CSS, to remove specific view selections from the View Select menu, in a dynamic template. Your knowledgeable readers, though, know that the dynamic views are directly accessible through the proper URLs.

Here are three views of this blog. Today, you'll see this article, at the top.

1. This blog, in non dynamic view.
2. This blog, in Magazine view.
3. This blog, in Sidebar view.

Click on the second link, in the list. That should open a new tab or window in the browser, showing this blog, in Magazine view. Look at the browser address window.

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/view/magazine

Now, type "sidebar" in place of "magazine", in the address window, and hit Enter.

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/view/sidebar

Your readers can do the same, when viewing your blog. Why not allow them the convenience of doing just that, without typing? But, it's your blog - and in the end, it's your choice.

Enabling Blogger For Your Private Domain

With (now another legacy option) Google Apps accounts providing private email addresses, some blog owners used their email addresses improperly.

Ever since Google changed Google Apps so owners of private domains could use their domain email addresses, administered through Google Apps, as Google accounts, Blogger blog owners started consolidating ownership of their Blogger blogs to accounts based on their Google Apps email addresses. Later, we started to get various reports of people unable to administer their blogs, with the blogs now owned by the consolidated Blogger accounts.

In other cases, blog owners were using Blogger accounts which used email addresses provided by their educational institution or employer, who had recently switched to using Google Apps provided email.

Recently, Google added Blogger as a service, controllable from the Google Apps Services wizard. Now, new Google accounts based on Google Apps controlled domains, by default, have the Blogger service disabled - and these Google accounts can't be immediately used for Blogger blog ownership.

If you are the owner of a private domain, you may be unable to create a Blogger account based on your Google Apps provided email address.

Blogger has not been enabled by the administrator of the domain xxxxxxx.com.
You can sign into another account to use Blogger.

You may be able to enable the Blogger service for your domain. From the Google Apps desktop, for the domain administrator account, go to "Organization & Users". The Blogger service should be listed, under the "Services" tab.

If "Blogger" is not visible under "Core Google Services", look further down the list, under "Additional Services". You will find the service, in one list or the other, indicated as either "Off" (in red), or "On" (in green). If Blogger is Off, click on "On", then on "Save Changes" at the bottom of the services list. Observe the advice

These changes may take up to 24 hours to propagate to all users

If you are simply an owner of one email account in the domain, you may have to convince the domain administrators to enable "Blogger" as a service - or setup a new Blogger account, based on a new email account outside the current domain.

Whether you are the owner - or just one more user - you should be aware of the possible consequences of using an Apps provided email address for your Blogger account.

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Reporting Illegal Activity In Blogger Blogs

Blogger / Google provides two forms, for us to use when reporting unacceptable content, in Blogger blogs.

• Blogger Help: Report inappropriate content
• Google Help: Removing Content From Google

Each form has a different use - and both forms have their stated limits. You'd be wise to look at both forms - and read the instructions, for each, carefully.

Neither form will produce an absolute, nor immediate, result. Google has to consider that either form may be intentionally misused, for various reasons, when evaluating any claim made.

We've known, for a while, of the various options to report Blogger blogs which violate Blogger or Google Terms Of Service.

The original "abuse" report was focused merely on spam.

The option to report abusive blogs (aka spam hosts) has been an option since 2009. In 2010, Google added the complementary ability to report copyright violations.

Now, we have much more than just spam.

Recently, we see that the latter form, now titled Google Help: Removing Content From Google, has been expanded to include a dozen different Google services. The existing Blogger Help: Report inappropriate content continues to be available.

The "illegal content" list for Blogger, in the Google Help page, has been expanded, since 2011 - though some selections, in the list, offer only a disclaimer. Removing Content From Google seems to cover clear cut legal issues - while problems reported using Reporting abuse appear to involve the complainants personal perception.

Note that results may not be absolute, or immediate.

Regardless of which form is submitted, we must note here that all problem reports may not produce immediate - or appropriate - response. Also, strict attention to detail is required - your reputation may be on the line, with your abuse reports.

The Google "Legal" removal requests offer few choices, tightly defined.

The list of content removal categories, in Removing Content From Google - with "Blogger" selected, is presented in two lists.

What can we help you with?

• I would like to report spam, malware, or phishing
• I would like to report a blog that impersonates me
• I would like to report the disclosure of private information or private nude images
• I would like to report harassment and bullying content
• I have a legal issue that is not mentioned above

What can we help you with?

• I have found content that may violate my copyright
• I would like to file a counter notice to reinstate content that was removed due to an alleged copyright violation
• I would like to report the sale or promotion for sale of counterfeit goods
• I have a court order declaring certain content unlawful
• I would like to report a product or service that circumvents copyright protection mechanisms
• I have found content that may be defamation/libel

In addition to the earlier reported DMCA Copyright Violations reporting options,and an option to serve a court order which relates to copyright / trademark infringement, we now see hacking (phishing / disclosure of private data), copyright protection circumvention, and sale of counterfeit goods, as removal reasons. And we see a continued disclaimer against removal of defamatory content.

As interesting as these new reporting categories are, we have to note that the "illegal activities" primarily include international electronic activity. Any illegal activities which relate to local or regional statutes, whether civil or criminal in nature, will still require hiring an attorney, and / or investigation and prosecution by local law enforcement officials.

Blogger "Inappropriate content" removal requests are more personal in nature.

Blogger provides Blogger Help: Report inappropriate content form, which has specific categories of personally perceived abuse.

• Someone is copying my content or other legal concerns
• Promotion of regulated goods and services
• Hate speech, violent, or crude content
• Harassment or bullying
• Child safety, nudity, or adult content
• Someone is posting my private information, or explicit content of me without my consent
• Someone is pretending to be me
• Someone is pretending to be a company or organization
• Spam
• Phishing
• Malware

Whenever you submit a legal claim to Blogger / Google, please remember that your claim will not be taken at face value - Google Legal will carefully consider everybody's rights. For best results, you may still need the advice of a lawyer - preferably one experienced in Internet related conflict.