The SQ Example
Obviously, I am treating this blog like a new toy--playing with it a lot. And then there's all the spare time I've got, too. Eventually, surely, this will wear off.
But in these early days, I am toying with the concept of discretion. I guess (or at least, I hope) everyone with a grain of common sense does the same when they first start to blog. It's an ancient issue by Internet standards, but somehow it keeps coming to the fore, I think. I'm not using my full name here, because I don't want this blog to be findable on the web that way. On the other hand, I'm not really trying hard for anonymity, and it's already been demonstrated this week that anyone who knows me can figure out my identity in about a second.
I'm trying to be careful, being appropriately vague when necessary, locking off certain posts to Friends-only, and so on, because I've heard (as have we all) too many stories about blogs really messing with people's personal and professional lives. In some cases, this works out fine, because it leads to a book deal. Can't say that I expect that outcome for me. I started this blog so that I would write more. Mostly, I planned to talk about swimming (because no one I know actually does it and I think I'm boring them all with my constant obsessing on it--of course, many of these people are the same ones linking to my blog, so go figure), but I don't seem able to help myself from veering away from the topic.
While I type, I feel it important to keep the lesson of SQ fresh in my mind. About 10 years ago, before blogs became popular, a new employee at my office decided to change her name. She picked a bizarre, extremely crunchy name with the initials SQ, and was so stoked by her choice that she decided to e-mail everyone in the large corporation in which we worked to tell us all about it. Let me also point out that her job primarily consisted of dealing with the public, and specifically, in the appropriate dissemination of information.
In short order, she was quickly fired (with no ensuing book deal, obviously). And, what was more, we were all forbidden to discuss it with people outside the company.
I imagine incidents like this happen all the time that we never hear about. I do know that in my previous job, one of the other potential candidates bitched on his blog about not getting it, and he did it in such a way that he could be easily identified. Not really a good idea if he ever wanted to try again to be employed by that company. Or indeed, in any other company in a related field.
I hope I will always know where to draw the appropriate line.
But in these early days, I am toying with the concept of discretion. I guess (or at least, I hope) everyone with a grain of common sense does the same when they first start to blog. It's an ancient issue by Internet standards, but somehow it keeps coming to the fore, I think. I'm not using my full name here, because I don't want this blog to be findable on the web that way. On the other hand, I'm not really trying hard for anonymity, and it's already been demonstrated this week that anyone who knows me can figure out my identity in about a second.
I'm trying to be careful, being appropriately vague when necessary, locking off certain posts to Friends-only, and so on, because I've heard (as have we all) too many stories about blogs really messing with people's personal and professional lives. In some cases, this works out fine, because it leads to a book deal. Can't say that I expect that outcome for me. I started this blog so that I would write more. Mostly, I planned to talk about swimming (because no one I know actually does it and I think I'm boring them all with my constant obsessing on it--of course, many of these people are the same ones linking to my blog, so go figure), but I don't seem able to help myself from veering away from the topic.
While I type, I feel it important to keep the lesson of SQ fresh in my mind. About 10 years ago, before blogs became popular, a new employee at my office decided to change her name. She picked a bizarre, extremely crunchy name with the initials SQ, and was so stoked by her choice that she decided to e-mail everyone in the large corporation in which we worked to tell us all about it. Let me also point out that her job primarily consisted of dealing with the public, and specifically, in the appropriate dissemination of information.
In short order, she was quickly fired (with no ensuing book deal, obviously). And, what was more, we were all forbidden to discuss it with people outside the company.
I imagine incidents like this happen all the time that we never hear about. I do know that in my previous job, one of the other potential candidates bitched on his blog about not getting it, and he did it in such a way that he could be easily identified. Not really a good idea if he ever wanted to try again to be employed by that company. Or indeed, in any other company in a related field.
I hope I will always know where to draw the appropriate line.