Online Reputation

what you say or do on-line can come back to haunt you. I just saw that happen this week.

The Internet, and forums like TR even, is somewhat annonymous to an extent and that does give some people the ability to create a totally different persona. You can never be completely certain of what a person is really like from what is written, such as, in these discussions.

However, you asked if I ("you") worry about my online reputation. I do not. I learned a long time ago to not say or do anything that you wouldn't want printed or repeated. That goes for me on-line as well. Quite frankly, my thoughts and ideas that I post here is who I really am. I believe in what I say (type) or I don't say it. It's kind of like "what you see (read) is what you get" from me.

I am concerned of what people think of me. There are times when I may say the wrong thing or not come across correctly and I try to make sure I get it corrected. I don't want anyone to think badly of me. There are some folks, even here in TR land, that probably don't like me but more than likely the few who do not usually come across as idiots to everyone else as well. With someone like that, I don't really care what they think. But, for anyone who is willing to listen and discuss things openly, maturely, and civilly then I do want to make sure that they completely understand my point.

In essence, I don't leave anything on the web, in any way, that can be harmful to me. So, no, I don't "worry" about my online reputation.

It is something more people might need to think about though.

while you were editing your. I don't think they can move it. But you can create a new post in General topics and put this URL into it so people might see it at both places. Actually, I would put it in Miscellaneous.

Every once in awhile something is put in the wrong section but don't worry about it too much.

I learned long ago and tried to teach my children the basics of being online. They are to never reveal your true name, address, phone number, social security number, drivers licence number, or location of birth, or any of those numbers or info of any other person you know, friend or enemy. If that information is guarded then no one can track anything you say or do online back to you. There are those exceptions when it comes to your ISP as they have access to you at all times and realy know who you are. I do not and never will use a credit card or banking information online, as I do not know who may have hacked into any of those businesses or intercepted said information. One must understand that we are always being judged by those who wish to make those determinations by what they read, observe and perceive by online postings. LET THEM! What I post here in TR is based on true life experiences and never reveal who I work for, and the customers I serve. Most all of that info is general in nature and someone who knows me and reads my posts could surely deduce my identity just from my screen name, but would not be positive without asking me directly in person and I would hope that they would abide by the rules I follow. Before I would allow any of my children to go online, I drilled these rules into them so they wouldn't be subjected to any of the scams that can be perpetrated by others who would use this info against them. All of the children are grown now and I like to think they know the proper way to do things online and that they will pass this onto their children too. It may sound a bit hard line for those who really don't care, but just one violation of their info and I'm sure they would see the logic. I have chosen my screen name carefully, and use it everywhere I go online, be it MSNBC, ZDNET or where ever. I can not imagine having to have a list of user names posted by my machine that I have to consult each site I go to. My life is complicated enough, I don't need that hassle too. There will always be others who will seek to belittle others as a way to demonstrate their superiority to themselves. Doing so may make them feel good, but will only serve to seperate themselves from others and reveal their true nature to those who read their postings. If you feel good about yourself, it will be very apparent in your manner and words and the reverse is true also. Beware, you are being judged by others with every post you make, good or bad. Is that a reason to create an online personna that masks who you are and what you believe?? NO, but if it makes you feel better, knock yourself out.
I was taught by my father that there are two things that everyone has,
1. A butthole
2. An opinion
Your job is to determine which one they are exercising..
This has been true in my life and has guided me to many correct decisions that affected my life. Knowing that has helped me to really understand people and their decisions in life.

I tend to act the same way in the online world as I do in the real world. I can be a genius, a moron, and everything in between.

The only problem is that sometimes in the online world you lose that little something je ne sais pas.

I'd have no problem with someone searching my postings and asking me about them. I'd be more than willing to even give them user names (like I hide my name).

My take on it is this:
Most people are mature enough to act properly in the online world...I think this problem only is really in the younger folks and those that have no concept of empathy.

If you say stupid things, it will come back.

If you say things that are outside of what you would have the courage to say in the real world, you are a fake and pretty much deserve whatever happens to you. The exception to the rule is politics and religion. There are some people (mostly from a more liberal persuasion) that would be very against if you were to voice an opinion contrary to theirs. If you are logical and support your statements, you are twice as dangerous.

The best bet is to keep yourself in check with what you say and do, as well as what you post. Why burn a bridge that you haven't even gotten to yet?

There is nothing I have posted here that I don't say in face-to-face discussions, but I still conceal the identity because of other issues. Hiding behind a nick name works for me! :D Sure, there are a handful that know who I am and have been scared wittless by being exposed to pics of me but the real name and location is not general knowledge. (yes, fully clothed. Said scared, not horrified! :D ).

with me I don't say it. I'm a kind of upfront kind of guy, now all I need is a close and personal kind of lady.

However, I have recently taken up writing and a friend has asked me to try my hand at an erotic story, in some jurisdication even mentioning sex is against the law. So once I get around to writing it I may end up trying to find an anonomyous mail server to send it to her by. I just don't relish the idea of ending up in court over something so trivial as a story that is legal in my state but unlawful where she is.

....I'd just sneak up behind them and bang bang them over the head with my silver hammer! And if you don't believe me, just ask my friends, Rose and Valerie, to tell you about Joan, Teacher, and The Judge!

But it took time... :p

Max, JD, OG, Earnest, and many others can tell you that I have neither shame, sense, nor brain. :D

Actually, what you see is what you get. I have opinions, some of which are formed from whole cloth, others that are actually thought out. I'm not afraid to express either type. I try not to be more offensive than necessary and apologize when wrong. Nothing more than I would expect from anyone else.

And anything I say on here I will, or have said to someone's face.
So off line, I'm a stroppy argumentative tree hugging commie 'liberal' egostistical git as well.

lol, I'm sunk.
Actually, I do tell my managers and employers that I am heavily involved with online forums/chats/news letters. Shoot, I met my future wife online in the irc chats. We live together now, and she is a teacher. Hell, I'm proud of that.
With regard to my online reputation, look at my handle/nick. It's off the wall. If my managers don't already know that by interacting with me. They have no people skills, none.
I am involved in a lot of technical forums which I use for reference. They all contain this nick/handle. I have never kept my political/religious opinions to myself at work, but have always tried to show respect for others with different views/beliefs. I hope that I have succeeded in this here also.
My managers/employers want to check up on me with my online activity. Shoot, go for it. I doubt they would find anything different then they already know. I both listen and respect others, but try to put forward my own thoughts. I have hard line attitudes towards certain things, but hey. They already know that if they walked by me at the water cooler.
lol, watch me get fired now for my online activity with the comment. My god, I can't believe you represent yourself like that.
Oh, by the way. They already know that I can't spell worth twit.

droolin aka Dan Dan the dirty old man
p.s. lol, sorry. That was just too easy

There isn't anything that I've said on TR or other sites that I wouldn't say in person. I'm opinionated. So what! I like to have the anonymity of a nickname, though.

I have never even been to MySpace. If I had though, I wouldn't want my prospective employer spying on my personal life in that way. I don't think they should have the legal right to consider information gleaned in that manner.

I think I've been respectful of everyone I conversed with on TR, even if I didn't agree with them. There are some great people here. They are real people with real opinions. Honest discussions sometimes beyond IT.

And I am the first to say it.

I have found it necessary to flame someone here. That person found it necessary to stir much trouble. I am not proud but everyone has a breaking point. And too, it really depends on what you perceive as flaming.

I am what I am. I don't try to hide it. While I use an ID, I do so primarily because it has been a nickname for many years and my identity is available to anyone who wants it.

I have seen evidence from the membership of TR that I haven't been out of line in anything I post. Even though employers are more and more careful, I don't mind passing on a listing of my posts here. Many of them are quite well written.

I don't do the myspace thing so perhaps this is why I don't much worry about it.

Good topic!

Incidentally Mavyen, how was your trip?

if I could be anorexic for just a month. Too bad you can't turn that off and on..

I used to be tiny. I had thyroid cancer, and since I've had my thyroid removed and had kids, I went from being extremely petite to not quite as petite. It's taken a while, but I'm NEARLY where I want to be. I don't care about being as size 4 anymore, but 8 would be nice. :)

I don't think any of my employers have ever checked for my online presence, but I couldn't give a rats petoot if they did anyway.
I have a MySpace account, but it is for my band, not a personal one. I am too old for that stuff now anyway. :D

You're right!

I do use nicknames online. It's mostly because I became active on several chats in the way-back-when and everyone used a nickname. I don't think I saw someone using a real name, or even their initials, until 5 years ago. So, it just became a habit for me. My other hobby is aquariums, and I've used OrionGirl for almost all of those sites for years now--Heck, I'm the 2nd item Google comes up with OrionGirl.

Hi,

This is part of a bigger concern: do we have any privacy or rights once we are online?

I blogged about it sometime back - http://sridharj.blogspot.com/2006/06/loss-of-personal-identity-due-to.html

Please do check and leave comments.

Regards
Sridhar

I believe the main reason a person's postings on the Net can create problems is anonymity. So don't be anonymous. Use your real name, or don't post. Clearly identifying ourselves helps keep us honest - and undoubtedly helps decrease "the load of nonsense".

I try to practice this not only when I post, but when I judge a posting. If a name doesn't accompany a post, it has less credence. I want to know who is behind the words. I want to know they've put skin in their words.

Accountability is as important online as anywhere else. It fosters responsibility, and it fosters credibility. When you identify yourself, you also create a kind of bank account - with time, you build a solid reputation. You are who you are. When you try to be someone else, you start with a bank account of zero.

This is not to suggest that people who use screen names and post consistently good stuff aren't credible. And certainly some folks need anonymity online because of their corporate affiliations.

But I wonder - if we all were held accountable for our postings, would our words have more power to change the policies that prevent some people from speaking out under their own names? In a time when "intellectual property" is the real asset, why do people (and companies) want to suppress the identities of those who create that IP?

There will always be dopes who make themselves look bad online, whether they care or not, and whether they use a real name or not.

But the potential to build a solid reputation across the Net starts with accountability. Anyone who doesn't believe in the persistence of the image they create of themselves has a lot to learn - the hard way. Those who get it can prosper because the Net is a phenomenal amplifier of IP.

Nick Corcodilos
asktheheadhunter.com

I am not so worried about my online rep... I mean my employer already knows I speak whats on my mind. I use the same ID for just about everysite I am on and I have had the ID for years. It's a clever way of making my name into an alpha numeric handle that still sounds identical to my real name when spoken. If employers are so worried about what your doing on your myspace then they are not looking for a hard working employee they are loking for a spokes person to be a face of the company.

I know that having a good reputation can be a bonus for a company because it will bring in more customers but in this day and age it has become increasingly hard to hide any secrets that we may ahev and we all have them. I don't think the average person calling my company really cares about what I say on myspace as long as I can build a good looking website for them.

Thats funny... I think we should all become a discussion board of tattle tales LOL

I have no worries about my on line reputation, because I do not play with little girls are little boys on the Internet is that it is taboo in my book. I also do not use my space as that can blow your reputation quickly. My electronic face is clean and will will remain clean.

Anyone that has to worry about his reputation has definitely done something wrong. There are those who try to hide everything they do. This does not concern me.
Ed