The Web Means the End of Forgetting

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

A very long article, so I will only link here. http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=630798&f=37

I thought I was being very good in separating online "anonymous" content from that which had my real name. I recently discovered a flaw. Have you found similar weaknesses, and if so what have you done to fix them? Has anything you ever posted online ever come back to haunt you?

[Teacher Mark 53]

A very long article, so I will only link here. http://mobile.nytime...e?a=630798&f=37

I thought I was being very good in separating online "anonymous" content from that which had my real name. I recently discovered a flaw. Have you found similar weaknesses, and if so what have you done to fix them? Has anything you ever posted online ever come back to haunt you?

That certainly was a long article! Great read though. Thanks.

The only thing I have had come back to haunt me is the friend requests on FB from people I never wanted to hear from again.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

That certainly was a long article! Great read though. Thanks.

The only thing I have had come back to haunt me is the friend requests on FB from people I never wanted to hear from again.

Oh, don't I know about it. I sometimes regret friending my mom, who asks about my "cryptic FB status updates."

[Mags 112]

Oh, don't I know about it. I sometimes regret friending my mom, who asks about my "cryptic FB status updates."

Oh my gosh, I know what you mean! My Dad is on my FB friend list and, even though he isn't on very much, I'm aware that he has the capability to read my wall. He said to me once that he doesn't like to log on much, or read my updates very often, as it is akin to "reading my dairy".

I never use my FB for personal updates though; it's always silly stuff, or comedic stuff. I'd feel very uncomfortable posting my inner thoughts and feelings on there. Apart from one silly drunk photo, there aren't any of me falling over, or looking decidedly dodgy.

[Darnell 8,478]

elm - I had personally forecasted this stuff about 15 years ago, and judiciously never 'got in' to any social networking sites. I took my own advice, and 'did nothing'.

Sure, I maintain, still, a few online personnas, but all of my anonymous activity has NEVER come back to bite me. If you have issues with FB or twitter or mysplace, you might want to kill any accounts that have bled over into your professional life.

MANY things in my 'online' life actually use my real name, as I write articles and tech pieces and op-ed pieces, so I never, ever 'cross-the-streams' into any social networking sites. I stuck with my original prediction, and it's never come back to bite me - I never 'put myself out there'.

My marketing geeks tell me this is a bad thing, but I still maintain my name, professional status, etc etc.. without utilising social networking sites for business generation.

I've got a serious problem, coming up in January, though, as 3 novels are getting published - and my 'real name' is also another author's 'real name' - and he's been a drunk these past 5 years - never showing up at book signing events, never doing the book-tour-lecture circuits - his fans are mondo pissed at him for his 'lack of visibility'. So - the marketing geeks at the publishing houses have decided that I'm gonna be published with a derivation of my 'real name' , after some marketing 'blind tests' earlier this year. The thing that tears me, though, is that FINALLY, after 15 years, I'm a gonna be forced to actually use social networking sites, and thankfully, it's solely for book promotion, and mostly - I'm not writing much into these places (another stooge is handling that) except for some interviews.

If you think, seriously, that you've left any footprints around, then suggest that you -

1--delete all CONTENT first then

2--delete the accounts.

Good Luck, however/whatever you decide, ah ?

Edited July 25, 2010 by Darnell

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Oh my gosh, I know what you mean! My Dad is on my FB friend list and, even though he isn't on very much, I'm aware that he has the capability to read my wall. He said to me once that he doesn't like to log on much, or read my updates very often, as it is akin to "reading my dairy".

I never use my FB for personal updates though; it's always silly stuff, or comedic stuff. I'd feel very uncomfortable posting my inner thoughts and feelings on there. Apart from one silly drunk photo, there aren't any of me falling over, or looking decidedly dodgy.

I don't have anything TOO embarrassing on FB, but much like with Dubya, I do not misunderestimate her. Her powers of deduction are strong.

I don't want her reading my dairy either -- those poor cows, they have it hard enough.

[Mags 112]

I don't have anything TOO embarrassing on FB, but much like with Dubya, I do not misunderestimate her. Her powers of deduction are strong.

I don't want her reading my dairy either -- those poor cows, they have it hard enough.

I see what I did there!