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NYT: Puritan Elite Reforming the Online Wilderness | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)
I never (5.00 / 2) (#1)
thought of those who caution about what you post online in this context.  I suppose I have always tempered my online participation with the knowledge that it could come back to haunt me.

by standingup on Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 12:13:35 AM EST
I think this is a common outlook - but unfortunate (5.00 / 3) (#2)
Sure people can be "responsible" about the way they present themselves online (though I think we should all ask questions about whose "gaze" we're trying to measure up to). The real issue, though, is that like any other aspect of life, people don't have the sort of control that the "personal responsibility" approach implies. On the Internet, people can assume their identity and "troll" under their names - the "digital dirt" still tracks back to the victim. People can be "outed" and smeared, and the damage will be there permanently.

The people who say "well, I'm more careful than that" have just been lucky so far.
Manifest Dignity!
by breakingranks on Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 01:32:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

standingup knows, on the other hand, (5.00 / 3) (#3)
that I have the complementary problem of going over the top by the time I'm finally hot'n'bothered enough to speak out loudly.  

By that time, however, what I'm bitching about is pretty securely founded in facts of granite so repercussions are not going to be slander suits.  As a matter of form, it'd probably be a good thing that I remember back to when I used to be 'moderate' but I've found it extremely tough to undo having eaten fruit of the tree of Knowledge.  

Maybe I need to watch more TV?

Good commentary, thanks for the original thinking.


by luaptifer on Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 10:35:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

My Strategy Is a Little Different (5.00 / 2) (#4)
I'm always scared I will pop off without being "securely founded in facts of granite"--so I use my real name in all my blogging, making realization that things can come back to haunt me as something of a brake.

However, I feel that if I make a fool of myself, it is then up to me to redeem myself.  I'm not going to keep silent because someone might use what I say against me, some day.  I'm just going to be careful.

by Aaron Barlow on Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 03:06:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Intersting thought...Aaron. (5.00 / 1) (#5)
nevery thought of it as the "brake pedal" technique, but of course, it is.

Good point.

by Cho on Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 03:40:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I have a toe in that water (5.00 / 1) (#6)
After years of posting under a hundred pseudonyms, I've started to wonder if I missed out on building up a good reputation for myself. Now I'm very nervously posting under my first name "Elisa" on the breakingranks blog (http://www.breakingranks.net/weblog/).
Manifest Dignity!
by breakingranks on Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 05:50:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Good for you Aaron (5.00 / 1) (#7)
It's unfortunate that more aren't in a position where they don't have to worry about their personal opinions not being used against them in their professional lives.  

I also think of how I have changed as I have matured (some might disagree with that term).  Some things I might have posted in my twenties would probably get me into a lot of hot water today.  

by standingup on Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 08:44:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

NYT: Puritan Elite Reforming the Online Wilderness | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)
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