Twice I’ve been nearly sued or killed for opinions that I’ve given, and sometimes I wasn’t nearly as angry in the wordage I used. But it’s really not just me, it’s an epidemic of knee-jerk reactionary thinking that isn’t exclusive to the internet. Rather in this case, technology has allowed it be more anonymous.
Employment also is becoming another factor in being careful. Companies are starting to track the internet history of potential employers. It may not be the many, but the few you don’t expect to check, do.
Pretend you are a glamour model.
You make a deal with a photographer to shoot a set of photos risqué in nature, these photos ultimately stay in the hands of the photographer you signed the release with. Let’s say now you actually go get a job at a rather conservative company, the photographer unknown to you is now parading those photos to various web sites which get indexed via the search engines. Now when the interviewer types your name, the photo in question comes up.
Did you get the job? You’ll never know if you don’t get picked, but that will always be in your mind.
The unwritten laws of the land and the internet are that an individual can wreck havoc on you if you give them a reason to. Just play nice, or play hardball with some good lawyers handy in case you do get a person pissed. Another thing is, life is really too short to bitch and complain about someone else when you ultimately have no say so on another’s actions.
My thing is that I take care of dad as he is ill, my internet time is meant to get away from that world of everyday stress that my mother and I go through. Sometimes I can’t help it but speak on certain issues, but I take the risk in ruining my life and getting run to the ground. You can call it cowardice, but nobody likes someone who is broke and unemployed regardless of the situation.
The internet is the fastest way down that slope. But who knows, this is my opinion and that perception will change when I feel I’m capable of using my words better without my life being in danger.
Posted by Matthew at April 7, 2006 07:12 PM | TrackBack