Online foot-in-mouth
I was interested in a story yesterday about a Facebook hate group targeting Burnside High School's new principal, Warwick Maguire.
The group generated a lot of inflammatory and defamatory comments (some may call it venting) from students.
They may not like the guy, but a hate group certainly isn't the answer.
If you've ever said something online and regretted it, you'll understand that a foolish comment is easy to make, but can come back to haunt you.
It's easy to say something online that you would never say face-to-face, but your actions can have real consequences.
In this case, it was national media scrutiny and a few red faces.
Employers are using social media more and more to check out potential employees and contacts.
This is aggravated by the fact that many do not properly secure their social media pages, which allows anyone to view their posts.
I've certainly made a few stupid comments online and regretted them, which has taught me a lot about being careful with what I share.
You can wash it, but the digital stain never truly fades away. If you go too far and do something illegal, you're often traceable.
Even after you remove something you can be caught out by a search engine cache or a screenshot.
Who knows how long websites hold the information we send them and what it could be used for?
People have the right to free speech but they should understand that their views could end up in unintended places.
Is it dangerous to share strong opinions online? How can your online presence affect your career or life? Have you ever said anything really stupid in a public forum? How did you deal with it?
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I think people learn the hard way that what they do or say on the internet can come back and bite them on the bum. Teenagers especially are going to be caught out when all the silly stuff they posted while at school/uni is found in an internet search by a future employer/girlfriend/boyfriend/in-law. Moral of the story - don't use your real name!
@Clare #2
Thats good advice Mikey...
Just tried the classic google-your-name and despite participation in several on line forums, writing a blog and being on facebook (albeit with friends only privacy settings) it seems I am fairly anonymous. I got 10 pages into google search with no result on my name, and 4 pages into google images before finding any credited images. Sharing my name with an old folk song, and it seems several famous people helps. The lesson people seem to learn too late is that not only can everyone see what you put on line, ANYONE can. I never put anything on line I wouldn't be happy to stand up and say to a room full of strangers, friends and family.
Sirknz, I wouldn't be so confident. One search of your username reveals your first and last name plus the city you live in.
User names are just as important as real names. People should have different user names/ids for any site which requires one. It is not hard to search for someone's id which they use on several sites and find out more than you want them to know, especially in a country like New Zealand. Have a try for yourself, I'm going to reassess my user names right now.
Having been a player of online games for some years now, the "online" experience is well intrenched in me. Having dealt with young people, weirdo's, crazies and internet tough guys Im well versed in web speak and how to react/interact with nubs. Using your own name online..wtfbbq LOL burgers....
Like you Sirknz I value my privacy, even if someone wanted to find what I do online. 4chan is certainly the cesspool of the internet but I must admit the slogan of anon is brilliant.
If you want to share your opinions online or share anything else for that matter, ensure your corresponding addresses are ... how should we say.. redirected through multiple locals, whilest using a public computer.
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My real name only shows up on 1 website in a google search. For the amount of time I spend online I think that is pretty good.
I like my privacy and I like it private, everything about me is hidden on facebook so if you don't know me you can't find me.
A lot of people are saying and doing things righ now that they will regret in the future. Once it is on the net you don't really know who has seen it and when it will pop up again.
4Chan anyone?