Intern? Bloggers Need Not Apply 253
westlake writes "Short, funny, and to the point, a good read from the NYT about the realities of blogging in the corporate world." From the article: "Most experienced employees know: Thou Shalt Not Blab About the Company's Internal Business. But the line between what is public and what is private is increasingly fuzzy for young people comfortable with broadcasting nearly every aspect of their lives on the Web, posting pictures of their grandmother at graduation next to one of them eating whipped cream off a woman's belly. For them, shifting from a like-minded audience of peers to an intergenerational, hierarchical workplace can be jarring."
This article summed up in ten words: (Score:4, Insightful)
That MySpace blog is there for everyone to see (Score:3, Insightful)
Blackmail (Score:5, Insightful)
I determined a while ago that any private material that becomes public material can be used against you. In about 20 years I expect a metric shit-ton of blackmail material will be available for our future up-and-coming politicians. (Thank you MySpace for embarrassing our future politicians!)
Of course, because I'm smart enough to keep private matters private, I'm automatically disqualified from politics. (Yay!)
Hint: No matter how awesome that frat party was (I don't care *how* crazy those midgets where!), it's probably not a good idea to post those pics until your hangover is gone.
Why differentiate? (Score:2, Insightful)
"It is important that corporations make a choice as to what type of blogging they will allow," said Alfred C. Frawley III, director of the intellectual property practice group at the law firm Preti Flaherty in Portland, Me.
Why does blogging need a different set of rules than any other medium for communication?
If there is something your company doesn't want disclosed, have the lawyers draft up the paperwork. Just for kicks, we'll call it a "non-disclosure agreement", or NDA for short. If this NDA is broken, handle accordingly.
You may be within your rights to decide what I am allowed to disclose, but what does it matter how I do it?
Director of the intellectual property practice indeed. Just another moron with a big title that even he doesn't understand.
The problem is with extremes (Score:5, Insightful)
Similarly, any boss who fires an employee simply on the basis that they have a blog, regardless of content, deserves some sort of dressing down - although this is harder to achieve.
People are too often pushed into very polarised positions on the matter, which helps no-one. There's plenty of acceptable middle ground, if only someone could bring reasonable discussion to the table.
Oh god - I hope they don't read /. (Score:3, Insightful)
Actually, I think many people invent a psuedo-name and often don't realize when they've crossed the line from anonymous to identifiable when you look at the collection of what they post. The vastness of the internet makes people feel safe even when their standing naked in public.
I've worked with 2 people who were fired over blogs they thought were quite anonymous, but it became quite clear who was writing them when you looked at the collection of posts. They both knew perfectly well if they were caught they'd be fired (and they should've been), but they also felt quite anonymous since they didn't use their 'real names. It's ALOT like folks that post 'anonymous' comments on stock boards.
Re:Reputations are forever... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:This article summed up in ten words: (Score:5, Insightful)
Also, written content never dies, it just defines you for life. Ask any politician (that can write).
Re:Reputations are forever... (Score:5, Insightful)
Well, duh (Score:3, Insightful)
While I most likely wouldn't call anyone to an interview whose postings show indescretion, I often think of how I'd just like to see their face when I place a copy of their search results in front of them.
Why do you think I post under a 'nym?
Re:Hospitals (Score:2, Insightful)
Yes, it's unfortunate that people who dedicate their lives to the care of the sick and injured can't be fired by some blow-dried corporate fuck because his golf game got canceled.
too much fuss (Score:3, Insightful)
Saying, writing, opening up to the wide audience your stupidity, wierdness, incompetence, intolerance, ignorance, unability to filter private information from useless public stuff, bad spelling, lack of imagination, lack of social life, bad or lacking love life, low skills in problem solving, bad opinions about certain companies, lacking technical skills, etc. etc. and you'd still expect a decent company to hire you ?
Thing is, on this planet, you can always be certain that there does indeed exist at least one person that is dumber than you. So, all you have to do is find that person and convince him/her to hire you.
If you can't imagine that some things in your life should be kept private (I'm not talking about kinky habits or any disgusting behavior and such, just simple things) then I can't imagine you working with or for me.
Re:Hospitals (Score:3, Insightful)
All I will say is THANK GOD I'm a canadian so I don't even have to THINK of this kind of bullshit. Primary medical care is a basic need, and ONLY the best people for the job should be hired and retained. There is NO logical argument to the contrary here, unless you don't value life.
(Minor troll, but true nonetheless: It's quite apparent that the US as an entity does NOT value life whatsoever)
Re:Well, duh (Score:3, Insightful)
If a prospective employer knew enough to look in the right place, it would be a different story. I'm not ashamed to own up to anything I've put online, but I don't necesarrily want to have a person who doesn't know me well forming a snap judgement on a random sampling of material.
Re:Blackmail (Score:3, Insightful)
Of course he has. He's a double-plus Good Citizen! Bringing up any past history would just be trying to tear down your President in a Time of War. What's wrong with you? Don't you know how that would affect the morale of the troops? Do you want us to lose the War on Something? Come on, jbrader, are you supporting our troops, or are you with the terrorists?
What's sad is that several years ago, I could expect a few Funny mods for this... now all I'll get is some people sadly shaking their heads, and a few "Hey, don't quote Fox News without permission!" comments.
Re:Hospitals (Score:3, Insightful)