You knew that, right? Seems like the rule is, "Once on the Internet, ALWAYS on the Internet!"
Oh sure, you can always delete blog posts. But once they've been up there you have no control over who might copy what you wrote, publish it no telling where, and put in there a reference to YOUR blog. And if you (like me) actually identify yourself with a real name, a real home town, and a real email address, you can ALWAYS be found.
What am I babbling about?
Well, I had a phone call today at work from Area Code 571. The first time the call came in I glanced at the number, didn't recognize the area code, and let it go to voice mail. Hey, I had someone in my office and it was an important conversation! Anyway, that number called me three times and on the third time I answered.
On the line was a very nice lady from Northern Virginia (suburb of D.C.) who was conducting a survey about needle coke. She had Googled the term, and found this very blog!
Yes, back in 2006 I wrote a post titled "What is Needle Coke?" Here's a link to it, since I just KNOW you're going to rush over there to read the post!
Or, you can just Google "needle coke" and my blog post is the 5th item down from the top.
What she really wanted was some inside information about PRICING of needle coke, and I really couldn't help her there since we don't publish prices. Needle coke is one of those commodities that, if you wanted some you'd probably already know the approximate cost.
Anyway, we had a very pleasant conversation. And likely she will produce an article in some high-dollar publication quoting me as an unnamed "industry insider" who would only speak "off the record."
(I told her I was just the HR guy, and didn't really know much about the business side of our operation, so please don't quote me by name. She MIGHT even have believed me!)
Anyway, I figure if a short post I wrote in August of 2006 is significant enough for someone to track me down in my office at the plant and ask me a bunch of questions, WHO KNOWS what will happen when someone reads some of my OTHER posts?
They might learn about the ycaripsnoc and identify it for all to see -- then we'll all be in BIG trouble!
So be careful what you post!
Or hide your identity well.
4 comments:
I know what you mean, and sometimes, the contact is immediate, as it was when I posted a complaint about my health insurer and they contacted me the next day!! You just never know who is reading what you say!
I've had a few complaints from stupid products I've reviewed and stupid people who were named in newspapers for doing something stupid. But I keep anonymity.
Very enlightening. Your "warning" is being taken quite seriously.
btw, thanks for the link and the education about needle coke. I had never heard of it before.
A good reminder even if we already know it. The most innocent things can come back to bite you when you least expect it.
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