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Hi everyone, this is Leo Notenboom with news, commentary and answers to some of the many questions I get at askleo.info.
I occasionally get questions from people that boil down to: "how do I remove myself from search engine results?" The answer of course is track down every site that mentions you, convince each of those to remove you from their content, and wait 3 to 6 months for the search engines to re-index. Even then, there are sites and archives and search engines that didn't remove you, won't remove you, or just don't care.
So when you Google yourself, do you like what you see?
Will your mother like what she sees? If she's on-line, you can bet she'll be looking.
Will your potential employers like what they see? We've all heard stories of people doing really well on their interviews, only to be declined an offer after the employer discovers their blog or the blog of a friend detailing drunken parties, stories of previous employers, or worse.
Will your customers like what they see? If you have any kind of an on-line personality, or are personally identifiable with your business, you can bet that customers will look you up. Will what they find offend them? Will they perhaps think twice about doing business with you, or visiting your web site?
That last one is a particular dilemma for folks such as myself. Yes, I have a personal blog, but how much should I put in it?
Most weblogs are a form of personal expression - an uncensored venue for people to talk about, even rant about, topics that interest or motivate them. The problem, though, is that even though there is no formal relationship between personal and business venues, there is a very real practical one. People interested in me and my business may stumble upon my personal rants and opinions. Even though it has nothing to do with my business, my personal blog naturally reflects on me, which becomes part of my public persona, which in turn can impact my business. Even mentions on other sites not under my control become a part of who I am on the internet.
The bottom line is that while you and I have the right to post or say whatever we choose to in our personal venues, doing so without considering the bigger picture could be a huge mistake. Whether it's a lost job opportunity, a pissed-off friend or family member, or a lost customer, every aspect of our footprint on the internet can play a part.
Think long and hard about the potential side effects before you start posting all those cute personal stories in your blog. A couple of lost job opportunities later, and you may be very sorry if you didn't.
I'd love to hear what you think. Visit ask leo dot info, and enter 10392 in the go to article number box. Leave a comment, I read them all.
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Article C2682 - June 8, 2006
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
An easy way to beat this problem is to use your initials and last name if you writing something you might regret later. Google L Notenboom for example. The first Leo Notenboom hit is five down and has little to do with Ask-Leo. And you a fellow who really wants Leo Notenboom to be found.
Posted by: dsullman at June 10, 2006 10:41 AMActually the #2 hit is me also (help system).
I don't think it's enough to alter your name slightly. If you really want to go stealth, you need to adopt an entirely separate persona. Completely different name, etc.
The reason I don't mention that, though, is that then your personal blog (for example) loses it's connection with you. I'd say that most people do want their comments to be attributed to them ... their opinions lose legitimacy when posted anonymously. And there's the whole ego thing - this is my blog, why shouldn't it be my name?
I think practical reality is somewhere in between. Rational, think-before-you-speak caution in personally identifiable venues. Other stuff - well, if it'd be a mistake to post it such that you could be identified - should it really be posted at all, anywhere? (I know that sometimes the answer is yes, but I'd claim not as often as people seem to think.)
Posted by: Leo A. Notenboom at June 10, 2006 10:48 AMPerhaps I am lucky that I share a last name will a lot of professors. My name is a wasteland of cited articles.
BTW, the fact that I did not figure out that the second item was you does sorta proves my point. Had you not told me I would not have known. If I had thought it might be you a click on the page (an index of the late Dr Dobb's) would not have helped me track the evil side of your personality (grin). Or any other part for that matter.
Another idea, if you post something that you have second thoughts about edit the entry and note "I got this from... and thought it might interest you folks."
Posted by: danullman at June 10, 2006 4:49 PMI was advised by none other than Leo Notenboom himself to make up a name which I now do. No one will be able to frame ME for that wachadiggee that happened on Hoosit Island before the rum runners went wild!
Posted by: Lee Neslon Guptill at June 12, 2009 4:00 PMMy name “Rob Abdul” for the last 3 years has been my brand name.
I was so proud when my name appeared in Google’s suggestive list.
It may not sound like much but at least 60 to 80 people goggle me a month.
It is nice for the Ego, I must admit!
Posted by: Rob Abdul at August 1, 2009 6:22 PM