Honesty Vs. Employment
I’ve been reading over the Wordpress docs and ran across some tips for having a blog. There was one excerpt which gave me pause for thought:
“Tempting as it might be, don’t hide your real emotions. After all that is what a blog is about. If you want, you can stay anonymous and voice your feelings on whatever you are passionate about. You might have strong views on various subjects but let your readers know your passion. What is passion worth if you can’t even share it? You’ll actually love the discussions it can lead to. The discussions will broaden your own thinking and you might end up making some really good friends. “
Thus far on my blog, I’ve skirted the issues, brushing across them nicely without ruffling too many feathers. I’d really like to cut into some issues, but there arises a problem when your employer has access to your blog or even when your parents read your blog. There are some things that could be taken into consideration when deciding to hire someone or continue to employ a person. I’m just not sure I want ALL my thoughts expressed on the blog.
That said, I want to write an intriguing and compelling blog but also would like to keep my job. Any thoughts on the issue?
November 18th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
I say create a suitable alter-ego (or alter-id might be more appropriate) and utilize him/her to blog with abandon. Leave no hard evidence to connect you with this online pseudonym and maintain maximum deny-ability.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
In your opening dissertation, you state “what is passion worth, if you can’t share it?” I submit to you that the assertion is incorrect. A stranger who sacrifices his own life to save another, yet anonymously, is passionate, has done what he believes, and does not consider what others or history, or time may think of him; for he dies unknown.
I submit to you another premise: the opinions of others are irrelevant. Your own beliefs are what are important. From your own well, drink deeply, be assured that all is transpiring as it should–because it could occur no other way. If it could, then it would.
There is an old saying: A cow drinks water, and makes milk. A snake drinks water and makes venom. What will you do with your water? Will you scatter it among the masses? Knowing that some of the masses are snakes, seeking an opportunity to poison you (get you fired). Or be selective with your water, share it in good company, and let grow the milk of friendship that watches your back?
Tell me. If you had a truly good friend, and you shared great joy together; yet once in the past, unbeknownst to them, you betrayed them. To cleanse your soul of a dirt that you have contrived, you seek to expunge this secret by telling your friend, thus destroying years and years of friendship now & forever—would you tell them, or would you just let it go, and enjoy the present? It is always your choice. But, in some cases, it is best to just stay silent and watch the clouds.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:11 am
There’s a time and a place to say certain things and only you know the boundaries you can cross with the people in your life.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Wes, uh I mean Thomas: How might I contrive such an anonymous persona on a blog which is entitled “Zach’s Travels”? Would you like to be that anonymous person? Oh wait, i just killed that huh?
Y Donor: Dying unknown is not what I wish, for that is an easy thing to do, dying loved by many is difficult so that’s what I’ll pursue. To do this, you must open your life to many, of course I would reserve the heart for those close, but honesty is deserved to those who would read this blog.
My beliefs are important, but I believe that I CAN change my reality and I do. This life is all I have, the opinions of others matter because they are who I must exist with and interact with, otherwise there is no point to life.
But I think we’re going beyond whether or not to be honest on a blog here.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:01 pm
i was fired from a college internship for mentioning work matters on a blog (it was a shitty one, only a few weeks left to go in the summer, so no big whoop), so you do have to exercise caution. i think there are simple professional courtesies to maintain, like don’t use company names or people’s full names, don’t get into specifics that could be searchable via google. but writing a good, opinionated blog is also a plus to a lot of people; it makes you a better writer if you do it right, it shows you’re a thoughtful person, etc. we have a mutual friend who’s been hired for jobs BECAUSE of his blog.
as for parents, i decided a long time ago that the reason they’re probably reading in the first place is to get to know what my life is like in a way i’d never tell them on my own, so i stopped filtering that way a long time ago. the only filter, really, is not to write blatantly mean or crude stuff, but that’s probably a good general rule anyway to avoid being an asshole, blog or no blog.