The Risks of Web 2.0

After posting my last blog, I began thinking about the risks associated with putting my opinion out there for the world to see. Did I put too much out there? Did I say too much and who is going to see it? What will they think about what I just posted? Whether I like it or not, I will be judged about what I said in my posting. Here is the real kicker...I won't have the opportunity to defend my opinion or reputation with the person judging me. I would be indicted, judged and convicted without the benefit of a defense. Am I comfortable with that??

There are no hard and fast rules about Web 2.0 etiquette yet. What should be acceptable and what is taboo ranges widely with each audience, person, and perhaps each generation. I am discovering younger generations are more willing to share what I consider deeply personal information with the rest of the world. Why is that? Is it because the "cyberworld" is something they grew up with and they do not view as reality? (What happens in cyberspace stays in cyberspace.) Or is it because they have become immune (or attracted) to Internet voyeurism? Or, perhaps, it is the folly of youth, blissfully unaware of the repercussions and unintended consequences of providing too much information to the general public.

While I don't have any followers currently, I am working to land a job. This means anyone doing a simple search of my name will pull this blog up and they will see every comment and opinion I post...and the judging will begin. Unfortunately, the viewer will most likely come to the erroneous conclusion that I am someone who shares this same type of comments and opinion within the workplace and I would become a liability they don't need or want. What they won't hear is that I am a highly professional employee who understands what is appropriate to discuss in the workplace and that I would not be an HR risk.

Here is a brief list of considerations I plan to follow on all future postings:

1. Be prepared to be judged on the content, spelling, and grammar of your message and be willing to accept the consequences of that judgment.
   
2. All control of the content is lost forever when the send or submit button is pressed.
   
3. Whatever is posted or sent on email has the chance of becoming part of the permanent record.
4. If you wouldn't say it in front of someone or to someone, don't post it on the web.
5. Remember the golden rule.

I would be interested in learning from others what they consider to be appropriate to post and what rules they follow in deciding what to publish to the world.

Being an Introvert in a Web 2.0 World

I am an introvert. This doesn't mean I am a shy person; I am far from being shy. No, an introvert is someone who recharges their emotional batteries by spending some quality alone time. As an introvert, I think and mentally rehearse before I speak and I develop deep relationships over time.

That is all changing with Web 2.0 and the much hyped "social media" or social networking websites. In order to compete and succeed in this new age, I must learn how to rapidly meet similar professionals, evaluate their relevance in my life and make a connection. Without these links, I lose the necessary competitive edge they provide. Research shows traditional job sites are the least effective way to find a job. The majority of jobs are now garnered through personal networking.

So, how do I survive? In what ways do I need to reinvent myself? What ways can remain true to my old self? Is there hope for a fringe employee...at the tail end of the boomer generation but not bearing any of the trademarks of either generation (boomer or gen-x).

One thing is for sure, I cannot ignore the changes that are happening if I want to stay ahead of the competition.