Online Identity
Saturday, 17 April 2010
I’m of two minds when it comes to identity on the internet.
Generally, I would be completely fin with disclosing my real identity, or at least not making any effort to hide behind pseudonyms and indecipherable IDs. I may not want random trolls on Digg to know my address, but I don’t care if people know who I am… that is, the connection between my internet actions and real world actions. On the rare occasion that I actually desire anonymity, I just use a quick fake e-mail address…
Unfortunately, I am also in a profession where I have to maintain certain “standards” of conduct. Some may scoff at this, pointing to other professionals who are heavy drinkers or known for their foul mouths, but I’m not one of them. Old teachers and professors with tenure can get away with things that a twenty-something cannot. I have no intention of falling victim to parental / social outrage if some student or bible-thumping mother stumbles across me cursing on the interwebs.
I hate the hypocrisy of that. “Sorry ma’am, I did in fact say ‘shit’ on a forum… and BTW, I’ve written up your child for saying worse in class.” It’s all about context. I don’t curse at or in front of students and clients, just like I don’t in front my parents or conservative friends (except you Calvin). But were it not for fear of reprisal, I would be myself online like I am amongst friends. And let’s not get started on hypocrisy and repression when it comes to sex, alcohol, movies, etc…
So, I use a false identity. Sure, a persistent snoop could easily permeate my mask… but that’s not the point. Again, I would not hide at all if I wasn’t in a “youth leadership” role (um, right).
Anyway… just a random thought.
No. 1 — April 18th, 2010 at 1:37 am
its a shame it has to be that way but its true. i still remember hearing about individuals who were studying to be in your profession who lost their jobs because students mothers saw them out dancing in “inappropriate” clothing. what is more disappointing in my mind is that there are individuals in college making the same complaints that said parents are. the Presidents office has received so many complaints about professors in my programs swearing that the department is being forced to draw up what is essentially a list of banned words for professors. I understand that learning ought to be paramount but assuming the class is something more than a string of swears the students still ought to be getting something out of it. Sorry for the long response, in case you can’t tell I am not a big fan of the whole subject.