May 24, 2004

PAGING JOHN SMITH

A quick self-Google once a day to guard your reputation (Daniel Dasey, The Sun-Herald, 5/23/04)

It used to be a clandestine act carried out at the computer when no one else was watching, but "self-Googling" - searching for your own name on the internet - has gained social acceptance, with academics and legal experts saying the practice is healthy and fast becoming indispensable.

American researcher Alexander Halavais last month urged all internet users to keep tabs on what was being posted about them on the net, saying it was a 21st-century form of brand management.

The comments sparked an instant fad in the US, with people who consulted search engines surprised to discover they were mentioned on websites ranging from sporting team homepages to business directories.

This is a good idea in theory for those of you with distinctive names, but some of us are protected in our anonymity. I've never been able to keep interested long enough to find myself on Google.

Posted by David Cohen at May 24, 2004 7:48 AM
Comments

I guess this means you aren't the famous Canadian chessmaster.

I know, you're the Flamenco guitarist.

Posted by: Peter B at May 24, 2004 8:16 AM

I used to have time for all sorts of hobbies, before blogging.

Posted by: David Cohen at May 24, 2004 9:09 AM

I did it just once, to find out who this Jeff Guinn guy for whom people occasionally mistake me.

It's a rare enough name, so yielded a manageable number of hits.

Turns out he is a talented columnist for a major daily in Texas. (Kind of my alter ego, I suppose.)

The rest of the listings were, much to my surprise, references to this blog...

Posted by: Jeff Guinn at May 24, 2004 12:33 PM

"The rest of the listings were, much to my surprise, references to this blog..."

The horror!! The Horror!!

Posted by: Robert Duquette at May 24, 2004 1:30 PM

I did this at my blog a while back.

http://travellingshoes.blogspot.com/2003_12_21_travellingshoes_archive.html#107202986435709201

Apparently, I'm one of thousands.

Posted by: H.D. Miller at May 24, 2004 2:03 PM

Robert:

Isn't that the truth. I couldn't even run for dog catcher anymore.

Posted by: Jeff Guinn at May 24, 2004 8:39 PM

Aaah, you can all just go Google yourselves...

Posted by: joe shropshire at May 24, 2004 11:49 PM

By the way, it's just as true in this context : ninety percent of us do it and the other ten lie.

Posted by: joe shropshire at May 24, 2004 11:51 PM
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