8.30.2006

To Blog Or Not To Blog, Extra Considerations

In my very first post ever, To Blog or Not to Blog, I discussed my trepidation with starting a blog, but I sure didn't consider it's affect or risk to my job until I read this article! Not that I particularly care, well maybe I do, I wouldn't want to lose my job because of my blog, but the part of me that despises my job would secretly cheer. This makes me consider whether me recent post, Blogged Down, was putting my job at risk. While, I admit I felt the post was risky because it was controversial and talking about my boss from work, but I didn't mention names and only a few co-workers whom I trust and are friends even know I have a blog. So did I put my job in danger? I really don't know, it's an interesting slant on blogging though. I think all bloggers should check this article out for consideration, especially those who still hold onto full time jobs. Sigh, I wish I wasn't one of those people, but girl gotta pay her college loans off before she goes back to school and racks up even more college loan debt. (Girl = Me)

9 comments:

The Traveller said...

The thing thst get me is, how do employers find the blogs of their employees? I mean, there are so many blogs - unless I knew someone's blog address or the name under which they posted, I wouldn't be able to find whatever it was they wrote. Unless you're dumb enough to post on work computers and to name people explicitly, it seems to me it should be pretty safe surely?

mai wen said...

I totally agree, that was one of the main questions I had when I read the article. Also, people often don't use their real names even when they blog, my name for example is only part of my real name, my last name is excluded, so I'm not sure how anyone would find it. But I guess somehow people have been careless about their blogs and let their work know. I thought it was funny in the article when it said if you're unsure if something's "safe" to blog, ask your boss. Haha, yeah right! I'd die if my boss knew about my blog!

Thanks for your comments Traveller!

angie said...

It is weird how many people I never thought would find my blog have shown up. I don't have a regular day job anymore (my sanity is quite grateful!), but I'd be careful to change the names to protect the innocent - as in my innocent, not wanting to get fired butt! Mostly I think it's not a biggie, though.

s.w. vaughn said...

I just noticed that you bleed black and gold. :-)

When you do write a novel, it's going to be great. I can tell.

mai wen said...

Very true, Angie, I'm not Too worried about it, but I definitely do need to keep it in mind. Though I'm pretty mad at my work again, haha. You'd appreciate why though, of course although I asked for my name to be kept publically out of the whole "Christmas Party" situation, of course one of the three that were involved in the discussion (either the office manager, my direct boss who's a project manager, or a practice manager who was planning the party) told the biggest gossip in the office. I'd assume it was the practice manager because her and the gossip are really close and they both like to gossip Tons. So Ms. Gossip went around the office asking people if they'd heard about my emails about the Christmas Party and then she proceeded in asking them if they personally were offended by calling it a Christmas Party - which is totally inappropriate in itself. Grrr, this is what happens when we fire our HR Director in our office and don't replace her because we have on in our main branch in Indy. Like I'm supposed to call this guy I've never met if I have a personal issue at work?? Hmmm, so I'm pretty P.O.ed again. I wrote a strong email expressing myself to those three (careful to not point the blame at one of them specifically)... man, they're probably going to fire me for just being a pain in the butt! Which would be fine with me cuz then I'd sue their asses! Haha. Although I'm really Not trying to be a big pain, just trying to protect what I feel are my rights in an office setting. Seriously, though, what's Wrong with my office?

Hey S.W. Vaughn, thanks for noticing! Are you a Steelers' fan as well? If not, why not?!?! ;-)
Thank you so much for the vote of confidence! That means so much to me. I have a lot of great ideas that I'd like to create into a novel someday, I can't wait. I definitely feel like I need to be in a place where I feel like I can be committed to it and focused... or maybe that's just an excuse, I'm not sure. What prompted you to write your first novel? How'd you know you were ready? I feel like it's a big step in your writing career just to commit to writing and finishing a novel! Whew, I'm starting to feel the committment phobias coming on! :)~

s.w. vaughn said...

For me, it was a character that wouldn't go away. He needed a story, so I gave him one. It went downhill from there... LOL

It's a big step, but you can do it!

Flood said...

Dooce's blog is very successful now and I heard that she makes quite a bit of cash from the advertising. I don't stop by there very often, but she's a great writer.

mai wen said...

Cool, I'll have to check it out! Thanks Flood.

mai wen said...

Thank you Vaughn for the encouragement!! I have had something similar to that where a character has got into my head and wouldn't go away. I wrote fiercly for a couple of nights and then realized I had no plot or plan or anything then it all fell apart! I hope to get back to it someday, I just gotta figure out what I'm going to do with it... hmmm...

 

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