Mark Jen landed a dream job with Google Inc. in January. He was fired less than a month later.
His infraction? He ran a Web log, where he freely gabbed about his impressions of life at the Mountain View, Calif.-based Internet search giant.
Idiot.
Maybe it’s just me, but I guess I’ve always instinctively understood that blogging about my job — especially anything negative or remotely confidental — would be a very bad idea. You’ll notice that I barely ever said anything about life at Jobs & the City or Intertec. Not that there wouldn’t have been plenty to say, but OF COURSE it could get me in trouble. I can’t believe so many people are so stupid that they don’t understand this. The Internet is a PUBLIC MEDIUM, people! The entire world can read it — and that includes your boss!!
Now, the Delta airlines lady, that’s a bit different and perhaps she has a bit more reason to be chagrined. But if you’re dishing dirt about your job on your blog, you’re playing with fire.
I would, however, be VERY upset if I got in trouble academically because of something I posted about Notre Dame. That is an entirely different situation. Universities are very big on the concept of “academic freedom” (so much so that a professor who compared the 9/11 victims to a Nazi war criminal might not be fired) and it would be height of hypocrisy if I could get kicked out of school or have my grade lowered for blogging about the university.
That said, it is, of course, unwise to say mean things about your professors on your blog, and I wouldn’t do it — at least not until I’m no longer in their class. :)
You worked at Inetech? When? Was this before or after Melvin burned the place down? Was Lumberg still there? Did you ever get a chance to meet Michael Bolton or Bob & Bob?
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February 14th, 2005 at 8:41:41 pm
Mark Jen landed a dream job with Google Inc. in January. He was fired less than a month later.
His infraction? He ran a Web log, where he freely gabbed about his impressions of life at the Mountain View, Calif.-based Internet search giant.
Idiot.
Maybe it’s just me, but I guess I’ve always instinctively understood that blogging about my job — especially anything negative or remotely confidental — would be a very bad idea. You’ll notice that I barely ever said anything about life at Jobs & the City or Intertec. Not that there wouldn’t have been plenty to say, but OF COURSE it could get me in trouble. I can’t believe so many people are so stupid that they don’t understand this. The Internet is a PUBLIC MEDIUM, people! The entire world can read it — and that includes your boss!!
Now, the Delta airlines lady, that’s a bit different and perhaps she has a bit more reason to be chagrined. But if you’re dishing dirt about your job on your blog, you’re playing with fire.
February 14th, 2005 at 9:18:00 pm
I would, however, be VERY upset if I got in trouble academically because of something I posted about Notre Dame. That is an entirely different situation. Universities are very big on the concept of “academic freedom” (so much so that a professor who compared the 9/11 victims to a Nazi war criminal might not be fired) and it would be height of hypocrisy if I could get kicked out of school or have my grade lowered for blogging about the university.
That said, it is, of course, unwise to say mean things about your professors on your blog, and I wouldn’t do it — at least not until I’m no longer in their class. :)
February 15th, 2005 at 5:42:55 pm
You worked at Inetech? When? Was this before or after Melvin burned the place down? Was Lumberg still there? Did you ever get a chance to meet Michael Bolton or Bob & Bob?