To Facebook or Not to Facebook.
.... Some of you know that when employed, I work on some sensitive stuff. Not "Classified", but sensitive. To do this sort of thing, you need to be more "Lilly White" then a Teacher, Pastor, or Cop. Parking tickets, any late payments, medical issues, dealing with sick family members, can all be a issue. Getting plastered at any time other then the approved "watering hole" is frowned upon. I took heat at my last employer just for posting on PL. I take even more heat that my best friend (now reformed) has done some things in his youth that I tolerated. Heck, hes now more conservative then I am, since the arrival of his child.
....However, since most people in business use Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, etc. I'm at a huge disadvantage. I just sat at my cousin's dinner table, having not seen her in 5 years. She has more computing power in a handheld then some of the labs I have worked in had in Beowulf arrays. She is a realtor, and even in this economy, business was streaming in to the little box. Mostly twitter and facebook links.
.... So for those of you on PL for whom your "Image" and "Lifestyle" are under scrutiny, how do you manage this? How do you prevent having "StealsLollyPopsFromBabies666" as a "friend" on your page from being a negative influence on your career? I'm tired of loosing business and not making new friends because I have to hide data about myself in the digital age.
.... Those of you who think you have a clue about me from what I post here would be shocked to see the other side of me. I have Nothing to hide, but a recent job app said "Have nothing in your background, family, or friends, that would prevent you from entering areas such as "Hospitals, Schools, State and Local Government, and other areas of the Public Trust" Translation Live like a rich and pious 90 year old widow in a storybook forest, or do not apply.
I badly need to get on Facebook, but fear the long term repercussions. I'm tired of living like a monk in a monastery, and quite honestly this line of work does not pay enough for the restrictions involved.
Suggestions? I understand you may wish to reply in a PM.
Steve
Last edited by mixedgas; 10-07-2010 at 20:40.
Qui habet Christos, habet Vitam!
I should have rented the space under my name for advertising.
When I still could have...
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allthatwhichis
I wouldn't touch that shit with a 100 mile optical pole. I try my best not to even send text messages. The internet is for unsocial people; I don't get the attraction to social networking sites. If you want to talk to me call; if you need to see me come over or I will see you at the next LEM... or gathering of whatever sort. I prefer to keep my memories in electrochemical format, not digital. 
Originally Posted by flecom
