Cringe Factor
One of the most gratifying things about writing is that you (usually) get better at it the longer you've spent doing it. After several years and a few hard knocks, I've found that the only way to be a better writer is to write (and not add to my HUGE collection of books on writing).
The down side (and there's just the one) is the skin-crawling, face-numbing, full-body recoil when I read something I wrote way back when. I occasionally Google myself, and it hurts me to know this is still out there (yah-haw-haw-haw-HAWN). I wrote this almost five years ago when I was an idiot. And thanks to this (circa 1999), my name is linked to multiple relationship and dating advice web sites, oddly enough. It should have a sarcasm disclaimer and an addenda that no-one should EVER take relationship advice from ME. There's more, but I can't bear to look.
I can hide my blast from the past print clips away and never look at them, but a lot of what's on the Internet stays on the Internet. Right?
Uh, no. One of my clients actually googled me! The next time I talked to her, she started telling me about mutual friends in Savannah because she'd seen from the google results that I used to live there. It was a little stalkery, but still tame. Be careful what's floating out there about you. Like, um, shampoo horns.
ReplyDeleteEw. I had a guy I was dating while A.S. and I were broken up, and he googled me and sent me a message with the WORST lede I have ever written just to make fun of me. I was so humiliated. THe guy was a Republican... need I say more?
ReplyDeleteI google almost everyone I meet now. Definitely anyone I date. I would never tell them, but I do it. I forget that other people know how to do it too. Until I meet someone at a party and they tell me they read this article online that I wrote in 1997...
ReplyDelete