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Just kidding about #217, but here’s a tip you should take seriously.

Create a shortlist of all the major (and minor) social media sites. Then surf over to them and make sure your name, brand name — and any other important “names” you want protected — are registered and signed up.

You need to make that preemptive strike — take your names before some outsider decides to take them for a ride and damages your reputation…

(more…)

Sometimes when the mood strike me, and when it suits my purpose, I ‘podcast’ instead of writing. Yesterday I received an email asking me to sign a petition against a large Asian country. In the podcast I share my thoughts surrounding the issue of committing your ‘political opinion’ to digital ink, and what might be the future implications of such an act.

• Click here to listen to my podcast

*The podcast runs 4m 51s

OK, a little too much alliteration for this time of day I’ll admit, however I’m looking to make a point about strategic content once more. This time a teacher is getting their proverbial digital butt kicked for publishing content on their personal website that “others” find “inappropriate.”

“Dangerous ground this is young Jedi” - Yoda

In this situation a teacher wrote poetry and other creative content about which some parents have complained, and here’s the really scary part…

“The poems have been withdrawn from Prashker’s personal website while the review is underway.”

Is it just me… are we trying to censor the Internet, or perhaps just certain individuals? Creativity often runs counter to the norm - I know this. The price of these creative breakthroughs is often a little social discomfort… sometimes a lot.

“This is a wake-up call for educators not to put anything negative on the Internet that could come back and bite you – exactly what we’re telling kids,” said Stu Auty, chair of the Canadian Safe Schools Network.

A renowned Toronto poet said he doesn’t believe in censorship but warns artists must also consider what they do for a living and take responsibility for whatever message their art may send out.

“So yes, he should be allowed total creative freedom – but at the same time he has to be cognizant of his position as a school principal. Why would he put that sort of poetry on his website?”

An outraged parent, says that regardless of when the content was written and published, he believes Prashker should be removed from office, for having written such material and for having put it on a website.

So, as you venture out today, remember to be careful what you say (publish) online because as I’m fond of saying: online embarrassment is eternal. And I suppose I could say in a somewhat ‘Pythonesque Fashion’ … “No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!”

All hail the coming Digital Dark Age! Is it me, or doth a frosty wind blow yonder?

To read the full story, visit: http://www.thestar.com/article/339613