To disregard what the world thinks of us is not only arrogant, but utterly shameless.

I recently was involved in an intervention regarding on-line reputations. (and that’s about all that I am gonna say about that.)  Both in the real world as well as in the virtual world, we must be cognizant of how others perceive us. 

Do we, who serve in Catholic youth ministry, take care to present ourselves as disciples of Jesus and avoid presenting images of ourselves that might prove to be distracting from the Word or scandalous to others?

In the virtual world, it is easy to “put on” some sort of persona. . .  but it is this very same persona that might be your “first impression” to a future employer doing an on-line reference check on you.  (When’s the last time you “googled” yourself?)

Our office is preparing Technology Procedural Recommendation regarding both this as well as child protection policy to ensure a safe place for young people both in this world as well as in the wired-up world. 

The text that accompanies this slideshare presentation about on-line reputations can be found here.  What it says in true about reputations off-line as well:

The bottom line to this whole presentation is that on the web, you’ll be seen for who you are and for what is said about you.  If you’re not part of that conversation, you’re not in control of your reputation, and that’s a dangerous thing.

A stage manager I worked with once in my theatre days was asked by a director why he was always so calm, when other stage manager spent so much time dealing with crises.  He replied “being able to put out fires is important, but I prefer to keep the candles away from the drapes.”

Take control of your online reputation, and figure out how to keep the candles away from the drapes.  It’s way easier than putting out fires.