NameCritic Tips on Reputation Management

These days managing your reputation on the web is important. There are more and more unethical companies who use tactics to destroy their competitors reputation rather than compete with them honestly.

Individuals do it to other individuals as well. It's ok. It's freedom of speech. Unless they are lying about you. People having the ability to post anonymously is great for people who fear reprisals, such as people who live in a country where you can go to jail for criticizing the government. That is why it is important to have the ability not to post your identity.

However, this protection also gets used by those who want to hide because they know they are doing something illegal, unethical, or immoral. The term "anonymous coward" then applies to them.

I can understand a whistle blower, who really may be hurt by posting their identity, posting anonymously. However, people who want to expose something should make sure that everything they are writing is factual, not just libel.

But many people don't care if they slander someone's reputation whether it is true or not. They believe they are protected by being anonymous.

Got news for you. Your ISP, Google, Yahoo, AOL, etc., do not care to protect you as much as you think. A simple request from law enforcement can give your identity to anyone willing to pursue you in court. So go ahead. Think that you are anonymous. Think you can say anything you like about anyone. When you find yourself in court, do not be so shocked though.

In addition to that, you also leave footprints that many people can follow. If you get someone like that looking for you, you will probably wish they were taking you to court instead.

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