When I first started posting to the internet, my daughter warned me to never post anything that I wouldn’t want available to the whole world for all time. I have followed her caution, and have kept peoples’ names and images off my posts if the people are still living. I have, as is clear from my recent posts about Aunt Cary, put up names and images of some no longer alive.
However, as I prepared to write about the advantages and disadvantages of single sex settings, including Camp Fire Girls, summer camp and the Barbizon Hotel, I startled. There among the images I searched on Google for Camp Fire was a photo of me, sleeping bag over my shoulder, waiting to go to camp. I had posted that image myself some while back. I think that while theoretically I knew that Google searched everything all the time, I had failed to really comprehend the implications of that.
The good news is that if someone were to click that image she would be directed to my blog, thereby increasing my readers. But still it was a bit unsettling. So take this as a gentle reminder. Don’t post anything you don’t want available to the whole world for all time! Thank goodness I don’t mind the image of that plucky camper available to all.
Saved By Words 
That would be unsettling indeed.
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Sensible daughter
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Someone told me to Google my own blog, after I had been bloging for five years. It was an eye-opening experience to see so many references to my blog, and my photo freely available in ‘Images’. Small wonder idenity theft is so widespread.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Next they may use your image to extort some hapless woman!
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I’m sure this will be a big problem in the future with potential employers automatically searching social media sites as part of the recruitment process.
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I think it has already affected college admissions.
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It’s already a recruitment process here in Australia Peter.
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Thank you for the heads up, Elizabeth. Yes, that would be very unsettling for you.
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A great reminder. We’ve been told that a hundred times but it always serves us well to be reminded again…and, again. Thanks n
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You’d better be careful about posting pictures of that red coat in the snow, Steve [smile]
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You’re right. That lady will think I’m a stalker. Wait , that’s my wife, she won’t mind😂
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LOL
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There are no more secrets. Fortunately, my life is so boring that they’re recommending following me as a cure to insomnia.
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You have a lovely life, Pete, and a great new book in the making.
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LOL
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You are quite right, Elizabeth, Google holds on to everything you post forever. I also try to be careful what I post.
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I think you do it well.
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Yikes! I can see where that would be unsettling.
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Yup!
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