Mandy’s Tips – #7
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on February 25th, 2008 in Managing MS Tips.
For Privacy’s Sake: Let’s Be Careful Out There!
I can’t even begin to guess the number of health-related blogs which exist. Most are written by and for people who have been diagnosed with a chronic condition. The authors are looking to lend their support as well as to receive it. At the risk of sounding our own horn, we are a very well-intentioned group of people.
In our effort to enlighten and entertain, we often share very personal information. We tell of our diagnosis, our prescribed medications, our trials and tribulations. We spill out our heart and soul. At the push of a button, this information is available for all the world to see and, once set free on the world-wide web, can never be taken back.
We live in a country which protects us in the workplace when it comes to disability or illness. Our employers, or perspective employers, are not at liberty to ask about our medical condition. They cannot deny us a job based on our health history.
There is no law, however, which prevents them from “googling” the names of perspective employees. In fact, most companies do just that. So do potential dates, in-laws, friends, acquaintances…and strangers.
Do we really want anyone and everyone to have access to our personal health history? The names and dosages of prescribed medications? Diagnoses which they may or may not fully comprehend? Our address, age and personal contacts? Photos of ourselves, our homes and families?
When it comes to privacy, so much has changed in the last decade. In many instances, we’ve all but given up even the pretense of privacy. When it comes to medical information, we may want to think twice before hitting that “publish” button.
For bloggers, it is a personal decision. We each need to decide for ourselves where to draw the line. Let’s be careful out there!
February 25th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
wow…this is such a good point. i never really thought about this but you sure are right. anybody could know your very personal medical history.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Yes, privacy is an odd concept in the digital age. It truly does not take very much effort to form a profile of someone who shares various tidbits of information on the web. I am one of the those patients who have talked very openly about my disease and my medications. Part of this has to do with being self-employed and not likely to be applying for a job which my health might become an issue.
I know folks personally who work in the corporate world and who would never dare to reveal such information. I also know folks who work in government jobs and are secure in their jobs such that discussing health issues openly, but not obcessively, is not a huge issue.
There are still a few things which I consciously refrain from sharing in the webworld. Although name, contact information, and studio policies are none of these things, being that they are business-related and quasi-advertisement. If I had not already had an online presence when starting my blog, I might have created a parallel identity…maybe.
In protection of identifiable online activity, I have chosen to not allow public access to my Sitemeter stats where IP addresses, location, and often business affiliation can be determined.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Lisa,
I think it may be a case by case basis. We each have to give some thought to our particular situation and decide how far we want to go. The problem arises when we fail to consider the potential downside…and, as they say, you can’t get the horse back in the barn. I’m still not sure where I will personally draw the line.
March 8th, 2008 at 10:19 am
This is exactly why I blog anonymously.