Someone should tell the old white guys who run Corporate America - and the six others that aren't old and white - that web logs are here to stay and they need to deal with it. Most blogs are pretty anonymous and harmless. And since the "doocing" of Heather back in 2002, most blog authors are pretty careful concerning what they write in their blog. I know I personally do not discuss my work life very often due to the fact that a few of my fellow workers read my blog regularly and I know they are tight asses so I don't take the chance (kidding). But we are all human and have emotions and the blog is a great release for the day to day tensions of life, which includes our jobs. So it is understandable that an occasional post will include information concerning someone's employer or coworkers. Isn't a blog better than a pissed off employee with an automatic weapon?
There currently doesn't seem to be a generic set of rules concerning discussing your work in your blog. I don't remember signing a contract or code of conduct restricting me from writing anonymously about the company I work for. I am not sure how it is that Corporate America feels that they can dooce someone just because they write something negative about their company or coworkers in their blog. Especially, when the company and coworkers are not mentioned by name. This just seems wrong on so many levels. When did we forget that this is America and we have a right to freedom of expression? Why isn't this covered under the first amendment? Does my employment negate my first amendment rights? I have to tolerate groups like the neo-nazis preaching their hatred and intolerance and I don't get to fire them from the human race because I don't agree with them and think they are idiots. Why isn't it OK for me to say the guy in the cubicle next to me is a jackass - sorry G :).
Now I know that someone is going to say that if I called my coworker a jackass to his face, then I would be fired. Actually, if I called G a jackass, he would probably laugh and call me something worse. But I am not talking about that. When I mention the "Definitely a Union Guy" in my blog, nobody knows who that is but me. And in my building it could be describing anyone. No one else in my building even knows this is my blog. If they stumble across it, and don't like what I write, then stop reading it.
It seems that Corporate America needs to get a little proactive and tackle this issue instead of avoiding it and then firing people indiscriminately. If they don't, someone will get the bright idea to sue their asses for wrongful termination under the grounds of freedom of expression. I think this would be a great thing for the Supreme Court to have to decide. HEAR ME OLD WHITE GUYS - The web log world is here, millions of us write in it every day. Embrace it or deal with it properly.
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