Slashdot Mirror
Best Way To Clear Your Name Online?
An anonymous reader writes "About fifteen years ago, I did something that I've come to regret on a university computer system. I was subsequently interviewed by a Federal law enforcement agency, although no charges were pressed and I have no criminal record as a result of my actions. At the time, I discussed the matter with a friend of mine who went on to mention it briefly in a text file zine with a small distribution list. I've generally tried to keep a low profile online and until recently there's been very little information about me available from the major search engines. Unfortunately, that zine mention was picked up by textfiles.com at some point and mirrored across the world. I've tried to address this with the owner of the site, but couldn't get anywhere. Even if my name in the source file is altered, cached copies will continue to link me with my youthful mistake. Have any other Slashdot readers had a similar experience? What practical steps would your readers recommend to prevent this information from hurting me? I am concerned that future employers may hold my past actions against me should they look for me online as part of their screening process."
Sucks to have to live with the consequences of your actions, hey?
If it was something really serious, well, don't do the crime if you can't do the time. If it wasn't that serious then you don't want to work for someone who would hold it against you anyway.
You will be haunted by this all your life so you might as well end it all now.
There is nothing you can do to gfte rid of it.
Too bad, so sad.
Anyone who takes google response seriously is an idiot.
"Due to the nature of my work, I'm very confident this has in fact impacted my career."
Doubtful.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
But the poster has not matured. We know this because this mental child asks the question "How do I hide the shit I have done?".
Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
Yeah , but if we had taken GWB actions more seriously when he was younger and at his last few jobs then we could have saved ourselves a world of hurt.
Way to go, asshole. I assumed decent people would be tactful enough to not dig it up, given the current situation.
Whatever, I've got karma to burn.
Or you could just be honest and say that he had done some stupid things in the past but behaved well during the time he worked for you.
Just call it a "youthful indiscretion." It worked for Bush.
Seriously though, is your name really so unique that there's no possibility that it could be anyone but you?
Send me a message if you would like to talk about this. I have a few ideas which may be of use, but I have no idea if they are feasible, practical or desirable. Most of the ways that were discussed here with burying things can be automated with custom software (auto form submitters, anyone?) As well as a number of the other suggestions given. I have a small software consulting company, and I am very interested in talking with you (free initial quote) about how custom software may be used to help solve your problem.
I'm the Brian Stinar with blog posts on software development, not the Brian Stinar with a web page on being an opera singer. You can leave me a comment on my blog, a message on facebook, or check out any of the other forums I'm on.
Thanks and good luck,
-Brian J. Stinar-
Too bad.
I know it would be MUCH more convenient if the world worked the way you suggest, but it doesn't.
See, there are a large number of people who actually TOOK the long view 10 or 15 years ago. "Hm, I'd like to go to that party, but I signed a State High School Non-Alcohol commitment." or "You know, drunken topless table-dancing sounds like a great idea when I'm a smoking-hot hardbody at age 19. But gosh, if someone takes a pic of me, that would really be embarrassing, SO I WON'T DO IT." or "Every one of my friends is toking up, and they're really enjoying it and it doesn't seem to be hurting them, but geez, I might want a job where they're going to drug-test me, so I guess I'll just pass."
As an employer if you a job candidate who was self-indulgent, didn't think through long term consequences, failed to plan for the future, and ended up with embarrassing blemishes on their record.
There's a place for self-indulgence: it's called childhood. Grow up, and quit whinging if people judge you based on actions that you were old enough to know/understand could come back to haunt you.
Life has consequences, get over it.
-Styopa