Perpetuity

The Internet is a wonderful tool. Used properly it can be a great resource and, the benefits can be enormous as a tool for income.

But, if you forget, or don’t recognize that whatever you put on the Internet is always, and I do mean always, it can and will come back to haunt you. Not in the supernatural way, of course, however, it can be just as haunting.

In my own naiveté, as a newbie on the Internet, and I confess to just not considering what I was doing, I have placed things on other peoples web sites, and they are coming back on me now. I have asked that they be removed, but, to no avail. It would seem when my name is now Googled, their sites are now coming up and that makes it good for them.

It is unfortunate for me, but it is what it is.

I am learning an excellent lesson here. Not only am I using more wisdom on what I place on the Internet, but, I am using more discretion on where I place what I write. As a writer that limits my venues, but it also makes me more discerning on my choices.

I have also discovered that I am not the only “Debby Willett” in the world. Who knew?! One is a realtor, one is a belly dancer, one is a college teacher, and I’m not exactly sure about the others. It has been an interesting search.

I have considered changing my name. To what exactly I’m not sure, and that may seem a little extreme.

So, my warning to you, as you surf the web and leave messages, or pictures, here and there. Consider how you may feel two years from now, or even five years from now. Will you still have the same opinions? Or even more, will you want the world to read what you wrote five years ago, not realizing that the seemingly innocuous message you are writing now, will be available for perpetuity. That is, forever, and ever. It will never go away. Someone at one point may Google your name, or your picture, and it will come up.

That may not be your concern now, but your concerns will change as you get older. I guarantee it. When you do, as I am now reconsidering what I wrote then, I wish I could go back and change it, or even better, just delete it.