It’s not that I’m vain, or anything, but I do occasionally Google my name (okay, I am vain; but can you blame me with this hair?). At least I don’t check to see if I’ve got a Wikipedia page – no, really, I don’t, honest…
I have to Goggle myself when I’m submitting poems, because so many editors exclude poems already published online, even if it was on my now defunct poetry blogs which can no longer be accessed.
I Gaggled four poems and my name this morning and I was disappointed to find one of them in the 2010 comments section of a poetry blog, which means I can’t use it.
The Haggle brought up a pleasant surprise, however – which isn’t always a given when you Giggle yourself; all I’m going to say is tea bags/washing line/shame…. Fortunately, I’m such a prolific blogger that the embarrassing photo is hidden way down in my Boggle listing.
I discovered that a poem published by English Pen last year in their Dictionary of Made-Up Words was featured on their website earlier this year, as part of an ongoing promotion of the book. I didn’t know it was there. I’m chuffed!
Even better – it was retweeted! It’s nice to be twit.
You may say it was coincidence, but I think it’s strange that I didn’t come across this poem until I had my hair cut. I’m like an anti-Samson: all of my power was consumed by my long hair; now it’s short, I’m discovering my work in the ether and being invited to take part in poetry events which may or may not come off so I can’t say anything at the moment…except that the invites were issued after the haircut…
So, do you Wriggle yourself? Or are you afraid to discover dirty little secrets of yours hiding out there in the ether? Are there photos of you drunk at a party? Taking an illicit beach day from work? Wearing flares?
I’ll find out, you know, when I Ogle you.
The Laughing Housewife 
sometimes its not A Good Thing to Google oneself, in the same way reading a friend’s mail might tell you more than you ever wanted to know about how she really feels about you–or eavesdropping on a private family convo when your name comes and someone says, “shhhh I don’t think she’s asleep…”
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I’d rather know all that stuff because I like to know where I stand. And I don’t hold grudges 🙂 I get that I’m annoying 😀
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one thing i did try, rather than using my regular name (which is seems to belong to everyone from authors to strippers ), but just this ID. oh golly. im all over the place. Alll in one place. Both fascinating and disturbing at the same time. =)
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By all means Google me. I was surprised (mostly pleasantly surprised) to find several pages of entries about me, me, ME! The other Ron Lavalette is a minister in your neck of the woods. Night and day.
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I occasionally Google myself to make sure no information is on the Internet that I’d prefer not to be there.
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Sensible. But can you remove it if necessary?
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much of this stuff is archived, meaning you would have to find the site and track it down, possibly reregister; much of it is in the public domain meaning, no. But basically what I found, if you post online with an id, whatever is posted is out there under that id. which is a polite way of saying watch your mouth out there, you belong to the net.
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It’s frightening, isn’t it?
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I know you started this thread in fun, but you gave me (and the others here) something to think about.
Having been online since 1996; I have left a trail of multiple IDs on at least a dozen message boards, poetry forums, countless commentaries on other sites, blogs, and help forums.
Im going to spend some quality time today hunting down what just might be under my ids and how to possibly remove it. Or not. Like you, I tend to talk a lot (to the annoyance of a number of people over time) and sometimes the bear comes back to bite ya.
Thank you.
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Glad to help! 🙂
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There is a fairly famous, much published author/artist called Vivienne Blake. It’s NOT ME! There’s also a Jamaican drug baron called Vivian Blake, also NOT ME, and an associate professor of something or other, also NOT ME
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You can’t define yourself by who you are not 🙂
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OK then, the first true reference to me mentions a silly old bat. That’s me!
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Now you’re talkin’! 😀
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Yes, I have Googled myself – nothing of any interest came up, apart from my blog and a load of other people with the same name, some of whom sound quite interesting. 🙂
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More interesting people with your name – mortifying 🙂
And, I’m sure, not true.
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🙂
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I googled myself and aside from seeing a few other Laurie’s who are seriois professionals in academia, it had me on the twitter, my political blog and WordPress. Nothing scandulous, just little ole me. I think that your experience with the Google is much more exciting. 😀
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I google myself — but since I use my alias on the Web most of the time…..no embarrassing photos will appear. Also, the web wasn’t so popular when I was in university…..so that’s a very good thing basically.
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Hmm…haven’t Googled myself…will have to give it a try. 🙂
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I can honestly say I have never Googled myself! But now, you know I’m going to do it as soon as I finish writing this!
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😀
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OK, I have almost a full page devoted to my real name & multiple pages on my blog name! Who knew?
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There you go!
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benzeknees, try using your id. any id you ve used. the results can be startling. lol.
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Thank you. I just did a check under my own name and found a link to me with my phone numbers on it???? I have deleted them and other info I had not publicly shared. Grannymar I know about, but have you ever oogled images? worth a try.
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*blush* No, not at all… 😀
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Hmm…should I be worried? I don’t know. You are scaring me. 😉
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Anti-Samson! I like that. 🙂 I do google myself sometimes. I have a few academic reports and papers that have been published. I like to make sure they aren’t being plagiarized. Congratulations on your publishing accomplishments. You may very well have your own Wikipedia page some day!
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See, that’s why I love my readers 😀
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When I retired, I stopped Googling myself. It is so tiring to be famous!
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😀 😀 😀
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Every day I thank The Deity that the Internet did not exist when I was young.
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Im wondering just how many of those social network kids are going to look back in 20 years from their new computer in their new office (the one with the really good views) and get curious about googling their former selves…
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If you Google odd stuff you often come across me 😀 But the best way is to google Macaulay the Dog.
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I’ll try it!
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I’ve only done it once and didn’t find me, which is good 🙂 Although I did find a porn star with the same name 😉
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Gulp 🙂
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I think in this day and age it’s important to google yourself once in a while, to make sure there are no surprises out there. Some people mean well, and others don’t.
By the way, it’s a bummer about your poem showing up in a blog comment. I wonder if you could ask the blog owner to take it down, so it gets its unpublished status again.
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Good idea!
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