I subscribe to the Reader’s Digest. Why? Because my mom always did. It was a staple in our home, like singing on Sunday nights around the piano, eating soggy Rice Crispies in the mornings while folding socks on the kitchen table, family prayer morning and night, and hamburger in every dinner we ate. The Reader’s Digest was always laying around, and I think when I was younger that I thought it was part of our religion or something! I never read any of the articles when I was young, just the funny little “Humor in Uniform” or “Life in these United States” bits. However, now that I am older, and subscribe myself, I read it cover to cover… unless the story looks like it’ll make me cry, then I just skim the beginning, and skip to the end. I don’t like crying in the middle of the day. (read My Titanic Didn’t Sink for more of my dillusional state.) When I read an article that looks very interesting or like information I should have, I read it all the way through, and I take it to heart!
This month’s RD had an article in it titled ” How To Click and Clean” by Andy Simmons (April 2008, p. 157). It is about how people are actually shooting themselves in the foot when they post ridiculous images of themselves online doing stupid things, because their potential future employers can Google them and see how truly incompetent they really are, and not hire them. It also mentions how, if you bad mouth your former employer in a blog or public forum online, this can reflect badly on your character, and thwart your prospects, or lose you the job you have now!
It got me to thinking about my online profile. Do I have any horrible pictures of me doing ridiculous things in a place I shouldn’t be?? I think I can honestly say, NO. I’ve never gotten drunk or worn underpants on my head while people I don’t know take pictures of me to post on their blogs. No, I have always been in control of my senses, and I’m proud of it. Yes, I’ve been sillier at some times than at others, but never done something so out of character that I would be ashamed if my mother saw, or a future employer.
It did, however, make me think about things I say. No, not like swear words or anything like that, but maybe people I might complain about, or things I rattle on about. I often speak without thinking. At least when typing my thoughts it takes a while for them to come out, and I often catch myself saying something I don’t really want to say. But, I was reminded that when I put my name on something, it goes out for the whole world to see. What image am I presenting to the world, besides that of a frazzled and somewhat mentally askew housewife? Hmmmmmm….. it makes one think.
I’m glad I read the RD this month. I feel much better prepared to traverse the jungles of the internet knowing I am spot-free, blemmish free, free from guilt, or regret, or ……. ok, well, that there are no embarassing photos of me out there at any rate. Mom, thanks for all you taught me, and for keeping the RD around the house. Someday my own son will write a book titled “Everything My Mother Taught Me, She Learned From The Reader’s Digest”. Well……..it’s better than therapy!
