When I googled myself, I too was bombarded with stuff about my football career. Kidding. Apparently, Melissa Miller is the most common name on the planet (good job, parents), so absolutely nothing comes up about me. The following are different types of Melissa Millers you could seek out if you tire of this one:
1. Photographer
2. Event Planner
3. Prisoner of drug war
4. Dramatic Actress
5. Artist
6. Real Estate Agent (in Ithaca, NY, my least favorite place I've ever been)
7. Real Estate Agent (Louisville, KY)
8. Blogger (titled: Blond and Dangerous...aka, clearly not mine)
9. Young Professional Writer
10. Equestrian Teacher
An article on whitepages.com also came up to inform me that there are 3151 people with the name Melissa Miller in the white pages. In case this exercise did not make me feel average enough. Thanks. I was sort of surprised (read: thrilled) that my Facebook, Twitter, and Blog did not come up in a google search. That will make my future job search much easier because people cannot stalk me down and look at all of the debauchery that these accounts reveal.
Melissa -
ReplyDeleteI think it is really interesting that you found 3151 other Melissa Miller's on whitepages.com. I was really upset when I found 5 Kim Sachs' so I understand just how average you might feel. If you read my post, I was really happy that my Facebook and Twitter did not come up in a google search as well. I do not want my future employers to see my tagged pics, read my tweets, and now that my Foursquare and Twitter are linked, see where I am at all times.
After doing this activity, do you think it is better to be invisible or have some sort of presence online?
Kim, I think you propose an interesting question about the amount of visibility online. I happened to have the opposite problem from you guys in that I did not feel average at all. I think its very lucky and nice that you guys have the luxury of knowing potential employers will not find you. But at the same time, you are stuck feeling as average as can be. So there are pros and cons to both, but with some privacy settings and careful protection, having an online presence can be nice.
ReplyDeleteNatalie, while you say that we are stuck feeling "average as can be," it makes me wonder which I would rather: be unsearchable online or have a facebook group come up petitioning me to direct Humorology 2009-2010? This brings up an important question of whether having a presence online is good if the presence that you have is embarrassing for your life? I'm not sure which I would choose at this point, but while I am contemplating the issue, I have the security of knowing I can take my time in making this decision seeing as to I am on the internet "DL."
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with you Melissa. I would rather be one unsearchable Kim in the sea of Kim Sachs' than have an embarrassing website appear on the first page of a google search. However, I do think that because Humorology is a great philanthropic event, if and when employers google Natalie, she will have a great conversation starter!
ReplyDeleteUpon thinking more on this topic I still feel that having some form of online presence is better than being unsearchable. At this day and age, all possible employers know that students have facebook, other social networks and means of an online presence. I feel that by having something there, they are able to see a little more into who a person is. Yes, the facebook group happened to be a joke but as Kim pointed out, it is a great conversation starter. I am able to take meeting a potential boss and make it more creative and unique.
ReplyDeleteThat is an intriguing point you make, Natalie, however, it does not explain why you cried upon hearing that I addressed this humorology group in my previous comment on October 18, 2010. If it is such a unique conversation starter, you should embrace it more than I think that you currently are. I agree it is important to be creative and unique, but my unsearchability allows me to be creative, unique, and wildly inappropriate which I am indeed thankful for.
ReplyDelete