December 29, 2004
how to blog about work and not get fired
In the comments of a recent post, A’braham asks the following question:
How would one go about blogging about their place of business without getting fired for it? I personally see two choices:
1. Ask for permission, which could also mean ask for your blog to get censored.
2. Just do the thing and be wise about what aspects of work you talk about. A risk here if you not wise.
Well, I think wisdom is pretty key.
The only way someone like Robert Scoble can get away with his blog is because there’s somebody a few levels above him at Microsoft protecting him, let’s not kid ourselves.
The blog may be changing things, but it isn’t changing everything. One still has to watch one’s back at the office.
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Couldn’t agree more, Hugh. These are dangerous times because the old “rule sets” still prevail in the workplace. Creating new rule set environments, and convincing people that we’re serious about those rules, is the work ahead of us.
Be Careful Out There!
Hugh makes the point that TrueTalk is still highly dangerous in view of today’s predominant corporate rule set. That’s the work: create environments that allow people to speak the truth while staying within the context of community. Not the right
I don’t blog about work much, but when I do I try to keep it nice and generic. I’m a receptionist, so when I blog about work, I normally try to make it sound more “This is what it’s like working on a front desk” than “This is what it’s like working on the Reception Desk at this organisation”. Seems to be working so far
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The flameouts have tended to be very provocative. Sexy photos in uniform, snarky comments about the subjects of your day-job journalism, PR-type releases about new products. Clearly, be careful and anonymous. If you want to dish, say you heard it from another receptionist / programmer / lawyer / copywriter in the field. The old roman a clef tricks, cite the actual subject in the room when someone is talking about the “other” one. The smoke and mirrors are part of the fun, and save you from the anodyne curse of “I love my work” unless you do.
Here’s a thought. How long till we see fake “I got fired” blogs as a way to build anticipation about a secret product or line from a company?
One tip is to remove your bosses from your weekly/monthly newsletter list (after you put them on a month or so ago to show off). If it’s not in their face, they may not have the time to think about what you’re up to.
On the subject of blogs and work, I came across this site — well written and amusing (however now is mainly about the trials and tribulations of being a new mother, which if you are a parent of a wee one, is worth the daily read) that started when this fine lady was fired from her web designer job because of her personal blog.
Here it is: http://www.dooce.com/about.html
a nice bit of controlled dissent keeps the illusion of freedom alive. walk up to the line, sniff it, but don’t walk over it.