A few thoughts on a philosophical change for this blog. You may have noticed that I have posted my picture on the blog, replacing the Swedish Chef avatar that I've displayed previously. While I've operated this blog semi-anonymously since it opened, my actual identity has been easy enough to figure out. If anyone were to Google my name, Mr. Dilettante is the first thing that pops up, along with references to some other dude with the same name who is apparently a science teacher near St. Louis. I'm sure he's a good guy.
The issue of privacy is a slippery one for all bloggers, but as I have made efforts to raise the public profile of this feature it's made less sense for me to disguise my identity. All the items that I cross-post on True North will go up under my byline, so disguising my identity no longer makes much sense anyway.
There are concerns about revealing one's identity, of course -- various MOB bloggers had to deal with a fairly unhinged lefty blogger who was using images posted on MOB blogs for nefarious purposes last fall. Could something like that happen? Sure. I can't worry about it, though. I stand behind every word that I've published here. And I will do my level best to make visiting this site worth your time.
6 comments:
now i'm gonna jack your photo and paste it on HotorNot.com
I already know the answer to that one, Gino.
The great thing about not being anonymous is that you get to held accountable for what you write. To many that might not sound like such a great thing, but it truly is. I remember when I started (semi-anonymously), that I wrote all kinds of things that I wasn't proud of. About a year and a half ago I decided that I wanted to be consistent about who I was in my thoughts, beliefs, actions and what I typed. It's been a marvelous chance to make sure that those things are all reconciled.
From what I can gather you've already been doing that, but having your name on the product makes it that much more clear and can only be helpful. It's also kind of fun to actually see a picture! Hopefully, somewhere in the not too distant future we can get together and actually meet in person. Such meetings with other members of the MOB have really been a blessing.
Mark Heuring, huh? Are the same Mark Heuring that was able to recite the presidents in order at St. Mary's Grade School?
Thanks, Ben. One of these days I'll get to a MOB event; timing hasn't been right up to this point I would like to meet some colleagues.
Yep, anonymous, that would be me. Bet I still can do it, too. Let's see, Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Quincy Adams, Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison, Cleveland again, McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush. Those old nuns taught us well at St. Mary's. Even Sister "Buck-Toothed" Theonita and Sister "Simon Says" Marie Joseph.
Mark,
Glad to see you "out of the closet," as it were. Hopefully, you won't have to worry about being stalked by hordes of deranged lefty trolls.
Now, Cubs' fans packing rotten tomatoes -- that's a different story... ;-)
Post a Comment