The Power of an Online Presence

February 18, 2003 2:37 AM

Online reputations. Anything to scoff at? Yeah, yeah. I found it at /. But what importance do we place on online reputations? This could mean anything (This could include your own personal web reputation all the way up to a corporation's "web-presence"). Just how important in affecting the world at large is the "Online Reputation" versus the viral spread of "small talk"?
posted by crasspastor (25 comments total)

I used to have an online reputation, until I posted this.
posted by wendell at 2:43 AM on February 18, 2003

This all fits in serendipitously with this ongoing thread.

(A quick recap, if you don't want to read the whole thing.)

Journalist/Author attends World Economic Forum. She writes her close confidantes a candid, but personal email. Somebody leaks it to the web from whom she'd sent it to. Gets linked to at Metafilter. Discussion ensues. Then writes another email scolding us for what idiots we are for reading and discussing things on the web.
posted by crasspastor at 2:48 AM on February 18, 2003

Worried people wouldn't see your thread, wendell?
posted by antimarx at 2:57 AM on February 18, 2003

Speaking of reputations, the USA is either earning or living up to one now. It's a work in progress, I suppose.
posted by antimarx at 3:00 AM on February 18, 2003

Ouch. That is psycho antimarx.
posted by crasspastor at 3:08 AM on February 18, 2003

Yank the Yanks the heck out of South Korea too. The sooner the better.
posted by hama7 at 3:15 AM on February 18, 2003

No, auntiemarx, I was worried people WOULD see it and not believe it's me because I didn't link to Yahoo News.

Still, the Journalist/Author kind of lost me when she quoted the classic William Shatner/Saturday Night Live sketch: Get a Life?!?!?.
posted by wendell at 3:31 AM on February 18, 2003

antimarx - I read that article about the US supposedly pulling out of Germany as 'punishment' for their opposition at the UN in the paper at the weekend. If it's true, it hardly does the US reputation as the 'good guys' any favours - "do as we say or I'll harm you" is more akin to the playground bully than international relations.
posted by Markb at 4:30 AM on February 18, 2003

"do as we say or I'll harm you" is more akin to the playground bully than international relations

You mean, sort of the way France has been behaving...threatening Eastern European countries and EU potentials for not toeing the line it has defined? The US has been struggling for reasons to KEEP those bases active for years since, with the demise of the USSR, the location of these bases is out of sync with current military needs. We had done it merely for the sake of the German economy and our friendship...with said friendship in dire question the movement of those resources to a more strategic location with a country more aligned with our political needs makes perfect sense.
posted by RevGreg at 5:05 AM on February 18, 2003

You should also note MarkB that the Observer was quoting the ever popular "sources" who have no names and are completely unaccountable and unquestionable about their "statements". The article you quote was National Enquirer level "fact finding", hardly the same sort of evidence as the quotes from Chirac's rantings the other day:

"Romania and Bulgaria were particularly irresponsible to (sign the letter) when their position is really delicate," Chirac said. "If they wanted to diminish their chances of joining Europe they could not have found a better way."

or my favorite

"They missed a good opportunity to keep quiet."

Welcome to the French vision of "multilateralism"...
posted by RevGreg at 5:16 AM on February 18, 2003

You should also note MarkB that the Observer was quoting the ever popular "sources" who have no names and are completely unaccountable and unquestionable about their "statements".

...which is why I qualified my statement with If it's true....

Don't get me wrong RevGreg, I'm not another stroppy European out for a bit of 'Yank Bashing', I was however astounded to read some of the comments 'attributed' to Pentagon sources.
In addition, nowhere did I say that the French were any less culpable when their leader threatens candidate EU states for taking the opposite view.

Neither do I wish to derail yet another thread into a pro/con iraq shouting match. The discussion is about reputation, reading the article gives the impression that America is using bullying tactics to bend others to her will, if true, this gives America a reputation which could further damage Euro-American relations at a time where alliances should be being formed.

In my eyes, France already has a reputation for arrogance in the face of world opinion far in advance of that of the US (cf. Pacific nuclear tests, Rainbow Warrior etc.) it's just that they matter less on the world stage, so no-one takes as much notice.
posted by Markb at 5:36 AM on February 18, 2003

My online reputation is an extension of my offline reputation. That's why I use my real name.
posted by ?! at 5:42 AM on February 18, 2003

An online reputation is something I never considered before this post. I've been fooling around with a computer for about eight years now. I have always enjoyed joining in discussions, and now that I'm forced to think about it, I guess I was always just myself. Many times I suppose I am viewed as a ranting bleeding heart or a sarcastic ass, but one thing I find unsettling and beyond smug are the types (many found here at MeFi) who seem to rule the web and use their gift of eloquent writing skills to bash those of us less gifted. Instead of maybe listening and hopefully spreading the benefits of their intelligence and expertise, they tend to go on about how very right they are about a particular topic, or attempt to drag someone into an argument simply to show everybody how much smarter they are than the poor slob who may have made a less than well-thought comment. News flash: We're all just a bunch of people sitting behind monitors with different levels of intelligence. I believe most are thirsting for more knowledge, and so sit behind monitors seeking such. Now, I like a heated discussion as much as the next guy, and I can learn from one as well, but sometimes have a hard time sifting through the trash to get real info that might actually benefit me. I started coming to this site because it linked me to weird or fun stuff to view in my boredom, but found issues of serious weight being discussed and thought, since I don't travel in those circles in my real life, I could learn something here. I may not be the sharpest pencil in the box, but I'd love to know more. So if I say something dumb or sound uninformed about a particular subject, please don't view me as undeserving of your knowledge, but rather help me to excel. Thank you for your time (I seem to have wasted alot of space here), and thank you crasspastor for this post. It really made me think!
posted by LouReedsSon at 6:41 AM on February 18, 2003

Whuffie or whuffie
Though it seems that you can no longer download it at this moment.
posted by Fezboy! at 6:56 AM on February 18, 2003

clue for LouReedsSon: most of the 'sharpest pencils in the box' aren't here to spread the benefits of their intelligence and expertise, they are here to rub your face in it and thereby acquire some sense of superiority. you may not have noticed, but when frustrated in their attempts to convince the lumpenproletariat of their godlike insight, they eventually leave.

on preview: i can hardly believe my eyes, but spellchecker suggested "clueless" as a replacement for "LouReedsSon". maybe you'd better change your handle! :-)
posted by quonsar at 7:18 AM on February 18, 2003

My reputation needs a little polish. So I come to Metafilter.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 7:27 AM on February 18, 2003

There are many, including you quonsar, that I admire. Those you point to are the types I was refering to. I just thought, wouldn't it be nice if.... (but I have vision of world peace too!)

on preview: i can harldy believe my eyes, but spellchecker suggested "clueless" as a replacement for "LouReedsSon". maybe you'd better change your handle! :-)

ouch. How does one go about changing handles here? :)
posted by LouReedsSon at 7:35 AM on February 18, 2003

ouch. How does one go about changing handles here? :)

You post to MetaTalk asking how to change your handle, everybody makes fun of you for 50 posts, and mathowie doesn't change your handle.

That's basically it.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 8:03 AM on February 18, 2003

there goes slithy_tove, sporting his expertise again!
posted by quonsar at 8:15 AM on February 18, 2003

Until you lose your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was or what freedom really is.
...Margaret Mitchell
posted by madamjujujive at 8:50 AM on February 18, 2003

Yeah, yeah. I found it at /.

But, truthfully, I expect to see better discussion here than on on /., and I think that reflects on the general reputation of the MeFi community.
posted by Ayn Marx at 9:20 AM on February 18, 2003

LouReedsSon: MeFi and the Internet are not unlike life. The laws of evolution apply here as well. If you're dumb, expect to be treated as such. If you contribute nothing except for back of the room attempts at irony, expect to be ignored.
Now I'll give you clues to escape cluelessness:

-acknowledge your own ignorance; most people tend to consider a discussion/book etc pleasant only when it reassures them of their own intellectual merits, but the exact opposite is true: the things that make us feel dumb are often the keys for us to transcend our own limits;
-forget people, focus on statements and opinions;
-if you don't know something, look it up. Google it. Do not give in to ignorance as some kind of bliss and do not accuse others of being snobbish simply because they're smarter.

Keep in mind that, for good or bad, reputations are earned. I like your comments because I detect a willingness and candour in them not easily found here, so keep an open mind and do not be afraid or intimidated, but don't blame others for your own shortcomings.
posted by 111 at 9:34 AM on February 18, 2003

hello everybody,
i am the cleverest , most wonderful and witty person on metafilter and if you dont agree there is something badly wrong with you, you godforsaken oaf.
I also play ping pong and listen to def leppard.
posted by sgt.serenity at 11:22 AM on February 18, 2003

Hey 111. Suck it.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 11:43 AM on February 18, 2003

Whoa! Did I write all that?

Anyway, thanks for not shredding me to bits. 111, I blame no one but myself for my my late bloom, if you will (loooong story). And I don't expect anyone to willingly give to me what they've worked for. I just hate watching people tear each other up over trivial BS. Seems those energies could be used to further our existance as a species! :)

Oh yeah, I was kidding about the handle change. Guess it suits me afterall! Peace.
posted by LouReedsSon at 3:11 PM on February 18, 2003