Somebody who knows me found my blog.
Uh-oh.
I have enjoyed a certain amount of anonymity from behind the veil of the internet, and have been quite fortunate. A few of my readers know my name, and an even smaller number, perhaps 3 or 4, have met me in my life riding on ambulances.
Sometimes I ponder on the benefits of my perceived anonymity.
Would I get in trouble if my bosses knew I blogged?
Would I get fired if they knew?
Have I crossed a line blogging?
Am I doing a good thing for EMS by blogging?
Do my coworkers read my blog?
Do they know who I am?
While that last question has largely been a resounding “no” over the past year, now there is one who knows. Slimm knows I blog, but he doesn’t know where my blog is, what my self-assumed identity is, and he doesn’t care. He will occasionally suggest an idea for a post, typically by saying “you should blog about that one, dude.” But he doesn’t read my blog.
My coworker has assured me that my anonymity will remain, and that he has no ulterior motives. He says he has been reading my blog for several months, and the “stories just clicked one day.”
I trust him to maintain my anonymity, but I wonder.
Is anonymity a good thing in blogging?
Should I head off any perceived trouble by approaching my bosses?
Should I out myself here?
Does it matter who I am, where I am, or where I work?
Can a blogger not just be a nameless, faceless guy with a patch?
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I would welcome input from you, my readers.
I know one former co-worker who swore me to secrecy about their prolific blogging. The fact that I didn’t work with them anymore probably played into it.
For myself, I decided at the onset to be very open about my identity, but my aims may be different than others.
There’s a role for the anonymous blog, however, but it seems like a challenge to maintain, with too many potential consequences.
Thanks for your input. I agree with you in that there is a role for the anonymous blogger.
That may be the crux of what I am looking for: how do I fill that role? I don’t want to be a blogger just to take up bandwidth, or bang on keys. I hope I can bring something to the table. I hope I can tell when I am doing things right, or when my time has come to bow out of the blogosphere.
My blog started out in one direction for a reason, but it seems, as most things do, it has evolved into something else.
I’ll let you know when you’re getting irrelevant. I mean, what are friends for if not to rebuke you from time to time.
No, actually, I really find your posts very interesting, informative and revealing of the state of EMS. Your interaction with the physician about the no-chest-pain-nitro normalizing of the EKG was a remarkable story that really says something about where we are as a profession.
I intentionally keep my blog anonymous, using an pseudonym name and place of work. I throw in some inconsistencies in order to try and keep people I know from figuring anything out.
One guy I work with knows about my blog, and knows (or knew….he probably forgot by now.) where to find it. He’s my best friend, and I had sworn him to secrecy. I trust he won’t tell anyone. Another guy I work with knows I blog, but knows nothing about the specifics. I don’t think either of them really care, and they don’t read my blog.
The reason I stay anonymous is to keep my posts honest. This blog was to share my experiences, and examine my growth. It lets me share the wonderul and quirky things about this business, and explore the things that I don’t like so much about our line of work. Maybe it would help newbies like myself realize if EMS is something they want to explore. It’s helped me network. It’s allowed me to be truthful about the great things and the not-so-great things. It’s allowed for me to learn from others outside of my little service area. It helps me kind of unite with other EMTs and see we go through a lot of the same things. Being anonymous gives me a little more confidence to ask questions about the big things. Over all, anonymous blogging helps me be honest. I fear that if the people I work with know that I blog, I will start writing only to entertain others, which is not what I want to do.
Just my two cents.
I think you’re golden as long as you keep the place and names fictitious and don’t cross the HIPAA line. It’s not like you’re posting identifiable photos either. Keep going the way you are. Even if your secret is out, you still have First Amendment protection as long as no one else’s rights are infringed upon. An author is an author, whether in a paper book, or within the digital realm.
I prefer not to completely separate my real identity, because I don’t feel I could maintain the veil like a non-Iron Man superhero.
Tough one CCC. The benefit to the anonymity is that you can more readily say what you think and feel. However, this is a double-edged sword.
I have enough reading to do that I’m not on various blogrolls checking out stuff daily, but I read about 7 pretty regularly (including yours).
Were I your boss? Here’s the thing…you do what appears to be a really great job of concealing anything to do with patients…and your department. Both good things from a management point of view. However, if who you are becomes public, well; you have a tougher spot when it comes to blogging about some subjects…especially partners, or dispatchers (I don’t know if you have…haven’t really paid attention on that one), you run more of a risk of stepping on a toe and making it an HR problem. Not necessarily, but it’s a potential. Remember, 1st Amendment prevents the government from stopping your speech, not your employer. Someone gets a case of hurt feelings, and management knows who you are, and the whole “hostile work environment” could bite you in the behind.
My understanding is there’s been a few other really good bloggers that have had that problem (one was a teacher I think) and wound up starting over with a new title…
So…not sure. I guess I’d leave it alone for now, but understand that perhaps you need to be a little more cautious.
Do whichever allows you to be most honest. Otherwise, why waste your creative time on working to make sure nobody figures out who you are?
You’re a working stiff who has a point of view and I know it’s not usually the company/corporate line, so the question becomes “How much attention do you want to draw to yourself?”
You’ll be asking that question whether your name is associated with your blog or not. Logically, though, it’s only a matter of time before someone in your working environment figures who’s behind the mask and you’ll be outed, so how hard do you want to work to stay hidden?
Since it’s pretty inevitable (too many of us have nothing better to do with off-time than figure out “Who’s the Blogger?”) anyhow, I say put your real name to it, attach a disclaimer to what you write and speak your truth.
In the Blogger world, it’s easy to be bold in thought and limp in action. If you attach your name to what you write, you may just have to walk your talk more openly. IMHO EMS needs more people to stand up personally for what they believe are the things that bog down the system; whether it be the Government or their partners. Then, a major part of your content becomes “What can I deliver?”
Maybe if it comes from a real person, the truth will be easier to believe. Then, maybe more real people will take action as well. You wouldn’t be doing what you’re doing in EMS today if you felt enough of your peers were doing the work to make this a real profession. Too many aren’t.
But remember CCC, personal safety is #1 — that’s the way it works these days, isn’t that right? — so cover your ass!
You’re problem was admitting that your co worker was right. One person I work with knows I have a blog and reads it. A couple of others suspect, but I just deny it.
I’m more concerned about some of the people I work for getting pissed than I am with the people I work for getting pissed.
Of course, you mileage may vary.
I agree with TOTW. I would have assumed (but not pled) the Fifth Amendment and lied with a straight face. Then I would have said, “Show me this thing,” and when he did, would have said, “You think I’m that good a writer. Well, thanks for the compliment…”
But, it’s done. I’m not much for trusting people but I think you have no choice here.
But no, I wouldn’t tell my managers. Everyone’s logical ideas of how management should behave does not necessarily translate into how management will in fact behave. And your managers will only act in ways that benefit and protect themselves.
Therefore, hope that he doesn’t tell. But don’t you.
You may think you’re doing the right thing by self-reporting that you have a blog, but ovten times management does not take into consideration ideals and good intentions when they decide to bring the hammer down on something.
I believe your blogs are extremely helpful to EMS as a whole.
That said, something lead you to blog anonymously to start with, and I suggest you continue to follow that inclination.