Never, ever assume that an email you have sent is erased—even when you delete it from your own mailbox.
Remedy.
Never write anything in an email that you would regret seeing publicized, regardless of whether it is sent via a professional or personal account. Never email anyone while angry, emotional, or intoxicated. If you must write an impassioned screed for catharsis, in no case should you hit the “send” button! Copy and paste the text into a Word document and let it sit on your desktop while you simmer down.
The Internet is a great democratizer, where we can publish our own thoughts and ideas for free. However, this freedom comes with risk. Consider not only the time consumed by online activities1 but the possibility that you might be judged not on your work, but on your viewpoints. Human nature being what it is, someone may make snap decisions about your suitability for a position without really knowing you. Or a student may hesitate to join your lab if he is afraid you might be biased against his political viewpoints. There’s a reason many bloggers use pseudonymous handles. A stray off-color remark can have serious consequences. (For example, student athletes have lost their scholarships for inappropriate posts.) Additionally, consider the potential cost of writing something negative about an advisor or colleague. Would you want the subject finding out what you said?
Remedy.
Again, remember that the Internet is public. Even if you use a pseudonym, you might be tracked down by IP address, or otherwise lose your mask. As with email, blog posts can last forever, so always consider what you are writing and always be temperate. We each walk a fine line between prudent self-censorship and being true to ourselves. Defining that line is a personal decision by which we balance
the risks and rewards of an enriching online existence alongside our professional identity as scientists.
by Susan L. Forsburg,
Taken from ASCB Newsletter, April 2009, page 14-15
ASCB = The American Socciety for Cell Biology
from : hshandoyo.net
