Take a look at your image in the Internet mirror; Google Search your name, FR screen name

The Dallas Morning News ^ | April 16, 2004 | By TOM MAURSTAD / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

Take a look at your image in the Internet mirror

07:42 PM CDT on Friday, April 16, 2004

By TOM MAURSTAD / The Dallas Morning News

Have you ever googled yourself, maybe late at night, when nobody else was around? It's OK, you can admit it – everybody does it.

It's called "self-googling" – entering your name into the popular search engine to see what hits come up. And thanks to a communications professor at the University of Buffalo who researches online behavior and relationships, self-googling has become the latest mini-craze to sweep through the media and over the Internet.

It all started with an article in the university's student newspaper on April 8 in which Alexander Halavais, the aforementioned communications professor, asserted that "self-googling" wasn't merely an act of vanity or boredom but really an increasingly important act of image maintenance in our Internet age.

In the days since, follow-up articles and accounts have been pinging around the electronic universe. See for yourself: Google the phrase "self-googling."

"It's been a strange kind of fun to be at the center of this," says Mr. Halavais. "One, because this behavior is nothing new; it's known on the Web as 'ego surfing.' And, two, because this is not really the focus of my research."

Whatever you want to call it, checking out who you are and what's being said about you on the Internet is rapidly becoming a common-sense practice in a wired world. Think of it as the digital equivalent of looking at your reflection as you pass by a mirror, checking to make sure your hair is unmussed and there's nothing stuck between your teeth.

"It's truer for some than others, but more and more you need to be aware of and manage your online image and reputation. I talk to a lot of students who are applying for jobs, and they take for granted that a Web search is part of the process."

So, go ahead. Google yourself. Who knows what you'll find out?

Of course, Alexander Halavais knows exactly what he's going to find next time he gets the urge to self-google.

"That's it, I'm branded. From now on, I'm the self-google guy."

E-mail tmaurstad@dallasnews.com

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/041704dnartselfgoogle.310f4.html

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

http://www.metrostate.com/library/stories/01/feb/FreeRepublic.htm

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a71b6aa5ceb.htm

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1006980/posts

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1111445/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/~atomicpunk/

Eighth one down i cant figure out weather they like my homepage on FR or if im veiwed as a spy lol

http://www.thebeatla.com/Content/Search/Google.aspx?Query=related:www.webroot.com&b=0.12

I am a victim of the science age, uh
A child of the storm, whoa yes
I can't remember when I was your age
For me, it says no more, no more
Nobody rules these streets at night like me, the atomic punk
Whoa yeah, wow
I am the ruler of these nether worlds
The underground, whoa yes
On every wall and place my fearsome name is heard
Just look around, whoa yes
Nobody rules these streets at night like me, the atomic punk
Ooo, Ahhh
I am the ruler of these nether worlds
The underground, oh, oh
On every wall and place my fearsome name is heard
Look around, whoa yeah
Nobody rules these streets at night like me, nobody, ah
The atomic punk

[freedomlover]

If you have a commig freepname type in your freepname and then "FreeRepublic"

Interesting

[speedy]

Anyone who knows his reptiles is a friend of mine. Herpetology bump to you.

[Syncro]

Already Posted Here

Seriously though, DON'T click on the link unless you are really bored or have a lot of time on your hands...

[Arkinsaw]

[uglybiker]

I'm not sure if I like this game. I typed in my real name and the first thing to pop up was a headstone.

So I typed in my screen name and I got this!

[Ichneumon]

Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon):

And:

[AJ504]

Ugh, try having the same name as a very famous country singer! You should see my fan mail. Do the young ladies actually think that the imposter AJ would even keep his instant message program on?

Oh to be young again.

[Allegra]

I got a bunch of stuff about allergy medicines. LOL

[rwfromkansas]

Try your e-mail address. Mine popped up on some sites.

[SkyPilot]

I hope I am not out of line, but I wonder what Gretchen's name gets?

[Psycho_Bunny]

lol...That pic's a riot.....I hated the Half-Life TFC Medics.

[AJ504]

GretchenEE???

Wide feet, of course... lol.

[SkyPilot]

Well, let’s see what the image search gives my name…

Cool--like that one…reminds me of life a few years ago…..

Yikes!

[TalBlack]

I Googled my self (auto-Googling) after reading that story a few months back about a woman Googling the name of a prospective date and discovering he was wanted by Efrim Zimbalist Jr (Sp?).

I actually found myself on the first page of hits. It was a bit shocking, to be honest.

[Lady Jag]

Bummer.

[SkyPilot]

[Alouette]

[cyborg]

This is me. Yep.

[John Jorsett]

Nice thong. It accentuates your figure well.
:-)