Online presence

I've had a glass of Merlot and it's gone straight to my head. I'm glad it has that effect on me because it means that I don't usually drink too much.

I've been thinking a bit about my 'presence' on the internet. At times I might have been a little indiscreet in my remarks - especially in the early days if my online activities, eight or nine years ago, but I don't think I've ever posted anything that would destroy my reputation and good standing in the real world, or that of my family. I am so glad I'm not a teenager or college student because in my less guarded moments 35 years ago, I might easily have been seen in some awkward circumstances.

I'm sure there are many now who regret their online presence, when an unfortunate video, photo or posted comment has cost them their job, and perhaps I'm naive in thinking that I'm safe from that with my written ramblings. Who knows who's out there and who knows what they might do? I can't imagine that a teenager with 500-odd 'friends' on Facebook can truly know and trust all of them. Can the teenager even really trust her/himself?

I started by saying I'd drunk a glass of wine and feeling it. However, I'm not worried that someone's posting inappropriate photos of me. Might that have been so, 30 years ago? I'd like to think not. Thankfully I'll never know and I hope that my children will be more careful than I ever had to be.