Comments on: Why doctors should blog with their real name http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/doctors-blog-real.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Mariehttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/doctors-blog-real.html#comment-127663 Marie Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:37:29 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42926#comment-127663 Dr. Flea's mistake was talking about the trial before it was over. If he had waited, despite his frustration and the great blog fodder, there could have been a very different outcome.I don't blog anonymously, but I do try to keep my professional life separate from my personal blog. I do not list it on my LinkedIn page because it can be silly and irreverent, as we all can be sometimes. But that is certainly not the image I want to convey to a potential client or employer.I don't have any problem with people who don't identify themselves. Good, engaging writing is what attracts me to a blog. I don't need to know someone's name to respect their work. However, the reality is anonymity on the web is temporary at best if someone really wants to know who you are. Dr. Flea’s mistake was talking about the trial before it was over. If he had waited, despite his frustration and the great blog fodder, there could have been a very different outcome.

I don’t blog anonymously, but I do try to keep my professional life separate from my personal blog. I do not list it on my LinkedIn page because it can be silly and irreverent, as we all can be sometimes. But that is certainly not the image I want to convey to a potential client or employer.

I don’t have any problem with people who don’t identify themselves. Good, engaging writing is what attracts me to a blog. I don’t need to know someone’s name to respect their work. However, the reality is anonymity on the web is temporary at best if someone really wants to know who you are.

]]> By: Aggravated DocSurghttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/doctors-blog-real.html#comment-127376 Aggravated DocSurg Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:10:12 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42926#comment-127376 For me, while some folks have figured out who I am, I blog anonymously because Google exists --- I don't want my blog to pop up as the first search result when people "Google" my name. If I was a solo physician, that would probably be different, but I am in a group and feel that would not be fair to my partners. Plus, I don't blog to provide advice, just hopefully a little humor and a few opinions. For me, while some folks have figured out who I am, I blog anonymously because Google exists — I don’t want my blog to pop up as the first search result when people “Google” my name. If I was a solo physician, that would probably be different, but I am in a group and feel that would not be fair to my partners. Plus, I don’t blog to provide advice, just hopefully a little humor and a few opinions.

]]> By: Dr. Mary Johnsonhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/doctors-blog-real.html#comment-127370 Dr. Mary Johnson Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:55:18 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42926#comment-127370 My God, some of you folks make me feel like one of the ancients;)Flea as in Dr. Flea (I miss him so). Although after what happened to him, he may wish he had been a bassist for RHCP:http://drjshousecalls.blogspot.com/2007/05/fear-not-picking-up-gauntlet-in-medical.htmlJenga, the post linked above discusses how I feel about lawyers threatening to use my "online persona" (not so very different from my offline persona) to threaten me legally . . . because a lawyer tried it once . . . well, actually twice:http://drjshousecalls.blogspot.com/2010/03/dr-mary-slapps-back-these-days.htmlWe doctors have got to stop dropping and rolling into the fetal position every time some two-bit ambulance chaser flexes his tiny winkie up and down.And that, people, was a small sampling of my not-so-carefully-considered, snarky, irreverent, cynical, just-plain-disgusted-with-the-state-of-things online persona. My God, some of you folks make me feel like one of the ancients;)

Flea as in Dr. Flea (I miss him so). Although after what happened to him, he may wish he had been a bassist for RHCP:

http://drjshousecalls.blogspot.com/2007/05/fear-not-picking-up-gauntlet-in-medical.html

Jenga, the post linked above discusses how I feel about lawyers threatening to use my “online persona” (not so very different from my offline persona) to threaten me legally . . . because a lawyer tried it once . . . well, actually twice:

http://drjshousecalls.blogspot.com/2010/03/dr-mary-slapps-back-these-days.html

We doctors have got to stop dropping and rolling into the fetal position every time some two-bit ambulance chaser flexes his tiny winkie up and down.

And that, people, was a small sampling of my not-so-carefully-considered, snarky, irreverent, cynical, just-plain-disgusted-with-the-state-of-things online persona.

]]> By: Frank Drackmanhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/doctors-blog-real.html#comment-127367 Frank Drackman Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:36:50 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42926#comment-127367 Cause if I use my real name they'll lock me up and throw away the key................ at least thats what happened the last time I used my real name.....Frank Cause if I use my real name they’ll lock me up and throw away the key…………….
at least thats what happened the last time I used my real name…..

Frank

]]> By: Diane Aullhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/doctors-blog-real.html#comment-127366 Diane Aull Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:29:51 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42926#comment-127366 @Tom Farrell, no -- "Flea" as in the physician blogger "Dr. Flea" who ended up settling a malpractice suit when he was unmasked by the plaintiff's lawyer as the blogger. <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/05/31/blogger_unmasked_court_case_upended/?page=2" rel="nofollow">Here's an article from the Boston Globe with the story</a>. @Tom Farrell, no — “Flea” as in the physician blogger “Dr. Flea” who ended up settling a malpractice suit when he was unmasked by the plaintiff’s lawyer as the blogger. Here’s an article from the Boston Globe with the story.

]]> By: Tom Farrellhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/doctors-blog-real.html#comment-127352 Tom Farrell Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:14:19 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42926#comment-127352 Flea, as in the bassist for RHCP? Flea, as in the bassist for RHCP?

]]> By: Dr. Kevhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/doctors-blog-real.html#comment-127341 Dr. Kev Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:54:11 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42926#comment-127341 Because the web is all text based, every person is a persona. Everything that exists on the web is a construct, and knowing that, can anyone really trust the Kevin is a doctor (and a medical one, for that matter)? Yes, we can look up his name and see where he works, but who's to say he's the one actually writing? If that's the case, anonymous is more honest. If someone needs advice from a doctor, he or she should go see a doctor. Blogging is blogging, and only page-rank determines relevance, not real-life credentials. Because the web is all text based, every person is a persona. Everything that exists on the web is a construct, and knowing that, can anyone really trust the Kevin is a doctor (and a medical one, for that matter)? Yes, we can look up his name and see where he works, but who’s to say he’s the one actually writing? If that’s the case, anonymous is more honest. If someone needs advice from a doctor, he or she should go see a doctor. Blogging is blogging, and only page-rank determines relevance, not real-life credentials.

]]> By: jengahttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/doctors-blog-real.html#comment-127338 jenga Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:43:35 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42926#comment-127338 As long is there is no meaningful tort reform, pure and simply by naming yourself, you become a target. What is to keep a someone that truly disagrees with your opinion from seeking you out and who knows what. As long as malpractice cases continue to be based less on facts and evidence and more about satisfaction, personal interaction and beliefs there is no reason to discuss your true feelings without anonymity No one is truly anonymous on the internet, most people should realize that. If you don't think so look, I agree with Mary look up Flea. As long is there is no meaningful tort reform, pure and simply by naming yourself, you become a target. What is to keep a someone that truly disagrees with your opinion from seeking you out and who knows what. As long as malpractice cases continue to be based less on facts and evidence and more about satisfaction, personal interaction and beliefs there is no reason to discuss your true feelings without anonymity No one is truly anonymous on the internet, most people should realize that. If you don’t think so look, I agree with Mary look up Flea.

]]> By: Trioushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/doctors-blog-real.html#comment-127313 Trious Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:34:37 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42926#comment-127313 I actually enjoy this site because it looks like multiple doctors post/read the comments/storiesI am just a patient who gets fed up with doctors at times and this site shows me at times the OTHER side to the story I actually enjoy this site because it looks like multiple doctors post/read the comments/stories

I am just a patient who gets fed up with doctors at times and this site shows me at times the OTHER side to the story

]]> By: anonymous and proudhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/doctors-blog-real.html#comment-127301 anonymous and proud Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:34:29 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42926#comment-127301 Homeland Security doesn't visit physician blogs, come on. Sounds a wee bit paranoid to me.I'm not a doctor so I can be anonymous. Homeland Security doesn’t visit physician blogs, come on.
Sounds a wee bit paranoid to me.

I’m not a doctor so I can be anonymous.

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