It’s probably been a while since you’ve Googled yourself. Maybe it’s time to revisit those search databases and check your fresh digital footprint of the past few months.
Go on; I’ll wait.
Chances are, beyond random forum posts and site login pages Google/Yahoo/MSN Live figured out how to access, most of us who are not famous and do not share a name common with those of higher fame (the lack of originality in Chinese surnames doesn’t help) escape from the eternal archiving crutches of the great interwebs.
Sure, the internet is great for transferring information, but it’s pretty lousy at keeping and organizing that information, despite the efforts of a truckload of very smart people. New data replaces old, and keeping accurate historical information is a difficult task when so much information exists; beyond the likes of Facebook profiles, most of our contributions are decentralized and loosely tied together by a name or most likely, an online alias.
I’m a big fan of self reflection and introspection; reading my writings 3, 4 years ago is an interesting exercise reminding me of the progress I’ve made through the years and the stupid stuff I used to (and still) do, and one of the primary reasons this blog still exists despite the sparse readership and stalker potential.
I find it difficult to keep track of all the places I’ve touched, though; most sites do not last a significant amount of time and as they wax and wane in popularity your digital self is scattered all over the digital landscape: a Friendster persona, later abandoned for a Facebook account; a laptop forum account, dismissed after participating to ask about your newest purchase; a high school hobby, put on indefinite hold.
To secure a permanent, persistent corner of the web for yourself requires a bit of work. The easiest is the aforementioned blog or general site; they’re so simple to set up now with sites like WordPress and Blogger that the real challenge is keeping one updated over the long haul. (1). Instant messaging is also a good if unlikely candidate; keep conversations logged (of course with the other party’s permission) with your oldest and most used screen name and archive a digital time capsule for your future eyes.
E-mail is a great resource as well, especially since written mail tend to be meatier pieces of communique and context is preserved. Take your oldest e-mail account, sort it by date ascending, and start reading through your mails chronologically. My earliest Gmail mail (back when it was in beta and invites were exclusive…) triggered fond memories of my last days of college, first days of work, apartment searching, and vacation destinations through the years.
And if you don’t have any of these past relics to provide hindsight? Start one now! Keep persistent e-mail accounts, start a blog and maintain it regularly, post pictures to Flickr, etc. Your future self will thank you for the consideration.
[...] Keeping this blog and saving my e-mail. Old e-mail makes for great self-reflection material and takes minimal effort. Writing is my creative outlet, and invaluable in a time (and personally, in my age and job) of increasing stress. I also reap an unexpected benefit in honing my web development skills which I’m applying well to my current work. [...]