The anonymous bloggers handbook

I'm sure there are a few of you out there who have considered writing a blog like mine. My advice would be don't do it. I love writing blogs and so thought this would be a breeze but actually writing with the Sword of Damocles hanging over you is not so much fun. You have to be paranoid in every aspect of your writing and preparation. If you're still reading and still thinking about creating your own blog here's what I recommend.

First of all assume you will be sacked if you get found out because if your writing is controversial you will. The history of the internet is littered with people who have lost their jobs for what they said about their companies in blogs or on facebook or twitter etc. If you start from that premise then you're working in the right direction.

The next step is to create new accounts for everything i.e. A new email account and a new blog account. Don’t host any pictures, if you use them, on your own flickr account etc. When you set these accounts up give fictitious names and other personal details and create new passwords for everything. In theory there is no way for Sitel to persuade your email or blog provider to give up your information but don’t risk it.

Don’t tell anyone you're the blogger. Even if these people have nothing to do with your company or you think you can trust them with your life I implore you not to tell anyone. Not your best friend, not your partner/wife/husband, not even your priest in the confessional. If you really must tell someone chances are blogging anonymously is not for you.

Don’t put anything that can lead to you in the text of your blogs. By all means put in subtle misinformation. For example where I said in a previous entry I had recently been given a late form that was a lie. I haven't had a late form in ages and it was a bluff. Or maybe me saying I haven’t had a late form in ages is a double bluff and I'm on my final written warning for lateness. or perhaps me saying it's a double bluff is a triple bluff and the original bit about the late form is true. Or maybe... You get the idea.

Proof read everything properly. When you finish proof reading go back and check again for anything that might lead to you. I've refrained from writing a couple of entries that I think you would like because I couldn't be sure if anyone else knew the details of the story and thus I would be found out that way. Take a moment to consider your sources of information. If someone has told you something and you publish it you may be getting them in to trouble.

This is not the complete extent of what I've done to keep safe as I do need to keep a couple of the details to myself. There are multiple layers of security and paranoia between me and the pages of this blog. Read some internet forums for more tips. As the adage of the 7 P's tells us. Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. In this case piss poor performance means you looking for a new job.

Finally let me wish you well in your blog if you do decide to write one.