DUI mugshots to be posted on the Internet

I‘ve spent the last week exploring the island of Kauai and occasionally writing blog posts.  But just when I thought I should wrap up my blogging efforts and start packing for home, I came across this  Associated Press article regarding the Honolulu Police.

Mugshots won't just go away

If this doesn’t make you think a little about reputation management it probably should.  According to the article, Honolulu Police will be posting mugshots of suspected DUI violators on their website BEFORE they have their day in court.

Hmmm.  Do you suppose that will show up in a Google image search 5 years from now when one of those suspected violators seeks gainful employment?  The decision to post these images has the potential to be devastating to those involved and has been met with significant resistance.

From a political standpoint, I don’t care to argue whether or not the police should take such action.  Let me be perfectly clear that you shouldn’t drink and drive.  However, what matters most to me in the context of this blog is that the evolving Internet will find a way to record your indiscretions.

This is just one simple example of why reputation management should be an important consideration for nearly everyone.  It doesn’t need to be a DUI.  It could be a traffic accident, a bitter ex, mistaken identity, etc.  The truth is, monitoring and management of you reputation is not rocket science.  It just requires a plan to protect your personal brand.

The Internet may help you become a better person

Yesterday I read a blog post from Dan Schawbel at PersonalBrandingBlog.com.  His premise was how he foresees a personal brand marketplace in the future.  Although he makes several interesting points, my mind keeps going back to one simple thing.  Dan suggests that individuals like you and I will be subject to a public, online rating system.

What will they say about you?

Before you dismiss this seemingly far-fetched notion, consider the following:

• Doctors are rated by the public at over a dozen websites
• Students and parents can rate their teachers online
• CEOs/Executives are currently rated on various sites
• Restaurants and virtually all businesses are rated everywhere from Google and other search engines to rating sites like Yelp

Given the direction of social media and user generated content, why wouldn’t some enterprising individuals create a platform where you can rate anybody.  Imagine if users could anonymously rate you.  How would they rate your kindness, trustworthiness, ethics, intelligence, etc?  After all, wouldn’t others be interested in learning this information about you?  How about employers, curious acquaintances, neighbors, colleges and more?

When considering the potential of such a future, I can’t help but wonder if the Internet will shape how people behave in their everyday lives.  If anyone could anonymously rate you (as an individual) online, would it change the way you regularly behave?  Would you be more likely to consider the consequences of your daily decisions – especially with respect to how those decisions affect others?  I propose that you would.

So the next time you start thinking that the world is going to hell in a hand basket, just remember that the Internet may just be making this a better world to live.