Be Careful Who You Defend Online

One of the cool things about the Internet is that it allows you to project yourself form what would normally be a small, obscure office to a much larger online community. While this is a huge asset for some people, it can also be a massive problem if you are not careful in the blogosphere.

For example, I was VERY quick to defend someone I thought I knew, Ty Hurd, when Shoemoney called him out because I had an inside line with him and trusted what he said.

It turns out that I was WRONG to defend this person and a simple Google search would have revealed the fact that his past was more checkered than I would have expected or been comfortable with.

Of course, I learned this too late and looked like a fool for standing up for a guy who sold $90,000 worth of stolen art that he took from his ex-wife’s family.

As soon as I knew I started distancing myself form him, but the damage was done.  I learned a valuable lesson today.

Your credibility is only as good as your words lead it to be.  I am sorry to everyone who listened to what I said and believed it.  Thank you to those who shoe’d me the facts.