Minor (?) skeleton in the closet

[squeegeediver]

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I've reinvented myself several times since early adolescence. As one of my earlier selves, I wrote an article in favor of a political position that inspires strong feelings and is quite unpopular in my part of the country. (It's a rather common and well-accepted position in other regions.) I wrote it in a very conciliatory and intellectual style, but it's still a loaded issue.

Fast-forward several years. I have completely abandoned my old mindset, including my old opinions on this issue. Yet the article that I wrote is now available on the Internet -- it used to be tucked away in an archive, but now it shows up in Google searches of my name and is available to the public.

I'm trying to get it removed, but it looks like I won't be able to get in touch with anyone from the publication's staff until the end of the summer at the earliest.

Should I be worrying? Should I send letters to schools explaining my story?

I'm just terribly frustrated and concerned, since I've taken great pains to distance myself from my past actions, apparently to no avail. 🙁 I've tried setting up counterbalancing websites, but they tend to disappear from Google searches, if they ever show up at all.

 

[thefifthbeatle]

How common is your name? If it is Terry Johnson, you have nothing to worry about. If it is foreign or unusual, then maybe you could experience something. I doubt admissions google the names of the thousands of applications they see. Good luck.

 

[Regmata]

I am more interested in what you wrote about that is so bad

 

[clickytop]

I am more interested in what you wrote about that is so bad

It was a cover story for the NAMBLA monthly. Obviously.

 

[RypTide11]

It was a cover story for the NAMBLA monthly. Obviously.

Okay, I had to google that because I didn't know what it was. Thanks for ruining my night. Also hope you have NAMBLA dreams tonight! 👍

 

[uesider]

Seriously, there's no need to freak out about this. First of all, I highly doubt your name is going to get Google'd unless you claim to have done something extraordinary, and they want to check up on it. Even so, I believe it would be discrimination if you weren't accepted because of a particular political view. Don't spend your time worrying about this!!! If you don't want anyone to know about it, just don't bring it up.

 

[uclawill]

ya, i agree, theyre not going to google your name, that doesnt do anything for them.

 

[UNMPDS]

Why won't you tell us what you did? It's not like we know who you are or anything. I am very curious to know about the article.