lhotseface wrote:
Why would you do/post things online that you wouldn't own up to in real life ?
I will leave it at that.
I don't know, on a message board I might talk about browsing a message board at work, or leaving early to watch basketball, that I'm so preoccupied with applications that I have let my work slip, that I don't consider grades important or that I hate a particular school or industry. All of these have been discussed here, and I believe they are all fair topics of conversation. Any of them could potentially be damaging in the eyes of an employer.
What I'm more worried about are strongly held views on controversial topics. Politics and religion are not often the topic of conversation here, but views are commonly expressed on message boards. Depending on the individual handling the hiring, conflicting views could definitely affect their views - whether it is ethical or not.
Take this example - what if someone gets into a heated debate about, say, Hillary Clinton and goes on and on about he/she hates her. This was a pretty common view a few years ago, though less common these days. The internet never forgets. A recruiter with strong contrary views who is able to link the person with the idea might find it convenient to ignore that candidate for a job opening.
It's the type of thing that many would never discuss at the workplace; but I think it's perfectly valid to have the conversation at a bar, on the street or on the internet. The only problem is, that on the internet others might be able to figure out who expressed which views and hold them against you.