How are friendships based IRL different — negatively or positively — from friendships online? Do you have friends who fit only into one category, or who co-exist in both the online and IRL sense? Can you see how an online problem, as opposed to a nonmediated disagreement or conversation, could create problems for you if an employer found out about them — either directly or indirectly (meaning a co-worker or manager stumbled across something)? Do you feel this is a violation of some kind? (Legally, it’s not, but should it be? For comparison, in most of Europe it is illegal to do this. But not here.) An employer may well call your former boss, or ask for references, which are “IRL,” to use this idea. What’s any different about you online communication with friends or coworkers?
