I have just been told I should probably delete the LGBT-related stuff from my facebook profile.

My mom saw this thing on Dr. Phil about potential employers looking at your facebook account, and not hiring you if you have "inappropriate" things on there.

My response (and I have said this several times): I really don't want to work for a bunch of homophobic fundies.
What she keeps saying "Well... that's what you think. That's what a lot of young people think."

No, really, I don't. I don't want to work for someone who wouldn't hire someone for being GLBT (doing this is actually illegal where I live, by the way). I don't want to work in a hostile environment. I don't want to work for homophobic employers.

Your thoughts on this?

You spend too much time at work to subject yourself to a hostile environment if you don't absolutely have to.

as Emma Goldman said.

Or any workplace, yes?

I use my first name and my middle name, since my last name is really uncommon.

It is connected to my personal e-amil, though.

I wouldn't work for homophobic fundies and I'm not gay. I do think your mom has your best interests at heart but I don't agree with her. Too bad she listens to Dr. Phil.

I tend to agree that it is better to work for non homophobes than homophobes but the problem with facebook is that it isn't just your employers. As a teacher, I don't have to just worry about my administrators but my students' parents. I will say this, don't discuss illegal activities on your website. I do think employers have gotten in the habit of searcing facebook and other such places.

I would say it depends on content. I would play it safe and not use your real name at all - leaving you with a place to express your thoughts that is private from your employer, and I think that's important for your own boundaries. And yes, they will google your name. Edit - reading the above, I'd say for sure don't use the same email address on a resume - get a separate one you keep for professional business.

I don't know if you are talking political views or personal details of who you are attracted to, but as an employer, I would be less likely to hire someone who was a rabid republican racist/sexist ... so I can assume they'd be less likely to hire me. If you are talking personal details (who you like, as if it's a dating site), then that's something that would also potentially make an employer think you are less mature, regardless of orientation, so again, I'd keep the full name separate from that.

Myself, some of my views are out there in a very strong way with my full name, but there have been times I've been very aware it could cost me my job at some point. We had one employee fired for talking in a generic (no names used) way about some work stuff, and she was not even using her name at all to post - but someone recognized some details through a common friend they were googling I think, not sure how it was discovered, took offense at something, and word got out, and she was gone almost immediately, off the premises.

people could only read your information if you friend them first? I know myspace is wide open, but I'm on facebook all the time and I haven't gotten into anybody else's full profile yet.

I know, Weird.

you stand firm that your principles aren't for sale or potentially for sale- certainly no shame in that.

The company I work for, as a whole, may or may not know about me- I don't make it a point to announce my preferences. If it ever became hostile I'd surely be looking to jump ship...

"Well, when I'm turning in job applications to bigoted morons, I'll join the KKK facebook group for the next few weeks."

But that's just me. :evilgrin:

Anyone who wouldn't hire me based on something that has nothing at all to do with the job isn't worth working for.

So I agree with you. What kind of an organization subscribes to the view that you or your family members should be discriminated against? Is THAT where you'd want to work? I don't think so.

if you had naked pics that would be inappropriate, being yourself or declaring your political leaning is not inappropriate