Does Integrity on the Internet Really Matter?
Does Integrity on the Internet Really Matter?
Integrity in dealing with others has to do with one's willingness to maintain high ethical and moral standards, and then stick to those standards, even when tempted to do otherwise. These standards include a person's honesty, leadership, willingness to help, and fear of bringing harm to another in any way. It includes our morality ... and also our viewpoint of ourselves.
Just the area of honesty is a good example. A person may become less than honest when they feel they have something to gain from it. The problem with lack of honesty is that deception ends up bringing harm to others, and it also brings harm to us in the process, doing exactly the opposite of what the perpetrator intends. If we become less than honest, let's say, then that breach in our integrity and our character has an immediate effect on how we view ourselves. We start seeing ourselves as a less than upright individual. This thinking becomes fed and then before you know it, you truly ARE an individual who is less than upright. You've jeopardized both yourself and the ability of others to make clear decisions that are based on fact.
Now, it's easy to see why someone needs to be sound and complete ... a person of integrity ... in one's own community. The people directly around us are owed respect, after all. And if we stop giving it to them, there is potential harm both to them and to us. Our reputation is most certainly at stake. Is it any different on the Internet?
Not at all! The fact is that the Internet creates a world community in which we as an individual remain a citizen. Again, our reputation as a moral, ethical person is most certainly involved when we deal with each other online. But much more than that, the way we treat others online has exactly the same potential to either help or hurt. How many examples are there out there of someone pulling off some terrible trick or hurtful scheme that ends up having dire consequences to those involved? People may assume since they are separated by great distance, their actions have little or no effect on others or themselves ... but this is far from the truth.
In a world of Internet disguises, shrouded half-truths promoted online, and lines that become more and more blurred, the idea of adhering to a system of ethics has never been more important. This is particularly true in business and marketing. If you cannot put your name, reputation and face behind your product for fear of some repercussion, then is that product worth marketing? Probably not. There's a lot at stake, and it's no time to let one's judgment become clouded by the effect that increased income might have. In fact, working online brings us the opportunity to test our metal ... to make sure that our integrity is complete in all respects, and that we are willing to stand by not only our product, but our reputation as a person who will let themselves come to harm before bringing it to someone else. Self-respect and self-esteem are prices that are entirely too high to pay for any willingness to let our integrity lapse at any time ... real world, or virtual.
Does Integrity on the Internet Really Matter - To learn more about this author, visit Michael Peregrine's Website.
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The word "integrity" carries the idea of being complete ... sound in all respects. If the integrity of a ship's hull becomes compromised, then the entire ship is put at risk unless the breach can become sealed. The same is true of us as people. If there is a breach in the way that deal with each other or even ourselves, then that hole in our character puts us and those around us at great risk.
Integrity in dealing with others has to do with one's willingness to maintain high ethical and moral standards, and then stick to those standards, even when tempted to do otherwise. These standards include a person's honesty, leadership, willingness to help, and fear of bringing harm to another in any way. It includes our morality ... and also our viewpoint of ourselves.
Just the area of honesty is a good example. A person may become less than honest when they feel they have something to gain from it. The problem with lack of honesty is that deception ends up bringing harm to others, and it also brings harm to us in the process, doing exactly the opposite of what the perpetrator intends. If we become less than honest, let's say, then that breach in our integrity and our character has an immediate effect on how we view ourselves. We start seeing ourselves as a less than upright individual. This thinking becomes fed and then before you know it, you truly ARE an individual who is less than upright. You've jeopardized both yourself and the ability of others to make clear decisions that are based on fact.
Now, it's easy to see why someone needs to be sound and complete ... a person of integrity ... in one's own community. The people directly around us are owed respect, after all. And if we stop giving it to them, there is potential harm both to them and to us. Our reputation is most certainly at stake. Is it any different on the Internet?
Not at all! The fact is that the Internet creates a world community in which we as an individual remain a citizen. Again, our reputation as a moral, ethical person is most certainly involved when we deal with each other online. But much more than that, the way we treat others online has exactly the same potential to either help or hurt. How many examples are there out there of someone pulling off some terrible trick or hurtful scheme that ends up having dire consequences to those involved? People may assume since they are separated by great distance, their actions have little or no effect on others or themselves ... but this is far from the truth.
In a world of Internet disguises, shrouded half-truths promoted online, and lines that become more and more blurred, the idea of adhering to a system of ethics has never been more important. This is particularly true in business and marketing. If you cannot put your name, reputation and face behind your product for fear of some repercussion, then is that product worth marketing? Probably not. There's a lot at stake, and it's no time to let one's judgment become clouded by the effect that increased income might have. In fact, working online brings us the opportunity to test our metal ... to make sure that our integrity is complete in all respects, and that we are willing to stand by not only our product, but our reputation as a person who will let themselves come to harm before bringing it to someone else. Self-respect and self-esteem are prices that are entirely too high to pay for any willingness to let our integrity lapse at any time ... real world, or virtual.
Does Integrity on the Internet Really Matter - To learn more about this author, visit Michael Peregrine's Website.
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Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
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Stephanie RobeyStephanie Robey is President and CoFounder of Pivot Positive, LLC - an Internet marketing business focused on helping people start work at home ventures. Previously, she was employed at The Search Agency with over 20 years experience in graphic design and 10 years experience in online marketing. She was responsible for launching the Conversion Path Optimization (CPO) unit where she and her team have conducted hundreds of optimization tests for online companies across multiple verticals. She is a successful entrepreneur having started and sold 2 companies and remains on the board of directors of the third, PhotoSpin.com Stephanie began her career in the direct marketing realm creating and producing direct mail for many of the major cable television companies and directly attributes her understanding of Internet marketing to those early offline experiences. Stephanie is a graduate of San Diego State University with a BFA in Graphic Arts and also holds an Executive MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. Read Steph's Blog Meet Steph and Dave Sign up for our Free 7-Day BootCamp: Self Employed & Rich - Visit Stephanie Robey's Website |
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Jay Kubassek(Jay's Full Bio: EvanCarmichael.com/jaykubassek) In five years, Canadian-born entrepreneur Jay Kubassek went from selling mufflers at a Midas franchise to revolutionizing Internet marketing with the 2004 launch of CarbonCopyPRO, a online marketing education company, now worth over $20 million with customers in over 160 countries.
As an independent film producer, his upstart film fund Aliquot Films is currently producing a films with Spike Lee and Abel Fererra (starring Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper.)
Jay's entrepreneurial spirit is irrepressible. He’s the owner of five companies, a professional speaker and trainer, international real estate developer/investor, extreme sport enthusiast and emerging philanthropist. Jay resides in NYC with his wife Jamie, son Milo and dog Cooper. Visit Jay's official website: www.JayKubassek.com - Visit Jay Kubassek's Website |
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