In this day and age you have to be very conscious about what you write and what you say especially if there are cameras around. The web tends to grab the most insignificant moments, usually when you are angry, down or acting like a jerk and transmit them to viewers worldwide. So that temper tantrum you had on your ex’s voice mail, the snotty email you sent about a colleague or in this case, your handling of a stressful situation becomes public knowledge and a part of the collective online memory.

I originally wasn’t going to post this video because I really don’t like Bill O’Reilly, but I couldn’t resist because his reaction is so disproportionate with the situation at hand. So I am playing my part in the new online ecosystem by taking the information I have found [via collegehumor.com] and post it on my site in the hopes that you will watch it and share it with your network. And that my friends, is the circle of life online.

Apparently, Bill couldn’t understand the text on the teleprompter on how to end the show and had a melt down about it.

It should be noted that the O’Reilly camp has aggressively pursued Youtube to remove the video, so my congratulations to CollegeHumor for holding their ground.

The New Rules of Reputation in an Online World:

1) The Camera is always on. Someone, somewhere, will have a camera and capture whatever you are doing, wherever you are, especially if you are being loud, obnoxious or crazy.

2) Write as though you’re going to be published. What I mean by that is, take every email, IM or SMS and consider what would happen if it was broadcast on the news. If would be embarrassed by the outcome then I would urge a little more caution.

3) The Internet is like high school. Gossip is king, especially when it’s juicy. Unfortunately for you, once ignited, speculation tends to run rampant causing all sorts of damage to reputations, careers and even marriages.

There’s an old expression that goes something like this: “Keep your words soft and sweet for one day you might have to eat them.”

I am intrigued by the reputations that have been either made or ruined online.