Comments on Comments

From my past ramblings, I received an anonymous comment saying that ego-surfing is a bad thing..
'There's a name for that, googling your own name, it's called: "ego-surfing". People say that it's a bad thing, but then you never really know'
....this intrigued me to ask 'bad in what sense?'

Like many things we see, read and hear about we can't really believe what people say cause in most cases it's just their opinion or something that they're convinced by. So trying not to be a complete gullible fool, I searched a little about the term "ego-surfing". I actually found a definition for ego-surfing stated as:

'Definition: (noun) Ego-surfing is the act of surfing for the express purpose of seeing who is linking to your site.

A little color: There are three major types of ego-surfing:

1. Surfing your server logs (aka referers) to see who has linked to your site.
2. Searching Google for your name to see who is talking about you
3. Visiting a weblog search engine (like Blogdex or Daypop) to see who has linked to your site'

Fair enough, with good intentions that doesn't sound so bad.
The most interesting finding that I've encountered is an article written by a guy called PATRICK DENT, who just like me am a spectic over the term ego-surfing. His article can be read at http://www.ojr.org/ojr/ethics/1017964102.php. This article gives many examples why searching for one's name in a search engine has nothing to do with one's ego. In addition he gives reasons for why this activity is interesting and quenches one's "idle curiosity". He concludes his article by highlighting " that searching for your name on the Internet is more than the self-serving, vanity endeavor that the label 'ego-surfing' implies.
Beyond being an interesting exercise, and yes in some cases stroking your ego, it is a prudent -- if not downright necessary -- activity in today's Web-aware professional world."
Another article I found relates to a business man who searches his name on the web to see how his customers are linked to his business and at the same time observes how the internet has spread his name (and not to mention business) throughout this global business world.

Thus, I don't see how this activity could be conceived as "bad".
Bad for who? Bad for what?
With good intentions, comes good endings. So in the word of our anonymous mystery person - I guess "you never really know".
Just don't be too quick to judge what's good or bad.. for that in itself is a bad thing!