Not long ago, people who routinely plugged their own names into online search engines were thought to be engaging in 'vanity Googling.' These days, it is an act of self-preservation. 'Google yourself at least once a week,' advises Richard Levick, who heads a strategic communications firm in Washington, D.C. 'You need to track what's being said about you' on blogs, message boards and social-networking websites.

　　不久前，总在网络搜索引擎查询自己名字的行为被视为虚荣心使然。如今，这是一种自我保护的手段。华盛顿一家公关公司的负责人理查德?莱维克(Richard Levick)说，每周至少搜索一次你的名字，随时留心关于你的网上言论，无论是在博客、论坛，还是在交友网站上。

　　Any time you leave your house, you could be targeted. Drive over to Wal-Mart for a gallon of milk and you may end up on PeopleofWalmart.com. The site -- not, needless to say, affiliated with the retailer -- runs smirk-inducing photos of overweight or oddly dressed shoppers, most of them sent in by other shoppers.

　　只要你走出家门，也许就会成为别人的目标。开车去沃尔玛(Wal-Mart)买盒牛奶，你的照片就可能被登在网上。这个网站并不是沃尔玛搞的，主要张贴一些肥胖人士或奇装异服的沃尔玛购物者的搞笑照片，大多是其他购物者拍摄并上传的。

　　Such sites raise the question: Have we become a more malicious society? There are differing views.

　　这类网站不禁让我们提出一个疑问：我们这个社会是不是变得越来越恶毒了？对此，人们的观点不一。