An Anonymous Blogger Tells All
The unknown waiter behind the blog Waiter Rant shares tips on how to keep your identity a secret online
By Sofia Morris Spring 2005

As blogging continues to grow, so does the number of people disciplined or even fired from their jobs for posting candid comments about the workplace. But is it possible to remain anonymous while blogging?

One blog that succeeds is Waiter Rant, written by a Manhattan waiter who shares colorful anecdotes about his customers and co-workers in the eatery where he works. He writes about everyday occurrences in the establishment—and sometimes serves up biting commentaries about his patrons.

In one posting, he reveals his dismay upon earning a mere 10 percent tip after saving a choking customer’s life by performing the Heimlich maneuver: The “jerk was a doctor. 10 percent! Next time I let him die!”

No one has been able to figure out the identity of Waiter Rant. How does he do it?

“I sometimes wait days or even weeks after an incident to write about it on the off chance the person involved might read the blog.”
First of all, he avoids posting comments that would give away his work location, he says. “That occasionally sucks because there are some funny stories I could write, but if I did people could zero in on my bistro in a minute.”