Busted on Social Media
Social media is a double-edged sword, especially Twitter. It's fast, easy, and oh so accessible. On one hand, you're encouraged to be your authentic self on Twitter—let people get to know you and what you're up to. Okay, I get that, but social media has few real boundaries and sometimes people get a little too authentic and it ends up costing them big time. Recently an author ruptured his spleen in a rant to me that could only be described as vicious and irrational. (I deleted it by the way instead of making his life even more miserable by forwarding the missle to his publisher.) I get that he felt entitled to set me straight or at least his version of straight. It was even nicer that I didn't have to waste any time replying since he said he blocked my e-mail address and I believed him. LOL
Another friend recently Tweeted about his nameless manager at his nameless company and is now suffering from corporate freeze-out. That happened to me once when I was gossiping about my manager via e-mail and accidently SENT IT TO HER. I wrote something like, "She's like a cold I can't shake, or elbows poking me in the ribs in a too-crowded elevator." Hardly offensive. Not very respectful. The e-mail incident sounds funny now, but it wasn't when she dragged me on the carpet and smirked, "Now I know how you really feel." And she made me pay dearly for the misaddressed missive every day after that. An author asked for advice to editing frustrations in a writing forum. No names were given. He didn't use derogatory phrases or anything but the publisher got wind of it, took offense, and his contract.
Sometimes we want to rant. We need to. And geez, isn't an fiery e-mail or a couple of nasty Tweets just what the doctor ordered? How about a cleverly-worded post on our Facebook wall? We've all read about the folly of living large on the Internet but we think we'll never get nabbed for doing it. Social media allows us to move ghostlike in the world, pretending to be or become anyone we want. Conscience is our only guide. I'm not saying we should write whatever we like but it bugs me that I could lose my job or get in a really awkward situation over a remark taken out of context. I guess these recent incidents reminded me not to be too authentic and more importantly, remember if I wouldn't say it, DON'T write it.
Until the next time,
The Churchlady
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: internet dangers social media behavior twitter behavior social media boundaries facebook behavior
Hi Margie! I don't do facebook yet as it is sooooo public and personal. Twitting is as far as I go and most all of that is book related.
Whenever I am posting on my blog or twitter or even in comments I think of the old adage that I can't quote but the gist of which is: be careful what you put in writing because it can not be erased. That one is secondary to: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. (Which my DH quotes as "If you can't say anything nice, tell me first!")
Interesting post. Thanks!
BTW Congrats on that new contract!
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Thanks for coming by, Martha. I, too, use Facebook and Twitter for promoting my books and of course you'd find out I am a die-hard Days of Our Lives fan and I yack about that out there. I try to avoid discussing my personal life because I've already had one stalker and frankly the rest of my family didn't sign up for this. If I weren't doing the books, I probably would still do Twitter but I doubt I'd do Facebook and I would spend more time on LinkedIn. Lots of great connections to be made there....if only I had enough time!
hugs,
Margie
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Unfortunately, some folks are using the new wave in social media to vent their frustrations and then there are those who blab and blab about everything including the number of times they use the toilet.
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Norm, ICAM. I guess there are some who think the minute details of their lives are so interesting they feel the need to share all that. Certainly it's one of the reasons I don't blog very often. Who wants to be bored with the color of my finger polish? Despite being a <cough> famous author, I doubt anyone really cares about my boring suburban life, even among those who love me.
The things we write about ourselves or each other live forever on the Internet. Despite removing pictures and entries, they're never really gone. The consequences can be significant.
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Hi Margie! I enjoyed this post. OMG, I fell out laughing when you said you accidentally sent an email to your boss! I did the same doggone thing last year with mine.
My mother and I email each other several times a day, and I was saying something like, yes, she's my new boss, and now she's making all these changes, and acting like we admins don't know our jobs, yada, yada, yada.
Anyway, I had her on my mind, but addressed it to her. I can't believe I did that. Anyway, she did call me, (you see, she was in the PA area, I'm in MD.) WE spoke about the situation, and I did tell her my honest feelings. She was cool about it, but also told me that she'd be keeping a copy of that email in my file. I was like, "okay, fine." (Don't plan to be there until I retire anyway, this job is just a temporary stepping stone) Anyhoo, you are so right.
Now, when I'm ranting to mom, I am very careful and pay attention before sending. LOL
As far as ranting on the internet, I keep my thoughts to myself. Oh yes, there have been plenty of times I've wanted to rant, but you know, I'm not trying to post it on FAcebook, Twitter, or my blog.
I may say something like, arrrgggh, must go to the horrible day job, not enough caffeine coursing through my veins, etc.
Uh oh, I did post something pertaining to my job. Oh yes, I assisted someone in getting his badge to work for my office. Our reader doesnt blink like some of the other offices does, so the person thinks they don't have access. Well, I did tweet that because I had the guy test his badge, he entered his pin, and I opened the door, and walked over the threshold. You know, he continued standing in the lobby and asked, "Did it work?"
Remember Charlie Brown, when he banged his head against the wall? Yeah, I just sat down at my desk and so wanted to bang my head on the keyboard. So yes, I tweeted about it. LOL I'm not really worried about the dude finding out about that, well, because he really has no clue that I'm an erotic writer. Even if it got back to him, I wouldn't be embarrassed, I would just say, "you must have been having a pretttyyyy hectic day, huh? LOL
Ciao
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Charisma - too funny! I know most of us have gotten burned by careless fingers...and lips. <wink> Honestly, that woman made me so darn crazy that by the time I was done working for her, I just about had to check my driver's license for my name! Nobody should make anyone that nuts. Her head shook a bit like Kathryn Hepburn's used to...she was like a size 1 and had a diamond the size of a Ritz cracker. What did I have that she wanted so badly? Imagination, I think.
We had a discussion at work today about my taking this class to learn how to write bondage scenes in two weeks. (Community Ed sure has changed since swimming lessons, I'll tell you!) One of them seemed floored and, I think, a bit worried I might become some leather-encased, whip cracking momma. I think there's probably going to bring in holy water on my co-workers desk and sprinkle around when I get too close. ROFL When will people realise that writing is what we do, not who we are? ROFL
Thanks for coming by! We are definitely keeping in touch!
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