Just because technology means you can now share crap with Aunt Myrtle within minutes, doesn't mean you should.
Some people don't want their picture taken. Some people don't want you turning their kids into the next would-be victim on "To Catch a Predator."* So how 'bout respecting some other folks' requests?
Click the post title to listen. Running time: 5 m 30 s.
*"To Catch a Predator" went off the air after they cornered a guy who committed suicide rather than face NBC's cameras. Reruns, if my hotel room TV Guide channel is to be believed, still proliferate on MSNBC. So a more accurate reference would be "20/20" but I haven't watched that since 1984. To me, a more accurate title would be, "Scaring Old White People."
Showing posts with label facebook etiquette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label facebook etiquette. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Friday, August 7, 2009
Nothing on the internet is private
Oh, no, it's not.
Email never dies. Your potential employer can and will find your beer bong photos on Facebook or Myspace.
And real people have feelings.
One of the benefits/downsides (depending on your perspective) of Facebook is that every genius on it can share every single thought he/she has -- everything from "I'm hungry" to "Wondering why my neighbor feels it's okay to clomp around in high heels at 1 a.m. and wake me up????" *
Private thoughts are okay. In fact, they're good. Most of your FB friends do not care that you regret that cheeseburger with fudge that you ate last night. Also, your FB friends don't want to hear about your colonoscopy. And while they might not care about your dietary habits, they do have feelings.
So think twice before you post. If you're hosting a wedding (or some other massive social event) to which not everyone is invited, you might not want to post every detail every ten minutes.
And if you're about to bad-mouth someone? Skip it. Chances are one of their friends will see it. Even if you post on someone's wall (vs. posting a public comment), all of their friends can see the wall post.
Nothing on the internet is private. And there are people out there in the real world -- people with feelings -- reading this crap.
* Tip from Wired Magazine: Hunger and fatigue are never good facebook posts.
Email never dies. Your potential employer can and will find your beer bong photos on Facebook or Myspace.
And real people have feelings.
One of the benefits/downsides (depending on your perspective) of Facebook is that every genius on it can share every single thought he/she has -- everything from "I'm hungry" to "Wondering why my neighbor feels it's okay to clomp around in high heels at 1 a.m. and wake me up????" *
Private thoughts are okay. In fact, they're good. Most of your FB friends do not care that you regret that cheeseburger with fudge that you ate last night. Also, your FB friends don't want to hear about your colonoscopy. And while they might not care about your dietary habits, they do have feelings.
So think twice before you post. If you're hosting a wedding (or some other massive social event) to which not everyone is invited, you might not want to post every detail every ten minutes.
And if you're about to bad-mouth someone? Skip it. Chances are one of their friends will see it. Even if you post on someone's wall (vs. posting a public comment), all of their friends can see the wall post.
Nothing on the internet is private. And there are people out there in the real world -- people with feelings -- reading this crap.
* Tip from Wired Magazine: Hunger and fatigue are never good facebook posts.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Two of the stupidest ideas ever...
...showed up in, surprise, my hometown's own Chicago Tribune yesterday. (In case you couldn't detect it in my typing, the "surprise" was sarcastic.)
The Magazine featured a new sort of advice column called "One Burning Question." The question-asker was distraught with a facebook (ah, my favorite) issue: He only likes to use facebook for social acquaintances! Work people keep trying to friend him! Augh! What's one to do?
The Trib's solution: Accept said friend requests, as to "not seem rude," and then un-friend them later.
The second gem of wisdom came in yesterday's Parade magazine, that paragon of info for you Harvard Candidates out there. The sidebar was titled "How to Tell Your Date You Have an STD." I readied myself for something practical, such as having an open, honest discussion. Ah, but I gave too much credit to Parade. How should you tell someone you have an STD? Why, via e-card of course! *
Okay, in both instances, YOU'VE GOT TO EFFING BE KIDDING ME. Let's revisit, shall we, with EB's advice?
1) You're a grown up -- start acting like it -- and click "Ignore" on any friend requests you don't want. Chances are they won't notice, and if they're grown ups, they should accept the fact that not everyone wants to be your "friend" (virtual or otherwise). The Trib's advice paints a scenario whereby the letter writer will later have to fake some facebook knowledge - why, oh why? Who did they hire to write this column -- my 13 year old niece? Crimony.
2) This whole "I gave you an STD" E-card idea is bad, bad, bad all around. Put yourself in the recipient's shoes -- how would you like to receive one of these? The worst part is, the site that generates these, supposedly, doesn't collect personal information, and the cards can be sent anonymously. How many pissed-off, jilted lovers do you think have sent these to their exes, just for a laugh?
When you need to have a serious conversation, the only acceptable way to do it is face to face. Via the phone (no, you can not text) is acceptable only when distance is an issue.
Folks, be an adult. You don't have to accept every flipping facebook request that comes your way. If you have an STD, um, you should probably talk to your partners, rather than hiding behind the internet.
You're a grown up. Now act like it.
*note: EB didn't need said advice in the Parade sidebar, just fyi. How can you not read an article that has "STD" in the title???
The Magazine featured a new sort of advice column called "One Burning Question." The question-asker was distraught with a facebook (ah, my favorite) issue: He only likes to use facebook for social acquaintances! Work people keep trying to friend him! Augh! What's one to do?
The Trib's solution: Accept said friend requests, as to "not seem rude," and then un-friend them later.
The second gem of wisdom came in yesterday's Parade magazine, that paragon of info for you Harvard Candidates out there. The sidebar was titled "How to Tell Your Date You Have an STD." I readied myself for something practical, such as having an open, honest discussion. Ah, but I gave too much credit to Parade. How should you tell someone you have an STD? Why, via e-card of course! *
Okay, in both instances, YOU'VE GOT TO EFFING BE KIDDING ME. Let's revisit, shall we, with EB's advice?
1) You're a grown up -- start acting like it -- and click "Ignore" on any friend requests you don't want. Chances are they won't notice, and if they're grown ups, they should accept the fact that not everyone wants to be your "friend" (virtual or otherwise). The Trib's advice paints a scenario whereby the letter writer will later have to fake some facebook knowledge - why, oh why? Who did they hire to write this column -- my 13 year old niece? Crimony.
2) This whole "I gave you an STD" E-card idea is bad, bad, bad all around. Put yourself in the recipient's shoes -- how would you like to receive one of these? The worst part is, the site that generates these, supposedly, doesn't collect personal information, and the cards can be sent anonymously. How many pissed-off, jilted lovers do you think have sent these to their exes, just for a laugh?
When you need to have a serious conversation, the only acceptable way to do it is face to face. Via the phone (no, you can not text) is acceptable only when distance is an issue.
Folks, be an adult. You don't have to accept every flipping facebook request that comes your way. If you have an STD, um, you should probably talk to your partners, rather than hiding behind the internet.
You're a grown up. Now act like it.
*note: EB didn't need said advice in the Parade sidebar, just fyi. How can you not read an article that has "STD" in the title???
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
facebook facebook facebook
I'm not terribly in love with facebook, that of-the-moment internet rage. Do I really need to list the reasons? The timesuck, the lack of value it adds to one's day or life (although I have a friend who swears she found her yoga studio via facebook....the same yoga studio her next-door neighbor [me!] attended weekly for four years), etc. etc.
And I'm appalled at the crap and private details people share on facebook. Call me an old fuddy-duddy, but I don't need to see your sonogram photos, nor does the world. (nor is it terribly classe to publicly share such. You can put those in a private "Inbox" message. Oh yes you can.) Your private phone number and security access code you just wrote on Susie's Wall? Yes, I can see that, too.
Wall-to-Wall messages are not private. Comments and Notes are not private. If I'm a friend of your friend, I can see the personal details you write to them. So please stop.
While I'm carping, also know that it's not cool to announce details of your upcoming wedding, bachelor/ette party, etc. if not all of your FB friends are invited. Some might be hurt. Some might wonder -- publicly, on your wall -- why they weren't invited.
There's all sorts of private tools for your use on the internet: Evite, email, or -- shocker -- your private Inbox with Messaging capacity on -- you got it! -- facebook.
Now let's virtually zip those lips.
And I'm appalled at the crap and private details people share on facebook. Call me an old fuddy-duddy, but I don't need to see your sonogram photos, nor does the world. (nor is it terribly classe to publicly share such. You can put those in a private "Inbox" message. Oh yes you can.) Your private phone number and security access code you just wrote on Susie's Wall? Yes, I can see that, too.
Wall-to-Wall messages are not private. Comments and Notes are not private. If I'm a friend of your friend, I can see the personal details you write to them. So please stop.
While I'm carping, also know that it's not cool to announce details of your upcoming wedding, bachelor/ette party, etc. if not all of your FB friends are invited. Some might be hurt. Some might wonder -- publicly, on your wall -- why they weren't invited.
There's all sorts of private tools for your use on the internet: Evite, email, or -- shocker -- your private Inbox with Messaging capacity on -- you got it! -- facebook.
Now let's virtually zip those lips.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
