A lot of people may criticize me for this comment. I think the golden rule to posting on social media would be, "what would Jesus think". Would Jesus be mad at what you are posting? I guarantee employers won't be satisfied with the content, if Jesus wouldn't be satisfied.
For those that aren't religious or don't have a belief in a higher being, or Jesus. The golden rule they should apply is, "what would your momma think". If you don't care what your momma thinks. You might want to change your mind, just to save some face.
I agree with Taylor. There seems to be this mentality that you can say whatever you want online and if people judge you that's their problem. You are who are and you can do what you want.
There is great risk in this mentality.
For example: colleges and employers are now, more often than not, perusing your social media. They can and do determine your merit based on what you post. You could be qualified out of this world but if your posts are mainly about you complaining about your current boss, or how you barely passed an exam because you were hungover, employers and colleges may think twice about you.
If you never want to have to explain yourself, then don't post things that make you look bad, stupid, or just plain crazy. Abstinence, it's the best form of protection.
For me, never having to explain yourself means that the people that you surround yourself with and associate with know you well enough to understand what you mean. As far as the content of your post goes, it should be something that you're not going to be ashamed of if someone of importance saw it. Like Taylor said, "Would your mom approve?" If not, then you might want to change your wording or message. A lot of employers will ask you for your social media accounts so they can monitor your posts and follow what you are saying and doing. Jess made a great point about pictures that you post. If you post a drunk selfie of yourself at a party, you may not get that call back for that job. Don't express extreme political, social or religious views. You're just asking for trouble if you do.
To me it means vague detail in order to gain attention, just vent or something. Maybe I just have to many stereotypical high school girls on my page but I can't tell you how many times I see something like... "My life is awful right now I just can't take it. I can't believe that would happen but it did." Never doing that again." Two weeks later "I did that again UG :/" The Comments under the post from friends usually says "Text me" or "I know that ___ is such a punk." so I guess someone gets detailed information. I guess what the golden rule means is that some friends know what is happening with your life so they understand and can easily stay connected with you but the rest of use just keep scrolling to find the latest cat video.
I think some social media networking sites such as Facebook have become more of a place for open complaining. (At least on my feed.) But nobody says anything about it or confronts those people about what they post because it seems to me that there is a mutual understanding among social media users that they don't need to explain themselves to others. They don't need a reason to post some whiny, vague, or angry message because like Josh said- I think everyone knows they are posting it on social media to get attention or sympathy of some kind. I also liked what Jessica and Gabby said about employers checking social media accounts. I know for a fact in my job hunting experience that it does happen! Maintaining a professional and appropriate presence on social media is important because employers will take into account what they see on social media, and you won't have a chance to explain yourself. At least that's how I see it...
I think what this boils down to the old saying "Say what you mean and mean what you say". It seems that so many people are either having vague generalities like josh is saying to get attention, or they not really trying or wanting to get their point across. There seems to be so much context missing from everyone’s story and that can be eliminated by adding context. Give us some back story, throw us some bones here! I’m not a mind reader, especially when it comes to females in my life (wife, mom, sisters, etc.), so I need something more. If people really meant what they said, and/or said what they meant there would be less confusion. In addition I think that people need to be consistent. This is where a lot of the confusion comes in. If you are saying that you are against same sex marriage and then you post a "equals" sign as a profile pic, or you are against medical marijuana, but make pro-posts about Washington and Colorado, then it sends an unclear message. If I agree for or against some cause or belief and enough evidence comes to light to change that thought, then make it clear. "I felt this way, and now after I feel this way". There would be no "having to explain yourself" when you post something that contradicts your original beliefs. People know your new position. DONE, Move on!
I don't think this is how social media is supposed to run. Never having to explain yourself means that you can say or post anything on your Facebook and you don't have to answer to anyone. That means people will complain and gripe about everything that happens in their life, but they won't actually talk about it. You won't get to explain yourself to potential employers who check you out on Facebook if you happen to post something that is controversial. We need to be careful about what we post, or never having to explain yourself will turn into never getting to explain yourself.
My answer is: it depends. Do you care what others think about you? Do you care if your point of view is misunderstood? Do you want to make sense or just throw something out there to see how people interpret it? Gabby brought up the point that some people feel that those who know them will understand. This would be a great concept if people were totally predictable, but how often does somebody do something totally out of character. I also like what Micky said about the women in his life. It would be much easier if they just said what they meant.
I also think it depends on your desired outcome. If you are vague because you want to get people thinking and spur some insightful conversations, then it may produce some new ideas and ways of thinking about things. I had a friend who posted a ridiculous statement on facebook and he got all kinds of interesting feedback. It was risky but hilarious. Although this worked out for my friend, I always prefer to be clear. But even then, I am still sometimes misunderstood.
"Never having to explain yourself" seems to be the golden rule of the internet, but I don't think it should be. The power of getting to say whatever you'd like because you are hidden behind a screen has lead to a lot of negative consequences. Some of which include cyber bullying, trolling, and false information. The internet is an amazing resource that has connected our world in so many ways, but with it has come lack of accountability. People do not have to reveal who they are, they can adopt another persona, or say things they wouldn't say in their daily lives. In some cases this can bring forth some good insights or talents of those who otherwise would be stifled. But on the other hand, it has made is so people are not even responsible for themselves anymore. I think there needs then to be a delicate balance in that whatever you put on line you still need to hold yourself accountable. Just because you feel you don't have to explain yourself, you still should hold yourself to a certain moral standard.
“Never having to explain” is actually an illusion. Because people are sitting at a computer and cannot actually see their audience they are under the illusion that they will never have to explain or take responsibility for what they say. People often forget that once they put something into writing and send it off into cyber space that there is no way to take it back. It becomes a permanent record. “Never having to explain” could not be further from the truth. You may not have to explain immediately, but you will have to explain. How many times have we seen a public figure have to call a press conference to apologize for something they sent out on twitter? Many of you discussed how employers look at their employee’s Facebook pages. Many a people have lost their jobs or not gotten the job because of things they posted on Facebook. Social Media pages are used in divorce trials and criminal cases. Many have to explain to their spouses or friends, why they posted what they did. Don’t let your self be caught in the illusion that you “never have to explain.”
One of my goals in life is to be the absolute best person I am capable of. For me, being a good person means spreading positivity, even when I disagree with what someone is saying online. Saying that I "never have to explain myself" would mean that I am not holding myself accountable for what I write and say, and I don't agree with that way of thinking. People are allowed to disagree with each other, but it is best to disagree using civil discourse. Whether we like it or not. Whether we explain ourselves or not, people are judging us. They judge us in person, they judge us online. This is a basic human reaction to calculate whether someone is a threat or not. It is unavoidable. My suggestion, be yourself, unapologetically. People will think and say whatever they want, but the only opinion that really matters at the end of the day is the one you hold about yourself.
11 comments:
A lot of people may criticize me for this comment. I think the golden rule to posting on social media would be, "what would Jesus think". Would Jesus be mad at what you are posting? I guarantee employers won't be satisfied with the content, if Jesus wouldn't be satisfied.
For those that aren't religious or don't have a belief in a higher being, or Jesus. The golden rule they should apply is, "what would your momma think". If you don't care what your momma thinks. You might want to change your mind, just to save some face.
I agree with Taylor. There seems to be this mentality that you can say whatever you want online and if people judge you that's their problem. You are who are and you can do what you want.
There is great risk in this mentality.
For example: colleges and employers are now, more often than not, perusing your social media. They can and do determine your merit based on what you post. You could be qualified out of this world but if your posts are mainly about you complaining about your current boss, or how you barely passed an exam because you were hungover, employers and colleges may think twice about you.
If you never want to have to explain yourself, then don't post things that make you look bad, stupid, or just plain crazy. Abstinence, it's the best form of protection.
For me, never having to explain yourself means that the people that you surround yourself with and associate with know you well enough to understand what you mean. As far as the content of your post goes, it should be something that you're not going to be ashamed of if someone of importance saw it. Like Taylor said, "Would your mom approve?" If not, then you might want to change your wording or message. A lot of employers will ask you for your social media accounts so they can monitor your posts and follow what you are saying and doing. Jess made a great point about pictures that you post. If you post a drunk selfie of yourself at a party, you may not get that call back for that job. Don't express extreme political, social or religious views. You're just asking for trouble if you do.
To me it means vague detail in order to gain attention, just vent or something. Maybe I just have to many stereotypical high school girls on my page but I can't tell you how many times I see something like...
"My life is awful right now I just can't take it. I can't believe that would happen but it did." Never doing that again." Two weeks later "I did that again UG :/"
The Comments under the post from friends usually says "Text me" or "I know that ___ is such a punk." so I guess someone gets detailed information.
I guess what the golden rule means is that some friends know what is happening with your life so they understand and can easily stay connected with you but the rest of use just keep scrolling to find the latest cat video.
I think some social media networking sites such as Facebook have become more of a place for open complaining. (At least on my feed.) But nobody says anything about it or confronts those people about what they post because it seems to me that there is a mutual understanding among social media users that they don't need to explain themselves to others. They don't need a reason to post some whiny, vague, or angry message because like Josh said- I think everyone knows they are posting it on social media to get attention or sympathy of some kind.
I also liked what Jessica and Gabby said about employers checking social media accounts. I know for a fact in my job hunting experience that it does happen! Maintaining a professional and appropriate presence on social media is important because employers will take into account what they see on social media, and you won't have a chance to explain yourself. At least that's how I see it...
I think what this boils down to the old saying "Say what you mean and mean what you say". It seems that so many people are either having vague generalities like josh is saying to get attention, or they not really trying or wanting to get their point across. There seems to be so much context missing from everyone’s story and that can be eliminated by adding context. Give us some back story, throw us some bones here! I’m not a mind reader, especially when it comes to females in my life (wife, mom, sisters, etc.), so I need something more. If people really meant what they said, and/or said what they meant there would be less confusion. In addition I think that people need to be consistent. This is where a lot of the confusion comes in. If you are saying that you are against same sex marriage and then you post a "equals" sign as a profile pic, or you are against medical marijuana, but make pro-posts about Washington and Colorado, then it sends an unclear message. If I agree for or against some cause or belief and enough evidence comes to light to change that thought, then make it clear. "I felt this way, and now after I feel this way". There would be no "having to explain yourself" when you post something that contradicts your original beliefs. People know your new position. DONE, Move on!
I don't think this is how social media is supposed to run. Never having to explain yourself means that you can say or post anything on your Facebook and you don't have to answer to anyone. That means people will complain and gripe about everything that happens in their life, but they won't actually talk about it. You won't get to explain yourself to potential employers who check you out on Facebook if you happen to post something that is controversial. We need to be careful about what we post, or never having to explain yourself will turn into never getting to explain yourself.
My answer is: it depends. Do you care what others think about you? Do you care if your point of view is misunderstood? Do you want to make sense or just throw something out there to see how people interpret it? Gabby brought up the point that some people feel that those who know them will understand. This would be a great concept if people were totally predictable, but how often does somebody do something totally out of character. I also like what Micky said about the women in his life. It would be much easier if they just said what they meant.
I also think it depends on your desired outcome. If you are vague because you want to get people thinking and spur some insightful conversations, then it may produce some new ideas and ways of thinking about things. I had a friend who posted a ridiculous statement on facebook and he got all kinds of interesting feedback. It was risky but hilarious. Although this worked out for my friend, I always prefer to be clear. But even then, I am still sometimes misunderstood.
"Never having to explain yourself" seems to be the golden rule of the internet, but I don't think it should be.
The power of getting to say whatever you'd like because you are hidden behind a screen has lead to a lot of negative consequences. Some of which include cyber bullying, trolling, and false information.
The internet is an amazing resource that has connected our world in so many ways, but with it has come lack of accountability. People do not have to reveal who they are, they can adopt another persona, or say things they wouldn't say in their daily lives. In some cases this can bring forth some good insights or talents of those who otherwise would be stifled. But on the other hand, it has made is so people are not even responsible for themselves anymore. I think there needs then to be a delicate balance in that whatever you put on line you still need to hold yourself accountable. Just because you feel you don't have to explain yourself, you still should hold yourself to a certain moral standard.
“Never having to explain” is actually an illusion. Because people are sitting at a computer and cannot actually see their audience they are under the illusion that they will never have to explain or take responsibility for what they say. People often forget that once they put something into writing and send it off into cyber space that there is no way to take it back. It becomes a permanent record. “Never having to explain” could not be further from the truth. You may not have to explain immediately, but you will have to explain. How many times have we seen a public figure have to call a press conference to apologize for something they sent out on twitter? Many of you discussed how employers look at their employee’s Facebook pages. Many a people have lost their jobs or not gotten the job because of things they posted on Facebook. Social Media pages are used in divorce trials and criminal cases. Many have to explain to their spouses or friends, why they posted what they did. Don’t let your self be caught in the illusion that you “never have to explain.”
One of my goals in life is to be the absolute best person I am capable of. For me, being a good person means spreading positivity, even when I disagree with what someone is saying online. Saying that I "never have to explain myself" would mean that I am not holding myself accountable for what I write and say, and I don't agree with that way of thinking. People are allowed to disagree with each other, but it is best to disagree using civil discourse.
Whether we like it or not. Whether we explain ourselves or not, people are judging us. They judge us in person, they judge us online. This is a basic human reaction to calculate whether someone is a threat or not. It is unavoidable. My suggestion, be yourself, unapologetically. People will think and say whatever they want, but the only opinion that really matters at the end of the day is the one you hold about yourself.
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