I received an email from my dear friend The Mama (She is
amazing and hilarious, and provides me with tons of reasons to take my birth
control regularly. Check out her blog http://naptimechronicles.blogspot.com/).
She, like so many of us, is overwhelmed by the lack of manners in the Social
Media world. Her top concerns were TMI posts on Facebook and Twitter, professional
emailing, and how it’s appropriate to share family news.
We’ll start with the oversharing epidemic sweeping social
media websites. Break ups happen. Divorces happen. Pregnancies happen. Baby
Daddy’s don’t pay da bills on time. It happens. You know where all that drama
belongs? IN PRIVATE. Now I have to
admit that I am guilty of sitting back and watching a good break up happen on
Facebook. I blame it on this whole “working” thing I have to do, and not being
able to watch daytime TV. These can be hilarious to watch. However, I imagine
they’re a bit painful and embarrassing for the family and friends that are
involved. Every family has their share of secrets and drama. But those things
belong behind closed doors. If you need to talk to someone about these
problems, then find a good friend or even consider talking to your priest or a
therapist. Broadcasting your problems for the world to see will only bring more
drama into your life. If a friend or family member is guilty of this, talk to
them in private and explain how these posts are hurtful and embarrassing. I
have a Facebook “friend” who is mad at her boyfriend one day and calls him some
amazingly horrible names, and then the next day they are in looooove so Eff all
tha haters y’all! Really? If your life is this dramatic, then people are going
become apathetic towards your problems, and tend to see you more as a nuisance
rather than a friend in need. Instead of listing every terrible thing that happened
at work, start listing one thing a day that you are thankful for, and I think
you’ll start to see things from a more positive perspective. Do you have food
on the table? Warm clothes to wear? People that love you? Well then, I think
you are doing all right!
The same goes for oversharing the good things too. I imagine
that having a baby is the most wonderful love one will ever experience in the world.
It’s an exciting time to be adding to your little family. But post with caution.
For instance, I’ve seen posts things like “I don’t even remember what life was
like before Junior!” or “I can’t believe I used to think going out with my
girlfriends was fun! Staying in with little Petunia is the best Friday night
ever!” Gag. You totally remember what life was like. You slept in, you didn’t
have to pack up diapers just to go grocery shopping, and you might have stayed
up all night drinking with your friends without worrying about how you’d feel tomorrow.
As a parent, you should appreciate the wonderful gift you have, but don’t
completely lose yourself in the process. There’s a fun lady in there! Also, you
never know who might be dying to have a child and can’t, and has to read your
asshole posts everyday about how you’ve never felt as beautiful as you are nine
months pregnant. Embrace your pregnancy, have fun with it, be proud of the
moment when your beautiful child laughs for the first time! And please do share
with the rest of us! Just be careful not to over-do it. Need more examples of
Crazy Mommies? Check out http://www.stfuparentsblog.com/.
This woman deserves a medal.
Another Facebook Fail? Announcing Uncle Bobby died before
you’ve contacted the family. Is that really how you want your family members to
find out about an illness or death in the family? It’s very insensitive, and I’ve
seen it happen a couple of times. Same goes for texts. Don’t text your mom to
say you just found Aunt Carol dead. CALL HER. I received a text from my dear
brother simply stating, “Just collided with an 18-wheeler. I’m fine. Call you
later.” Oh hell no! You call your sister when that happens. Do you think that
text held me over until he called? And he got a stern talking to when I finally
got his butt on the phone. News like that is best shared via a phone call or a
face to face conversation. I had a fun little fall where I broke my leg in three
places and got to spend 5 drugged up days in the hospital. (Don’t worry dear
reader, I’ll share this exciting story soon.) Do you think I texted my mother
this information? And risk getting another broken bone from her? Heck no. If
you have a family member who insists on sharing bad news the wrong way, you
might bring it up the next time you are face to face. No need to be accusatory.
Just politely state that you’d rather talk about family issues instead of
posting and texting about them. The guilty party may not even realize that it’s
bothersome.
Last topic: Text speaking in professional emails. Stop it
right now. You know what I’m talking about. Now, I’m not talking about emails
between friends or G-chat. I’m guilty of throwing a “brb” into the chat window.
But I’m not chatting with my boss, or my banker, or even a prospective
volunteer. Emails with people that you do not share a close personal relationship
with should never include a smiley face, a brb, a 4 in place of for, or a TTYL.
Example:
Dear Boss Man,
I have those contracts ready 4 u 2 sign.
Holla,
L-Chap Dog
My boss would crap his pants. I attribute this kind of
talking and typing to the amount of time we spend on computers as opposed to
ten years ago. They are a part of our everyday lives, and we are all crunched
for time and looking for easy ways to get things done. It honestly takes me
more time to tYpe ~LikE~ a 12~YeAr Old :)))
than it does to just type normal. Call me crazy. My 13 year old cousin texts me
like this, but she’s 13, and she digs Bieber, soooo she’s excused. But you aren’t!
When in doubt, act like this is the most important email of your life, and
write like a professional should.
Like my dear friend The Mama says, manners/etiquette don't
go out the window just because it's on the web! She could not be more right. I
hope this was helpful! As always, feel free to let me know if there’s a topic
you would like to discuss, or if you have any questions. The world is a much
nicer place to be in when there are good attitudes and good manners. So think
twice before you post or email, and remember to mind your manners, y’all!
No comments:
Post a Comment