We have always seen news on how employees get into trouble on social media when they click submit without given much thoughts. My first thought always be the fault of the employees. But is it really? Social media as I have written before is a two-edged sword. On one hand, we can use it in a good way to keep in touch with friends and loved ones but on the other hand, having your words repost, again and again, sharing out perhaps your thoughts at that moment, is kinda a scary thing.
Words, when used carelessly, can hurt. A Chinese common saying “饭可以乱吃，话不能乱讲。” which means you may eat all sorts of food but you can’t say anything you want. It used to be words are malicious as gossips can travel from mouth to ears but now, it is the digital words that travels and spread, not unlike a virus attack. Maybe that’s why they have a term for viral post.
Celebrities used to fear so much that their words get twisted by unruly and unprofessional reporters. Now it is more likely the backlash they get when they post anything sensitive or insensible. Let’s take the recent case of Kim Kardashian as she posted the nearly nude pic of herself on her Instagram, celebrating women’s right on International Women’s Day. Some defended it is her right as it is her body and we should mind our business while some say it is shameless and she is setting a bad example for youths. I’m not going to take sides, neither am I going to ask you to, but take a moment and think, what if she was a kindergarten teacher or a social worker instead, would it make it right? Would she have been fired for that post?
What goes wrong is when even one’s social media is private and he or she made a thoughtless or senseless statements like racism or bigamist comments, as long as one of his or her ‘friends’ retweet or repost the comment, Wham! It gets picked up, became viral and blown out of proportion.
So who’s fault is it? I guess by this time, it’s too late to pursue who’s at fault. But the brute of the fault is carried by on the shoulder by the person who posted the comment, not the person who repost or retweet the comment.
Asked yourself if your job, your piece of mind and your family’s is worth the post before you click submit. Is it worth just for that 10mins glory of social media fame before the next controversial post hit the waves? Does the controversy defines who you are as a person? If no, don’t do it. It’s not worth it. Remember that drunken picture of yours or that racist rant about your Chinese boss is going to stay in the web and on the search engine for years to come even if you delete the post.
Do you agree with the above? Food for thoughts? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
MiddleMe 
Letting the world know about our thoughts and feelings will only result in either the loudest applause or the longest boo’s. What I show to the world is mine but I better double check what image of mine will be shown to the world, once I click send, publish or post.
If we are not comfortable with that, it is much better to stay away from all it.
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That’s probably why I have stayed away from social media for the longest time.
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All I can say is think before you click.
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Good one
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I do think pausing and letting an emotion sit before commenting is probably more sensible. I’ve posted things in the heat of the moment caught up in an emotion. The thing is emotions change and so does our thinking and these have a knock on effect as to how we react/resond
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How true.. If everyone just take a breather before they post, they probably don’t post as much as they do now.
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Check, check and dubble check indeed.
And if you feel the need to express your opinion and or feelings regarding, always with decency and discretion 😉
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Agree! And no one needs to know for the thousandth time, what you had for lunch! Haha.
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I always double check before whether I post something/ like or share. More often than not I see that it is usually rather stupid or could be viewed the wrong way and refrain from posting it.
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It is best to consult one’s higher self before posting anything. Unless we are connected to Source, we simply don’t know the effect a post may have… unless it is something like Kim posted. Then we should have a pretty good idea.
I know it sounds a bit too zen, but we have an inner voice that was created specifically to help us sort out, ahead of time, when and when not to push the button.
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One should be utterly careful what one posts!
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Celebrities now days HAVE to stay in the lime light. Good or bad it must shine. Do you think for a nano second KK did not know exactly what she was doing… After she took the time plan then have a prof picture taken then to color touch and edit her photo then had her publicity person have a look at it then wait for the best time to post to get a high hit rate. Nothing is left to chance. After all we are talking about her now hey. We …. well I am not a celebrity ,therefore those rules do not apply. Moral of the story. think before you click and never rant. Great post, thank you. Dan
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Please used to use the term having “good taste.” How often do people ask the “good taste” question before posting?
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Apparently very few..
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#Typo Meant to start the comment with “people”
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The old saying ,stick to weather and greetings and you be fine!
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And the happy birthdays..!
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It’s all about striking a balance between your opinion, your feelings and common sense – possibly with a large dose of “good taste” as James commented.
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What you say about social media also applies in day to day life. Once words leave your mouth, you lose control of them. The more times they are repeated, the more distorted your original intent becomes. People hear what they want to hear, depending on what they think of you. If it weren’t for gossip, there would be no need for therapists.
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How very true especially on the part of therapist! It is sad that there are many people out that who do not think of others’ feeling and blurts out insensitive words or phases.
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Thumbs up!
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Thank you!!
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Having opinions and healthy debates are ok… but if social media appears to be a problem… views can be discussed at websites like debate.org or reddit using pseudonyms.
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Thanks for giving an outlet who wants to vent anonymously!!
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So agree.
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Thaanks!!
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