Be careful what you say..?
By admin on Jan 20, 2009 in In The News
Just as I’m about to get cracking on writing my first post, I came across this link from Problogger on Twitter which made me think a little about what is said online and the effect it can have.
The story is about a guy who, on his travels to give a business presentation in Memphis, twitted about the dislike he took for the city.
Possibly underestimating the possibility of someone reading this in the town, or in Fedex where the presentation was to take place, an honest if not slightly insulting opinion backfired in big way.
It’s easy to feel cosy in the Twitter community conversing with friends and peers, but everything you say while your account is unprotected is cached by google and is in the public domain. This can be retrieved by friends, business associates and prospective clients or employers alike. And anonymity isn’t always guaranteed!
Does this mean that people can’t be honest any more and that we should only say nice things if we can’t say anything at all? I hope not! There’s a difference between being bitchy and being critical however. And there’s a difference between frank observations made to those close to you and posting scathing remarks that anyone in the the world can read.
I suppose you have to be able to put your money where your mouth is. If you think something is bad and you feel strongly about it, you should feel free to blog/tweet about it. Sometimes you might regret it and may look to retract it. “To err” and all that. You could also protect your twitter updates, I do it sometimes, but then I unprotect again. Always fighting with myself over that one. Covered in bruises I tells ya. Nice post.
Joe
Joe Scanlon | Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
‘To thine own self be true’. Say what you want, mean what you say. Anyone blogging or posting their thoughts or opinions online should be commended for their actions and honesty. Cowardice and secrecy in your actions belongs in the middle ages. From my, brief as yet, experiences in the blogging/tweeting world I have benefitted enormously from the unselfish sharing of information, thoughts and opinions. And the world is a better place.
Derry O Donnell | Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
It’s a tough one alright. People have to learn though that the internet is just like going out in the street and shouting out stuff to the masses. But again you cannot be one of those people (we all know one!) who refuses to post anything in fear of criticism. Shout it loud people, but remember who you are shouting to.
Patrick Phelan | Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
Saying what you mean is not as simple as it sounds. Saying you would die if you had to live somewhere, when said to your close friends has a world of context that a stranger has no visibility of.
Publishing to the internet at large one should only say what one would comfortably say face to face to a complete stranger upon first meeting them.
Frank P | Jan 22, 2009 | Reply
Saying what you mean should be allowed freedom of speech
Christopher | Aug 2, 2009 | Reply