TMI

Social media exists for sharing, but too often we are tempted to over share. Last week, I got myself in a lot of trouble on Facebook (again) by forgetting to behave as if the person with whom I disagree is in the room with me, by acting as if they were an automated troll rather than a real person. I see careless arguments break out through social media all the time, ones that can seriously damage relationships and negatively influence public opinion on sensitive issues.

source by Teeney 2

Don't be an internet troll.

Maybe we're automatically more caustic toward each other on facebook and blogs because they exist in part to make us look good. We carefully construct our public identity through these forums and when someone responds unfavorably to them, our immediate response is to lash out. We want so badly to be perceived as confident, respectable individuals with numerous interests and talents that we will compromise relationship to keep our online personas intact.


Blogs in particular seem to tempt us to over share, to vent our frustrations as if we're writing in a private journal when we're really allowing the world to access every gut response and judgment. I try to be very careful here to create a distance between my life as it happens and how I express it. A friend and I agreed recently that the best way to avoid bitter and angry comments is to not invite them in the first place - to share thoughtfully and non-defensively, to explain your actions and address possible criticism maturely, and to realize that some life decisions and topics will invite comments no matter how you address them in your writing and that it is your responsibility to create a space for constructive criticism.


Although it is our right to spew whatever crap we want into the virtual universe, it's not always in anyone's best interest to do so. Don't pretend like you are justified to speak and act irresponsibly. Stop behaving as if your opinion is the only one that counts. Recognize that you are initiating a conversation every time you post. And if you use writing as a tool to help you sort out your emotions and make solid decisions, consider closing your lap top and settling down with a pen and paper instead. Good, old fashioned private journaling never hurt anyone.