I’m sure you can easily think of numerous examples of how technological advances have changed how you share information. Digital communications like email, social media and blogging give you a means to share whatever you wish (free of charge) – and therein lies the problem.
The freedom to share freely, openly and instantly in online conversations can lead some to give their two cents and even comment, criticize or debase others without regard to how the problem’s associated with pointing the finger.
Smart phone owners of all ages readily admit the unexplainable allure and possible addiction to spending more and more time on social networks inclines them to talk about people, places and things in a way that is almost foreign to how they normally would, possibly giving in to digital peer pressure. Whether gossip is encouraged or barred in your household, today’s digital conversations enable gossip to spread like wild fire online. Gone are the days when rumors and other unconfirmed chatter took days to circulate – digital information is shared and re-shared at break neck speed.
Try these six steps to help you stay away from being too harsh online:
- Read the message more than once before you send it
- Save the message as a draft for a few hours or day
- Try not to be led into discussions that are foreign to you
- Be sure you understand the issue you might comment
- If you are emotional about the topic postpone commenting
- Before you say something harsh, ask yourself if you would want someone to say that to you
It’s easy to point out someone’s imperfections and to focus on the external things that you notice about someone else. Pointing the finger has become second nature for some, but you should know you the comments you leave behind also give readers a glimpse of your character. If you don’t want to put your reputation in jeopardy, closely monitor how and what you share. It really matters.
