It takes a lot to offend me. As a matter of fact, I’m not sure what my limit is; because I cannot remember ever feeling offended.
With my study in Social Dynamics, I watch people. Specifically, I watch how they communicate and interact with one another. What better place to watch than social networks. Social networks are a quick and dirty Petri dish.
With my social networks, I view my accounts as my thoughts. In other words, it’s my page. If you post something on my page that I don’t like or want on the page, then I click the little “x”, and it’s gone. If you make a comment to something that I have posted or uploaded that I don’t like, it’s the “x” for that comment.
Now, if you post 3 or more things that I don’t like or want on my page, then I give the big “X” to those people… they are Unfriended, Unfollowed, Uncircled, or Blocked. If you don’t like it, too bad… it’s my account.
With this view on what a social network should be, I receive very little negative comments on my pages… very little. This could be due to the fact that I have a great group of people who I let in (and I do have a great group), or it could be because people know they’re getting booted if they post something I don’t like 3 or more times.
What I find so many people forget who are on social networks is the phrase…
Mind your own business.
With the explosion of social networks, it seems that minding your own business has been thrown out the window.
We’re all sharing much more with not just our family and friends; but we’re sharing thoughts and moments with the world at large… many times private thoughts and moments.
I’ve seen posts about intimate moments with your significant other, photos that shock some viewers when they run across them, statements that upset family and friends, and much worse. You have too… especially, if you’ve taken a moment to read my blogs, updates, and social pages.
Well, that’s me! My public figure is built around being a bit edgy… edgy, unique, shocking, yet eyeopening and thought provoking. I want the people who view what I write to be forced to expand their comfort level, to become more tolerant, to push themselves away from their screen with new ways of thinking, and even learn something whether they wanted to or not.
Now, depending on what you do, the company you work for, the audience you draw, etc…; I do recommend being smart. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it many more times… stupid people are my biggest pet peeve. So, if you’re looking to advance your career while you post photos of your drunken binge at a string of strip clubs this past weekend to your Facebook Wall that is open to the public to view, then you’re S-T-U-P-I-D; and I automatically hate you. (Rule #1: I hate stupid people.)
Spend some time tweaking your privacy settings on all of your social networks, and you’ll be fine. Besides, why would you want any pervert sitting in a public library on the Internet looking at photos of you and learning the places you frequent. Be smart!
With that said, there’s this little thing called the First Amendment that protects our freedom of speech and expression here in the U.S.A.. It’s my right to post a photo that someone snapped of me sitting on the toilet on my Facebook Wall. The photo is of me, it shows nothing graphic, and it’s shocking and funny. Like I said, I like to expand the comfort level of my readers.
My Facebook Wall, however, is not open to the public. Just like my many other social networks, my content is open to the people I allow into my world and who agree to come in.
Here’s where the stupid people begin to come out to play. If I blog about something you don’t agree with, if I upload a photo that offends you, if I Tweet a 140 character gem that gets your panties in a bunch; I have found that social networks become like alcohol… they give people a false sense of confidence. Every day, comments are made on posts of others verbally chastising the expression of another.
How do you know if you are one of these stupid people?
- Would you say to the person the things that you post on social networks, write in e-mails, or message if they were standing in front of you?
- If your answer to #1 is “No”, then you’re a stupid person.
- If your answer to #1 is “Yes” and you have very few friends in the real world, then you’re a stupid person.
You see, what makes a person stupid in my eyes is someone who is closed off to allowing others to express themselves, says no to allowing themselves to have new experiences, believes that their moral compass is always pointing the right way, and believes that everyone should hold the same beliefs as they hold.
In other words, mind your own business is great advice for all of us. That means experiencing new things, opening your mind to new beliefs, accepting people for who they are, growing, and never being satisfied as just one of the pack. Be you! Be unique! Mind your own business by experiencing life to it’s fullest instead of worrying about what other people are doing.
And for those Sheeple who still want to throw out the First Amendment and berate others, here is an option… Unfriend, Unfollow, or Uncircle the people who offend you. You will never have to see another thing written or uploaded by them ever again. This will give you more time to burn some books at the library.
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