Know someone whose tweets or status updates tend toward the caustic? It isn’t so much about sharing opinions; it’s more of an opportunity to bulldoze those who dare to have a differing point of view. Acerbic comments and barbs are routine.
This person routinely offends people with whom she’s connected electronically. (She is blissfully unaware of this, because most people keep their mouths shut...they know better than to behave in this way.) Because a handful of like-minded folks egg her on, the comments continue to spew forth.
Then the economy rears its head.
She loses her job. Or maybe she’s a contractor and sees her project load dwindling.
Now she needs help. She taps every resource at her fingertips, including her electronic network. Problem is, she’s unwittingly alienated quite a few people in that universe…people who might have otherwise recommended her to colleagues, or people who may even have hired her.
Once you’ve seen someone display “loose cannon on a rolling deck” tendencies in public (and yes, social networking sites count), you’re probably not going to be so likely to step up and give her an enthusiastic referral. Do you want your name associated with hers? Are you going to want to hire her for project work knowing now that you can’t be entirely certain she’ll conduct herself professionally at all times? Will you be wondering what she might say to one of your clients or employees if she gets irritated?
Think about what you’re typing, and think before you share it. What you choose to post (and how you choose to convey the point) says a lot about you.
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