Uninvited - Week 4 Part 3

Back to the "10 Things" chapter once again this morning.  I am behind in this week's study, but it could be because I am trying to really process the past week.  This chapter is one that I return to and try to drink it in.

"Don't hash, bash, or trash on the Internet.  Remember:  the Internet never forgets."

The Internet.  Good or bad.  Depending on who you talk to--both.

I have to admit that I spend WAY too much time on the computer.  I am focused on my phone in the car when I am riding along and not listening to what Gary is talking about plus I am missing out of scenery.  Heck, whom am I kidding?  I am a practicing iPhone junkie when it comes to FB, checking my email, talking to my DWLZ friends, and now, posting TripAdvisor reviews.

But I see the internet as more than that.  It is a way to communicate with friends, long lost relatives, former students, plus it is a way to keep up on the news.  Quickly.

However, the tip  from Chapter 10 is one of importance.  I have made it a personal policy to only add positive comments and fun pictures onto my FB page.  I like to 'check-in' from different places, just to see the comments, who might be in the area, and who might have a recommendation on a place to eat or something to see while we are there.  For instance, if I hadn't 'checked in' from Graceland, Tina Denton Reinhold wouldn't have met us for dinner that evening.  I like sharing pictures of Landon, Tessa, and Cooper, and I will be overjoyed when I can include Owen in that group also (for a variety of reasons - the best being that his adoption into the family will be FINAL!).    Many of my FB friends have shared with me that they really enjoy my posts because they like the positivity, the pictures of the kids, and now, how much Gary and I are enjoying my retirement.

One of my pet peeves about FB is that many people trash, bash, and hash in their posts.  Sometimes the comments have veiled meanings, leaving the reader to scratch her head and think "Now what does THAT mean?  Something must be going on...."  Other times the reader will cringe and think 'Oh my...that was bad. I don't think this is the place for that conversation.'    Then we get into the people (maybe called 'trolls') that do nothing except bash and trash on posts.  Fortunately none of my friends have done that to any of  MY posts, and if they ever do, I will 'unfriend' them quickly.  I don't use FB for controversy.

I have to think, though, that the tip from Chapter 10 goes beyond social media.  A focus can be in emails (and how much have we been hearing about missing emails lately?) and anything else that might be posted in a blog or on Twitter or Instagram or whatever else is out there.  As much as I enjoyed teaching at Ivy Tech, during the last year I was hearing more and more about not putting things into writing.  More phone calls were being made about sensitive issues, and often we would hear 'just call me about it, don't put it in an email' to avoid any proof of the communication popping up later.  My first thought was 'what are we hiding' but then, think about the communication scenarios today.  Emails everywhere, pictures popping up on sites, hacking into accounts.  It is scary.

Back to the tip.  Another bold print tip appeared within this one, one that sticks with me as well.
"Don't let today's reaction because tomorrow's regret."  Grandma always told me that if I were upset about something or someone, then sit down and write it out.  Get out all of the frustrations and anger on paper.  Sit there and let the feelings flow.  Then wad up the paper and throw it in the fire.  Burn it.  Tear it into shreds.  Never let anyone else see it.

Grandma had a good idea.  Think about it.  "Don't hash, bash, or trash on the Internet." Once the 'enter' or 'submit' button is clicked, it is out there.  Maybe we should go back to the old 'pencil and paper' method OR pound the computer keys into a word document, then highlight the text and DELETE!  Might be a better idea.