NOTE TO SELF: Ask yourself these questions before tweeting. Would I say it in person to the person standing next to me? Would I have to whisper it for fear of it being overheard? Would I have to be drunk to say it? Would I have to be crazy irate to say it? Would I have to be a mean, hurtful jerk to say it?
More questions to ask myself, whether talking online or in person: Am I bragging? Am I hogging the conversation? Am I asking questions as well as answering them? Am I sensitive to interest level and appropriateness of what I am saying? Am I listening as well as being listened to? Am I having a conversation or giving a monologue?
I like twitter but it sure can be noisy, rude and dumb if you let it. Not much different than if you are at a cocktail party or other social gathering. You can have mindless chit chat, deep conversations about ideas, drunken rants about all sorts of conspiracies or just pleasant pleasantries with pleasant people. I should remember to practice being the person I want to be, no matter if what I am saying is for the birds or some other animal.
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily Quote by Chris Pirillo, blogger.
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Hi Marty- I love this daily reminder….I think its so important to remember the rules of kindness of politeness still apply in the social world. Too often we use communication technologies from e-mail to twitter as a buffer giving ourselves permission to say things we wouldn’t in person….but the online social world makes the world smaller. Thus, kindness and politeness is more important than ever!
I don’t get twitter. I am not saying it’s bad or anything I just don’t get it.
I am loving the new blog design Marty 🙂