Privacy RIP

Folks consistently complain about not having privacy due to social media.  But what they don't realize or won't accept is the simple fact that no one will know what you don't tell.  Let that marinate for a moment.

It seems that we've become so accustomed to posting every tidbit online -- checking in at restaurants, events and other venues, sharing pics of us with friends or our meals, our opinion about a movie or show, and so on and so on -- that we've actually decided that when someone disagrees they are being negative.  Um...no. They are actually just disagreeing.  It's gotten so bad that folks request as they post "no negative comments."  Guess what...you can't control what people say.  Well, that's not all the way true.  You can always delete comments that you don't like.  But you can't otherwise control how people will respond to what you've posted, even with your request.  It's laughable to even think so. And even if we can control what's posted on our page, what is being said behind our backs on other pages, in groups and posts elsewhere, in emails and text messages?  Way too much to worry about. We may say that what others think about me isn't my business but if we really feel that way we wouldn't care about negative comments.  Such a conundrum.

Instead of attempting to censor those who may respond, why don't we censor ourselves?  No reason to post something that may elicit negative responses in the first place.  It's obvious that nothing is private any more.  Screenshots are a great example of what can never be sent.  Information posted on other sites can be copied and pasted and shared with others too.  So the only way to totally ensure privacy, and the absence of responses that hurt our feelings, is to not tell our business.

Now I for one enjoy posting via social media.  But I do understand that some things can't be shared.  I daresay we should all take a breather prior to hitting send.  Think twice, three times even.  Then and only then, if you really and truly aren't concerned with the backlash, say it with your chest!  Just realize that I may see it somewhere and I will have something to say and you may just find it to be negative.  Ah well...the pen never rests!