I am all for social media obviously but when connecting to old “friends” through Facebook, why do the assumptions begin? Many have not been in face to face or phone to phone contact in over 14 years and they assume and act as if they still know you.
They speak aka type toward you versus speaking to have a nice conversation and learning about what you do, your life, and your family. Is that what connecting is to old friends and acquaintances mean in social media? Live in the past and assume you know the person without even taking into consideration the past 15 years of their life? Even the past 5 years or 1 year of an individual’s life!
Seriously, there are many people’s life’s who have not changed either because they do not like change, are content where they are socially and financially, or don’t see a reason to venture out into unfamiliar territory. BUT just because these “old friends” aren’t does not mean you have the right to assume my life and my inner being hasn’t changed.
All you need to do is type in my name or our company name into a search engine and you WILL see how my life has changed for the better. You will see what doors have been opened as well as the person I have become.
When being involved in Social Media, there are certain items we choose to share and put out into the public view and other parts of our lives we don’t. Some social media dominators do share every item with their followers while others keep a low profile. Social Media plays a strong part of any SEO/SEM campaign and acceptance and open mindedness is suggested.
Has social media caused assumptions in your world from your “BI” (Before Internet) life?
Do you only share parts of your life while keeping other parts out of the public social media eye?
How do you handle the assuming people of your past life?
I run into this on many levels. First there’s the high school friends who associate me with the rest of my family (that I’m pretty far removed from at this point), then there’s the rowdy party crowd in the local music scene, and finally the conservative professional crowd from my before-self-employed days. All have their assumptions and even judgments about who I am and what I do. It’s frustrating to face and makes it difficult to continue nurturing these “friendships”. At the end of the day I usually sit back, do my best to be accessible and transparent, and those that don’t like what I put forth, can move along. I’m blessed to have a few people in my life who see and accept all sides of me and celebrate my success.
I believe that everyone assumes you have changed as much as they have. Some not as much, some 180˚. We may have a memory of you from 14 years ago, but we equate it with the person we were 14 years ago as well. I don’t assume anyone I’ve come back into contact with as unchanged. I just remember them as they were before, but I know they have moved forward in their life and I want to know all about it, which is why I probably contacted them. If I didn’t want to know, I would’ve left that memory intact.
As for social media etiquette, share only what you would like your mother to know. :O)
Shauna and Ophelia,
WOW! Thank you for sharing your experiences! It is something I never thought about till recently and wanted to see if what others have experienced in their social media lives.
Hi Lisa, I’m a new reader and like your content and style.
I agree with your sentiments here, but I believe that the good outweighs the bad. I’ll put up with those who make incorrect assumptions and some rudeness, for the benefit of sometimes restarting an old friendship, or becoming better friend with an interesting person, who was only an acquaintance.
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