It's been a little over five months since I last posted and a lot has changed since. I won't elaborate more on that just yet. Time is essence, and now is not the right time. Let's move on to more important things.
An issue that was brought up during our IMPACT Leadership Team meeting this morning stroke a chord within me. Basically, it was an issue that involved social networks.
In the fast-paced world today where everyone tweets (or posts on Facebook) about everything with a snap of a finger, sometimes it is easy to bypass several chords in our hearts before we post a statement, just because that was how we felt at the time.We fail to consider the feelings of people who may read the things we say. It is very convenient to comment on certain things very quickly based on previous tweets, I know this coming from personal experience.
A fellow friend brought up a good point. Especially to Twitter users, whenever we tweet something that may sound like a general sentiment, most of the time it may be intended for a specific person or group of people, since Twitter is only as public as we allow it to be. Things online have become so personal to us that people today are pretty much using it as face-to-face communication. Every little thing you say is and will be scrutinized whether or not you intended for anyone to interpret it in their context. In fact, I think social networking is making us more self-conscious about how people perceive us. We really need to be sensitive towards the feelings of others who may be hurt because of indirect statements made online.
I'm not saying that is it a bad thing for others to be sensitive or self-conscious. We're human beings and it is perfectly normal to feel offended when something that was said could be applied towards us. But sometimes, we shouldn't be too sensitive and take things to heart so easily as well. Whatever you read that you feel could be directed towards you, take it as a lesson to help you become wiser and more mature by observing the way you respond to it. Or, you could also choose to confront him or her personally and settle your issues ONLY if you are absolutely certain that you are the 'victim' in the situation. Never respond with another indirect statement online just to get back at the person. Remember, an eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind!
So, lesson to be learned: Firstly, be sensitive towards others but don't be too sensitive about what others say about you. Nobody is perfect, so you don't have to constantly be concerned about being less of a person than another. Secondly, I don't believe in freedom of speech unless you plan to be a walking parrot who says what is on your mind without filter. Freedom of speech comes with a price, and sometimes that price could be friendships and relationships. You can say that being straightforward about certain things is just for the other's own good, fair enough. But there is always a way to sound less judgemental. Finally, stop posting everything that's on your mind on Facebook or Twitter, or anywhere online. Sometimes, it is good to keep things to yourself. If you need to let it out, tell someone verbally face-to-face.
With all that being said, everything applies to me too.I'm not typing this as a lecture but as a self-reminder. Let's go back to face-to-face communication and become human again, shall we?
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