How do you use Social Media / Forums?

[Neo]

With the recent article about some lady from Ericsson South Africa losing her job because she posted a racist remark on Facebook, it has again highlighted to me that a person's online personality and the use of social media networks tend to be too blurred and people lose track of reality.

On my Facebook account, I have a grand total of about 17 friends. No one on my Facebook account is linked to my employer. So what that means is that there are loads of friends whom I'd like to add, but simply cannot because I don't want my personal life linked to my employer in any way. I also don't have any private information on my profile, which is why Facebook has a hernia each time I log in, asking for more private details about my life that I refuse to divulge.

Twitter is the same. I don't use a photo of myself as a twitter image, and I don't have any personal details linked to my account, other than an e-mail address.

I always try to post interesting or humorous things on my twitter handle. The same goes with Facebook. Although I do post slightly more personal things on Facebook, I'm still careful about what I say. Unfortunately I'm not always as careful as I should be, and I'm just lucky to have not landed myself into trouble for things I've said in the past.

That's especially true for online forums. I've spoken my mind a lot on online forums such as this one, and it always manages to enrage someone or offend others. After all, you're not going to be everyone's friend all the time. But I do find that people have no issues in saying things online that they would never ever say, at least so bluntly, in person. Many of you probably think I'm a troll, someone who stirs trouble and who openly insults people whenever I can. When in reality, I'm the guy who'll give you space in a long queue, or help you clean up your house after dinner, when everyone else has gone home.

And that's the problem with online forums and social media. We come across as people who we are not. Sure, everyone knows my views on religion, sexuality and my feelings over South Africa as a country. But because I've made those views known over a medium which has no proper character judgement, I'm labelled as just another troll.

Unfortunately these snap judgements have real-world repercussions lately. People are losing their jobs left, right and centre because they posted something which offended someone or something. Yesterday it was Twitter, and today it's Facebook that got someone fired. What if tomorrow people start looking at forums like this and decide to take action against the person behind the keyboard and screen?

I think it's time people seriously re-think the way they use social media and online forums. Live by the keyboard, die by the keyboard.

Do you use social media and online forums responsible?

[brendanvb]

I have both a Facebook and Twitter account but very seldom post anything other than "Happy Birthday!" type things. I far more enjoy reading the nonsense and attention-seeking things my friends post about their own lives . I would just feel too weird to post what I'm eating or what really hurt me today etc for all the world to see. I don't understand the appeal but to each his own.

Forums such as this one I am fairly honest and don't feel I say anything I wouldn't be willing to say in real life to people. We all have ours views and opinions. I also have a very good relationship with my employer who knows almost as much about my personal life as my friends so I'm not concerned about that angle of things.

I do agree it's easier to judge a person from what they've said online compared to them actually saying it to you, when you can take in their tone of voice, facial expression and posture etc. Something may sound aggressive or insulting online when in actual fact had they said it to your face you would not feel that way.

[Edelweiss]

I used to be on Facebook. Now off facebook.. much more clarity in my life without it. Although, I do miss the constant news updates/information on local places and things that I liked. People? not so much. They're more annoying than anything else.

I kinda have a depraved and sick sense of humour which means when you're on facebook is very volatile.

Forums are a step down from social media as I tend to say what I want with no social repercussions but not as expressive as social media.

Online game chats are free game.

[Tsar]

I just use it to keep in touch with some friends. Don't really post anything.

[Dohc-WP]

Social networks i barely make use of even though i have twitter, google + facebook, instagram,

i've had a facebook account since the early days of facebook and even from those times late 2006 i havent posted alot (i dont see a reason to post every single thing that is happening in my life) , most of my fb friends are my high school and tertiary friends.if I post once a month on any of them then i consider that alot. i dont have any work colleagues on fbook as i dont see a reason for them to also dabble in my personal life.

I have started using pinterest recently and i use it alot as there's quite a few neat ideas you can see and try to copy.


forums i use alot, normally split my time between mygaming, the audi forums and mad mechanics, if im really busy at work then i try not to let the forums interfere with my work.

[Neo]

What I've found strange is that Facebook has actually made friends lazier than ever. I've made a point of removing my birthday date from Facebook because that way, only my actual friends will congratulate me on my birthday. Facebook has also caused friends to stop calling to hear how it's going, because it's so easy to open an app and read about it in 2 seconds. But you completely lose touch with the actual person on the other side.

And have you seen the reaction when you remove someone as a friend on Facebook? It's like you've walked over to their house and kicked their cat!

I'm with you guys. Creating a much larger distance between yourself and social media is definitely the way to go. The only reason why I'm still on Facebook is to stay in touch with my dad who is overseas. If it wasn't for that, I'd be off it in a heartbeat.

[MetalSoup]

I use Facebook and Twitter to log into other sites easily, and to enter competitions. That's about it.

[to0kenZA]

Wow, this is actually the first post you have ever made that didn't instantly give me the urge to think that you are just a troll.

For me personally, I enjoy my privacy just as any other person. During the day at work, I will chat on forums, Facebook, Whatsapp etc and post humorous stuff and read interesting articles in social media, which I find to be enriching. But after hours, I don't always like to be reachable, to which I can easily respond by just muting my phone and putting it aside and doing my own thing.

In that breath, I really don't mind being linked to work colleagues or even bosses on social media because I'm one of those people that like to call a spade a spade, and although I make use of diplomacy more often than not, I will speak my mind if I feel the need, am pretty transparent and one of those "what you see is what you get" kinda people, so I have nothing to hide from my friends, family or employers, thus I don't mind being connected to these people on my social media .. um.. channels?

Come to think of it, I don't really post personal stuff on Facebook, save for photos and memories I would like to share with my family and friends, but there's really a place where you draw a line in the sand when it concerns real personal issues that no one else needs to be made aware of and that's where a lot of people lose the plot with social media. Sure of it all of you know where that goes...

What it comes down to is to use these platforms to your discretion, take what you want from it, but don't let it rule your life or cloud your judgement. Interaction with people in person is a lot different than conversations online, obviously, but as humans, we do get used to this online interaction over time and it does tend to sometimes blur the lines for us. As long you realize this and keep the balance, social media is actually a very useful and enjoyable connection between people and the things they do.

[Solitude]

I use Facebook and twitter and all kinds of forums and I have nothing to hide. My employer can look at what I write and future employers can look at what I write and everything will be fine.

I'm the same in real life as on the internet so sharing stuff isn't a problem for me. Except if they dislike my music taste but then I won't want to work for someone who discriminates against a music taste.

In my opinion if someone is a jerk on the internet then that person is a jerk in real life. If you write things that you are ashamed of or that puts you in a bad light or if you have to take care to not write things like that then there's obviously something wrong.

Be yourself. If yourself isn't good enough to show to the world then you may have to do some introspection.

[Neo]

Yes, always be yourself. But only if you conform to what's social acceptable at that point in time and are willing to drop your values or moral convictions at any given moment. Or at least, that's what I've learned from online forums.

I can honestly say that I'm a very direct person as well and I don't work with hidden agendas. However, I can assure you that I am perceived differently in real life.

Online personalities are only effective if you're a very diplomatic, neutral kind of person. The minute personal opinions and beliefs come into play, the online environment becomes very volatile and really isn't the best kind of place to express yourself.

For instance, that lady from Ericsson got fired because she made a remark about a taxi driver. Now chaps, I don't condone what she posted on a public space (that was daft for sure). But if someone had to record all the things I've said in my car to taxi's and other morons on the road, I'd be shot at dawn! lol