Celeb (or non celeb), social media has altered many-a-person’s (true) personality, I must say (in their effort to be liked, or revered or seen as something-even that’s not truly who and how you really are past log off and the words you post).
I mean, really. What REALLY happens to a human psyche of a person that repeatedly is conditioned to say (or post) one thing but live or feel another? That’s dangerous to me-to self, and to society It has to affect the psyche after putting it into practice for so long-and to me, that is very unnatural.
Unnatural to me as well, is when it turns into a kind of act of communism-forcing people to withdraw a comment for saying what they feel…or else.
I’m TOTALLY against that-and it’s slowly quickly running rampant on the Internet (due to social media) now, more than ever-this forcing people to not express what they really feel and they dare not say because when they do, (especially celebrities) all hell breaks lose.
Social media culture has taken on this alienable right to think it’s okay to sanction or boycott somebody or force you into some public apology for expressing your thoughts (like what happened with singer Elton John v. designers Dolce and Gabbana for their opposing views regarding children conceived via “alternative” methods).
Intolerance (as well), is also a form of intolerance (believe it or not). It doesn’t just stop at an unpopular opinion versus a popular one.
An opposing view doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a hate crime, or that the person is a “negative” or bad person simply because they have an opposing view of the popular/majority. And scolding someone because they have an opposing view is no less intolerant, negative, or crime of hate than what you accuse them of (for having the opposing view)
When it comes to your employer however, in my opinion, if you take it upon yourself to stalk your employees (or “investigate” prospective ones); if their name is not on, or going out on your letterhead to be sent out for your business or brand, you do not have a right to feel any way about what they do off your clock on social media or otherwise (unless they in any way publicly admit to representing or working for your company or brand–on social media or anywhere else). Other than that-you’re busy, nosy, doing too much–and out of line for any sanctioning or scorn of any kind. Control yourself.
This is a new world order and you have to learn your professional v. social boundaries and make sure your treatment of your employees by your observation of what they do off your clock is commensurate with what their function is when they work for, or represent you. Like I said, if they do not represent you on letterhead, off the clock, or otherwise-what they do off the clock is their business-not your business (literally and literally).
Take for instance, ESPN reporter Britt McHenry-eating dinner April 5, in Arlington, Virginia where her car was towed.
She took it upon herself to tweet the “injustice”:
“Just got towed after eating dinner at an establishment in Arlington. How corrupt is Advanced Towing?” (since then, that tweet was deleted)
The video of the incident was apparently leaked, which shows McHenry berating and belittling the tow company worker about everything from her weight, her teeth, her intelligence, choice of occupation, and education-all while throwing it out their that she was “in the news” and should sue [sic].
Well obviously, with your name and credit card information in the company’s files, throwing it out there that she was in the news raised a yellow flag and she was obviously found.
Now, as a result of the content and remarks made in the video, the ESPN reporter “in the news” is now sidelined for a week as a result of such verbiage:
“Do you feel good about your job? So I can be a college dropout and do the same thing? Maybe if I was missing some teeth they would hire me, huh? I’m in television and you’re in a F$@# trailer, honey.”
“Lose some weight, baby girl.”
(The worker did threaten to release video of the altercation). Listen to it all:
https://youtu.be/tkxBTklqIcw
McHenry has since……………………….
*get out the violins
*sigh
…apologized, calling the altercation an “intense and stressful moment:”
Although I am not a fan of forcing people to retract what they said or felt when they said it-in this particular situation, she not only represented a public/media brand-she also tossed it out there on ego, so yes, by way of that same media brand (the company she worked for), she very well should have been suspended for her actions. As, her actions and the things she said were not representative of “the news” / ESPN’s brand.
BUT (on the flip side), if she felt the need to spew such nastiness by her own maverick (without mentioning her association) …that’s her business (not ESPN’s-even if they got a hold of the tape). And in my opinion-for a company, a social media group of people, or another other persons to jump on somebody and do anything outside of feel away (which you have a right to)-is wrong, and (to me) borders communism (when you take it so far as to threaten or take action on sanctioning them in any way for something they do or say by their own maverick–you are out of line).
But generally (and personally speaking) however, I have a thing-a motto about actions, apologies, and forgiveness and it’s goes like this:
Catch yourself in the thought or act before the deed-for, the best apology you can give is the one to yourself for controlling what you say or was going to do to me (pre-act), so that there is no forgiveness even needed.
Forgiving yourself for the both of us is the truest act of forgiveness that didn’t have to be given (then later we can laugh about what you thought about doing or saying but you loved and valued me too much to execute) That, in turn, means I can trust you around me, and especially not around me (which is where I need to trust you most).
