Dear emotionally unstable me in the future,
by amandakeee
(Photo source: http://dearesttrizha.tumblr.com/)
Dear emotionally unstable me in the future,
I am writing this letter to you to remind and warn you, that the internet is a tricky place, don’t be rash! You think it is a safe place for self expression, but let me tell you, everything you do or say on the internet can be used against you.
I know that people are constantly finding opportunities to “shine” on the internet, to say something without thinking of the consequences, and only focus on “how many likes will this photo get?” or “will this hit 100 retweets?”.
One of the risky conundrums is the grey line between freedom of speech and abuse (The guardian, 2014). People often see the internet as a value-free zone (Barun Roy, 2009) and proceed on to write whatever their heart desires. It is in human nature to act rashly when they are emotionally unstable, sprawling their anger and sadness all over social media. It doesn’t get any easier when we are the generation that practically lives on these social media platforms.
In a book by Barun Roy, he talked about the application of off-line laws to the on-line world. It does not mean that now, with our physical bodies hidden away behind a screen, we can do and behave however we like. We do not invent a new set of values for the internet (Barun Roy, 2009) but we bring respect and ethical behaviors along with us.
(Photo source: http://www.amazon.com/Enter-World-Mass-Media-Barun/dp/812231080X)
In the heat of the moment, you may find expressing your anger or disgust online, an “acceptable” thing to do. After all, you’re just venting your anger right? Well, let me show you how just a simple click of the button can rob you away of your job and cause you humiliation around the world.
(Photo source: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/news/a44370/womans-facebook-post-goes-viral-after-she-slams-grocery-checkers-obnoxious-period-jokes/)
Karen Fitzgibbons, a fourth-grade teacher, made a racist comment on her Facebook account about an event. The insensitivity of her remarks and letting her emotions get the best of her, caused her to lose her job as an educator and made her infamous around the world. No company would want to be associated with someone who behaves like that, especially a school where kids look up to you.
On her post, she wrote:
(Photo source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/11/racist-teacher-mckinney-party_n_7563568.html)
Her response:
(Photo source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/11/racist-teacher-mckinney-party_n_7563568.html)
I end this letter by saying, you are not only representing yourself when you are online, but the company you are working for. Whatever is said on the internet, literally, stays on the internet, forever. So when you are emotionally unstable or having a bad day at work, stay away from the internet… and sharp objects.
Love,
Present you.
References:
(2014, January 24). Retrieved November 7, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/24/twitter-abuse-abusive-tweets-editorial?CMP=twt_gu
Roy, B. (2009). Enter the world of mass media: Print media, television, internet, radio. Delhi: Pustak Mahal.
Klein, R. (2015, June 11). Texas Teacher Fired After Disturbingly Racist Post In Response To Pool Party Incident. Retrieved November 9, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/11/racist-teacher-mckinney-party_n_7563568.html
Anwar, M. (n.d.). Bustle. Retrieved November 9, 2015, from http://www.bustle.com/articles/107169-teenagers-literally-dont-think-before-they-post-on-social-media-says-science-so-now-we-can
Evelina lim. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2015, from https://evelinalim.wordpress.com/
Enter the World of Mass Media Paperback – January 30, 2010. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2015, from http://www.amazon.com/Enter-World-Mass-Media-Barun/dp/812231080X
Can you find me? (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2015, from http://dearesttrizha.tumblr.com/
Woman’s Facebook Post Goes Viral After She Slams Grocery Checker’s Obnoxious Period Joke. (2015, August 6). Retrieved November 9, 2015, from http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/news/a44370/womans-facebook-post-goes-viral-after-she-slams-grocery-checkers-obnoxious-period-jokes/
Amanda's 
Hi Amanda!
I love the way you structure your post as a diary post to yourself. It’s a pity that nowadays that only a small percentage of people use a physical book to pen their thought right? And now most of us use internet as our personal diary.
Your point on freedom of speech on the internet, it’s very interesting and let me wonder if we are being too comfortable announcing our thoughts and emotions in the internet. After reading your example of Karen Fitzgibbons, I went to research on other cases and found out that universities in US also checks on their student’s social media accounts before accepting them into the school (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/business/they-loved-your-gpa-then-they-saw-your-tweets.html?_r=0).
I feel that just because of one inappropriate post it follow us throughout our lives, isn’t it unfair? And even if we have a separate account, sometimes our ‘friends’ might just expose your post by sharing it with others just so they can ‘shine’. Freedom of speech on internet, can be a tricky thing, but to avoid all the consequences we must be selective to those people who can view our personal post. Or maybe we can just resort to the old fashion way and just pen down our thoughts in a diary. That will solve a lot of problem wouldn’t it?
Really enjoy your post and Happy Deepavali! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Jue Yin! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post! I’m happy you enjoyed it and found some points interesting (-:
I think it is a very good habit for companies and schools to do checks on their employees and students before accepting them. I have mentioned in my comments to Stephanie and Yi Shin that we have to remember that the company and school are taking in people who are representing them and with the different actions that they do whether online or offline, reflects on the kind of upbringing and strict policies the company or school have on them. It actually doesn’t just apply for work terms but in general as well. For example, it is the same case when, us as children, go out and behave a certain way. The way we speak and act reflects how our parents brought us up, don’t you think so? So i guess it is important we think of the people around us before taking any actions.
Also, i agree on what you say about our friends being able to share our posts to other people, its a vicious circle. We have a 100 friends, and our friends have another hundred friends and soon, the whole world knows about what you said online.
Yeah, so maybe, old really is gold (-:
Have a great week ahead!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Amanda!
Your post stood out to me as well because with was angled as a letter format instead of the typical reporting style! I found that super cool and interesting. 🙂
I like how you outlined about the freedom of expression as an ethical concern, and how there is a fine line between freedom of speech and just bashing someone online. This is similar to what i talked about in my own blog post, but I wrote from the perspective of the customer and organisational relationship.
Your research taken from Barun Boy provided support for something that I also feel strongly for and covered in my previous posts – that the morals which lead to online behaviour should be parallel to offline behaviour. It’s really important to act appropriately online as the people online are still people and have feelings too!
I was wondering if you had an experience when you posted something nasty or insensitive online and later regretted? Did you delete the post or just left it there to create impact towards people reading it?
Thanks~
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Nicole!
Wow, thats really flattering, thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I really think it is scary how the line is so thin and most of the time, people only notice they have gone out of line or said something offensive only after they have posted it! The same can be said about the example i gave on Karen Fitzgibbons where she later posted an apology stating that she allowed her emotions get the better of her. Well the damage has already been done so she should have thought twice before being racist.
I read your post on topic 4 and your last paragraph mentioned the fine line between complaints and offensive remarks. I agree! Sometimes it is really the tone and language that some people choose to use in the heat of the moment and only regret after they have cooled down.
I have never experienced a situation like that and hope that i will never have too! Have you? Maybe you would like to share (-:
Hope to hear from you soon!
Amanda
LikeLike
[…] Amanda’s post, she talked about freedom of speech of how we should be aware of what we post and how it might […]
LikeLike
[…] post that particularly stood out to me was Amanda’s as she presented her post in a letter form, to her future self. She shared how the internet was not […]
LikeLike
Hello Amanda,
I felt like I just read a page of a storybook, your writing style was so unique for this topic.
I agree that most people behave recklessly when they are emotionally unstable. When their emotions overwhelm them, they find a need to vent their frustrations via an outlet which is usually open to “invisible” readers or followers. Teachers as you mentioned, have their own set of emotions and work related stress, strikingly similar to most employees I talked about in my Topic 4 post. When they are unable to suppress the rage in them, they behave recklessly to relinquish the dissatisfaction they have in them.
However, this does not apply only to teachers, students and even parents actually post nasty comments about their children’s teachers. Both students and parents have left abusive remarks about teachers as well. http://www.zdnet.com/article/students-suspended-expelled-over-facebook-posts/ & http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1346229/Parents-use-Facebook-abuse-teachers-NAHT-issue-guidelines-combat-online-bullying.html
But I believe teachers as well as employees have to act in line with the school and company rules and regulations when using social media platforms. They represent the respective organizations and they have to reason to uphold the reputation of them. What if you came across such a teacher in the future? Would you choose to close an eye and assume he/she had a bad day or call them out for their remarks? Let me know!
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Stephanie!
How nice of you to take time off to read my blog post (-: And thank you so much for the compliment, i had a great time reading what you had to say on ethical issues on your post as well!
I really like how you used “invisible” readers. This really explains “digital residents” that are not active in building their online personas (like you mentioned in your first post). We don’t exactly know who views and reads our content which is an even more important reason why we have to watch what we say online.
Thank you for sharing those links! Isn’t it horrible to see how people are taking advantage of the quickness of social media to get their point and arguments across? It makes us not think through our thoughts before putting them into action. For example, when something interesting happens to me when i am on the bus, nothing is stopping me from whipping out my phone to tweet about it instantly! In a manner of seconds, whatever happened on the bus is known to the world.
It boils down to our character offline. How we behave online reflects how we are as people offline and maybe the first step is to alter how we respond to different situations in person. If i were put into that situation with a teacher like that, i would not confront her online but offline. Face to face is always better and this reduces the possibility of miscommunications (-:
Amanda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Amanda!
Thank you for the insightful post. I have enjoyed reading your post thoroughly as you wrote it in your perspective!
Your post has provided a different ethical issue that was not addressed by me and it has helped me develop further understanding on other ethical issues that social media has posed.
What i was curious in asking was have you encountered any of your own close friends/family posting insensitive remarks online? If so, how did you deal with it?
With so much on the line (e.g. your job) when posting a status online with fear of repercussions, maybe people should exercise more sensitivity when posting their thoughts/opinions online and definitely not in the heat of a moment! Any tips on how that can be done? 🙂
Cheers!
Nicole
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Nicole!
Thank you for reading and i am glad i could share my views from my perspective and hopefully it has given you some great insights (-:
I have not encountered a situation like that before but if i were to in the future, i think the best way is to confront him/her in person. Chances of miscommunication is reduced when we talk things out in person and we can also study the person’s reaction and expressions which will give us a good idea of how we should respond. What about you?
Well, my advice is nothing fancy but to just think before you post. Like in an article i read a few weeks back, we should have the habit to think long-term, for example, whether this post will be any harm to me when i apply for a job. These steps are easily done but no many people will pause and think before posting every tweet or facebook status, which leads to countless difficulties and problems faced. Do you have any tips? (-:
Amanda
LikeLike