I am continuing with the topic of social rules again in this, my third article on the subject.
Sadly, in the online arena of the Facebook Warrior, many people don’t care much about how they act or how they are perceived until their preacher, a prospective employer or a law enforcement agency looks at their Facebook page.
Name-calling is the currency of the online gladiators I see on Facebook. Names such as Communist! Baby Killer! Libtard! On the other side is Trumpster, Republicant, et cetera. It is all in a day on Facebook.
The company does not effectively manage user behavior; it is all about eyeballs for its advertisers and money. I frequently block individuals who direct their name-calling at me. I might unblock them after a period of respite or after the upcoming presidential election when or if our country’s temperature cools a bit.
Treat everyone with respect
How you treat others, positively or negatively, is being observed by those around you. Regardless of the other person’s social status, treating the company president and janitor equally would be best.
I have learned in organizations that you don’t know the relationships people have with others within the organization or the community. There is a formal chain of command in organizations, and there is also an informal structure. The same is true in communities.
I was raised in the farm community of McAlpin, Florida. I did not realize the deep interconnections between people until I became involved with genealogy twenty years ago.
When you make an enemy of one person, you may make an enemy of a whole group without realizing the severity of your mistake. We must never forget that there is no such thing as a small enemy.
When spoken to, avoid looking elsewhere
If someone speaks directly to you, staring at your phone is rude. George H.W. Bush had a poorly regarded moment during the 1992 presidential debate when he looked at his watch when he was called on to speak.
When I taught Small Business Management and other business courses, as an introductory icebreaker exercise, I would review my thoughts and experiences of what made a good and bad handshake.
Then, the students would stand and walk around, introduce themselves, and comment on each other’s handshakes. When shaking someone’s hand, I stressed that one should be confident enough to look squarely at them and not look away.
If you have ever had someone shake your hand while looking over the horizon, you can tell that you are not held in high esteem and might be taken for granted by the other person.
Be careful about offering advice
Be careful about giving unsolicited advice when you have not been asked your opinion. This is especially true regarding subjects where emotions are involved.
If someone asks you questions regarding their spouse or significant other, I recommend you politely avoid answering them, as your remarks might backfire on you. This seems like an ideal time to answer a question with a question that doesn’t intrude or reveal your thoughts or opinions.
I was a military police officer while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. I was warned that a fighting couple can very quickly turn their anger at the law enforcement officer, so great caution is required when dealing with domestic violence issues.
Commenting on politics, age, and salary are all landmines
Other social rules include not discussing another person’s age, salary, politics, etc., unless they open the door. It would be best to be cautious about advising unless you have a close relationship with that person, or the other person asks.
Even when someone asks, recall that famous outburst by Jack Nicholson’s line in “A Few Good Men,” playing Colonel Jessup’s character on the witness stand, bellowing, “You can’t handle the truth!”
Colonel Jessup might have been right. The truth can hurt, and as an observer of many Facebook Warriors and Tyrants and regretfully playing the part myself on occasion, I know this firsthand.
I also see many people using that electronic resource who have never developed critical thinking skills. They are in lockstep with the latest meme they read, passing it on in a seemingly never-ending cycle of nonsensical blather.
Our country is deeply divided, and I blame it on the media hyping one side or the other. I dare not say which side I fault out of fear of flying brickbats and scorching scorn.
You must be careful in revealing your truth because it may be too uncomfortable for others to bear.
Candidly, it would be best to mind your own business unless you are directly involved. When intruding into the affairs of others, you don’t know where the landmines are until one blows up.
Source: Facebook, username, “Story rewind,” https://www.facebook.com/share/p/EPnS2bE9Q7T5rPwt/?mibextid=WC7FNe