To be Young and Naive vs. Old and Cynical

A repeat of an older blog post. This was from back in the day that I thought I could save everyone from the dangers of social media. How silly was that? I have learned my lesson. There are just some who cannot be saved.

I don't think much as changed since this was originally published. Have you ever tried to "save" someone from a social media mistake? What happened?
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A recent exchange from Facebook:

MY FACEBOOK FRIEND: Why does everyone at work feel the need to pick on me & be on my case today? For some reason when everyone in this office is having a bad day, I'm there punching bag! I can't stand that! I want to say something back, and I do, just not exactly what I'd LIKE to say! Oh well...I think this office would be better if it d...idn't have SO MANY bosses LOL!

MY FACEBOOK FRIEND: Just have to pray for them and me to LOL! "Lord Keep Your Arm Around My Shoulder & Your Hand Over My MOUTH!"

HER FRIEND: Just put some Super Colon Blow powder in the office coffee creamer container and I bet noone will pick on you for the rest of the day unless they need a couple...hundred....imodium.

MY FACEBOOK FRIEND: LOL!!! : ) Or I could be nice and make them some Special " Ex-Lax" Brownies! Nah I couldn't do it.....

ME: You do realize that your co-workers can read Facebook don't you?

MY FACEBOOK FRIEND: NOPE they none of them are my friends! And I have my FB security set to were not just any body can read my status unless you are my friends so no worries!


MY FACEBOOK FRIEND: *ok leave out the they*


HER FRIEND: Meh, even if they did- what you say online are your own opinions and its within your own personal space/your life. If they do somehow read it, maybe they will take it as constructive criticism and leave you alone.

ME: I am assuming that (my Facebook friend) is using her work computer to access FB. I'm just saying.....

MY FACEBOOK FRIEND: Actually right now I'm using (husband)'s lap top, but reguardless if they want to get that technical at work then 95% of the people who work at (employer) is in trouble LOL! I've had lots of fun reading there crap that they don't know that I can read! Older people @ work don't know how to use there security settings LOL!!!
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Ahhh...to be young and naive again. Just call me old and cynical.
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Young and naive view:
It's Facebook and I have my security settings pretty tight where, unless you are my "friend," you cannot see what I write.


Old and cynical view:
It's Facebook and even though I have my security settings pretty tight, I don't trust them so I assume that anything I write can be seen by anyone. I also know of the existence of keyloggers and savvy IT departments.


Young and naive view:
They are my opinions and I cannot be held accountable for them as it is my right to have an opinion.


Old and cynical view:
Opinions and civil rights are a privilege. However, what you say in the workplace utilizing your employer's computer might limit your civil rights. Please check your employee handbook.


As an old and cynical person, I don't even know how to respond to the friend's idea that the employer would take it as constructive criticism.


As a side note, I found the code of ethics for this company on their website. Excerpt below:


Employees shall not use the Company’s ... property for purposes other than those related to Company business. Employees are prohibited from the unauthorized use ... of the Company’s equipment, supplies, software, data, intellectual property, materials or products. Prior to engaging in any activity on the Company’s time which will result in ... the use of Company equipment, supplies, materials or services for personal or non-work related purposes, employees must obtain the approval of their supervisor.


Young and naive view:
While I used the company's computer to make the original post, I am now using my husband's laptop so everything is null and void. Whatever. Everybody does it so I can too, regardless of the company policy. What are they going to do? Fire 95% of the company at one time?

Old and cynical view:
I am going to channel my mom now. Please note that she is older than me. "So what if everyone jumped off the bridge, it doesn't mean you have to."


Of course they are not going to fire 95% of the company at once. What they will do is pick a few employees who will be fired to make examples out of. There will be a myriad of other "charges" against them that will get them fired. Following the firing(s), the company will announce their new social media policy. Both large and small businesses are being urged by their legal council to develop these policies.

Young and naive view:
Old people are stupid. They don't know how computers work. I'm so smart that I am in their business and they don't even know it.


Old and cynical view:
I am not as dumb as you think I am. LOL!! LOL!! LOL!!

New Twitter App: Bufferapp.com - UPDATED

I recently blogged about my new BFF and now that we have been together for a month, I thought I would update you on how things are going.

I'm still in love. I was at a conference on Thursday where the topic was social media. I was singing bufferapp's praises up and down the hallway -- even in the restroom during a break -- where I had a fairly large crowd. My apologies to all of the women who were trying to get to the sink but we had SERIOUS business to discuss. :-)

My presence on Twitter has increased just over 30% in my first month and I cannot wait to see what the second month brings. Oh, I've lost a few here and there but the number of new followers has offset that easily.

I have used HootSuite for a long time and will continue to do so to reach my Facebook, LinkedIn and other accounts. The ease of bufferapp to schedule tweets is what sucked me in. In the words of Ron Popeil, "Set it and forget it."

Do you have a favorite app that makes your social media efforts effortless?

How to Keep Up With it All

I'm feeling just a little overwhelmed at the moment. There is so much technology being thrown at us on a daily basis that I cannot seem to ever get caught up. It seems that just as I grasp the concept of one little small piece of the pie, someone cuts another piece which throws everything off balance.

Some things that I do to try to keep up:

Read White Papers/Articles: Print or put them on an iPad or tablet so that I can read them in my downtime (not that I really have any of that). Now that I have access to a tablet, I will probably stop printing and killing trees but I still find it useful to have that piece of paper and a yellow highlighter.

Tech Sites: I follow a lot of techies on Facebook and Twitter. Let them keep up with it. I just want to be the sponge to absorb their knowledge.

Weed Out the Static: Figure out what's important to me, my business and my clients' businesses. I'm sure it's important but is it important right now? I saw an article this morning on mistakes that small businesses make when designing their websites. I have at least four clients who are working on their websites right now! They needed that information, not information on something new with Google Adwords -- at least not right now.

What are ways you utilize to keep up with this ever-changing techno world we live in today?