Filters

I thought about writing about this subject today and then someone gave me a title. 

When writing publicly, on social media or in a setting like this you need to have your own filter.  There is nothing dumber than writing something online that will get you in trouble in your career or personal life.  It is amazing how bad some people are at having filters. 

You should never make a claim on social media that you can't back up.  Imagine you boasted to people that you are free for the day, but then when they contact you, you say that you have a lot going on.  You can put yourself in some sticky situations when you say too much and give up too much information.   

I auto-filter so much that I write.  I re-read things CONSTANTLY.  I re-read emails to make sure tone is right.  I try to get grammar right.  I try to get rid of any sentence or word that could be taken the wrong way.  I literally spend half an hour to an hour re-reading a lot of things I write. I did this today on social media.  Rather than expand on something, I just wrote a few words, because what I would have written could have at least given someone a bad first impression. No need for taking that chance now.

Some things slip through my auto-filter.  It happens from time to time, but I think and hope I am good at doing it. 

Another thing I would add

When you know information that others want to know, but you have it and aren't supposed to tell them you can be coy. 

I think there is an art to having a conversation, especially if you know information, and being able to tell someone nothing important, while making them think you are telling them something important.  If I know something, but know I shouldn't tell anyone, I will tell you, but will do so in a way that will be totally impossible for you to infer it, without me being able to claim that I didn't say anything as a defense.  It will be as confusing for you as that last sentence. 

Sometimes it is good to say nothing. Actually, that is in many times the best thing to do, unless you are put on the spot, or stand.

Most of the time when I post here, I am telling you what I really think.  I have nothing to hide, and have nothing really bad to say either. 

I do filter out subjects that I might want to talk about, but know I shouldn't.