Today we live in an age where, at the click of a button, we can send our thoughts out for the entire world to see. Within a few seconds we can place up a status, a tweet, a comment, a collection of words somewhere on the internet. People who don’t even know you can see what you’re having for dinner, what you’re doing for the weekend, your political views, your bored ramblings and everything inbetween and beyond. But that HTML box is capable of holding a lot more than a status update.
Everything you say has the potential to build someone up or tear them down. Obviously there’s little harm in putting up your recommended restaurant or talking about a favorite book…but what about your long rant about your child’s teacher? Or how about a soapbox on the president or former president?
Now, you may say, “Well its my way to vent.” or “the people on my friend’s list get me and understand.”
But do you know how much that status can affect someone? Especially when, in this age of digital extroversion, it seems more and more negativity is at every place you turn. There may be many of you who have only your close friends and family on your social networking sites that understand your tone, your use of jargon, and what you’re trying to convey. But to us photographers? We have clients on our social networking sites. And in addition to current and past clients we have potential clients. If we are constantly spewing out every pet peeve and frustration from our mobile phones or laptops, how do you think they’ll think about us handling their wedding, portrait session, or other event? Will you be tweeting about that one vendor? Or putting up a status on how you can’t wait for the reception to end? Will you be texting your friends on how you think your clients are less than desirable looking in your viewfinder? Now, you might find that thought absolutely horrid, that you’d never do such a thing. But that can be an impression you send with constant negativity. And you may not even be aware of it!
I understand we should be ourselves and not put up a false representation of who we are, but is negativity really a part of your personality? Your words have the power to effect someone’s day. What message are you sending?
Before you hit “enter” ask yourself: is this going to better someone’s life, be informative, be uplifting, or neutral?
The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being
can alter his life by altering his attitudes.
~William James
