I feel we are not aware of something we do all the time that may bite us in the rear if you are not careful. What do you think it is?
We write comments on others peoples blogs. You have to remember that this is another written record of how you feel about certain situations. A written record of your personality. A written record of who you are.
Sooner or later a newspaper columnist or magazine may use the comments that we write as fodder for a news article.
SO WHO ARE YOU REALLY? If you are being rude, obnoxious, off in left field, or "not politically correct" this may come to the attention of a potential client. Now I'm not advocating not standing up or being controversial. Or not standing up for your beliefs, religious or otherwise. BUT.......
One example I'll use is a story I heard on Active Rain where a gay couple was emailed and attacked because of their life style. It was brought up publicly. Whether you believe in their right to live together or not is not the issue. Another story is about a guy who disliked Wal-Mart. The issue is your public profile. When profess your stand on certain issues, hostility toward a certain group or even a perceived perception of a certain race, or perceived class of people, or ethnic group it may lose you a client or a group of clients.
Let's say you don't like Obama's policies..... are you willing to lose all the Democrats in your area?
- or if you pound the bible all the time........are you willing to lose people who have different beliefs?
- if you don't like Wal-Mart...........are you willing to lose the people who shop there?
The bottom line is that some readers, columnists and writers are members. So members only posts are still open to the public. Your comments are being read by everybody and it is part of your public persona.
So who are you really?
PS. Besides reminding you that your comments or your perceived public attitude may show up in a newspaper. I had to poke fun at Lenn with this picture. Put your mouse over it and you will see what I mean.
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My Month of April quote:
"Sometimes the only way to get to the far shore is to lose sight of the shore you just left"
Russ Ravary
"helping make your move easier"
your local Metro Detroit Realtor helping clients like you sell and buy homes through out the entire Metro Detroit suburbs. I love showing and selling Oakland County and Livingston County Lake front homes too.
Good words of advice but unfortunately here in Seattle our newspapers are dropping like flies...casualties of the economy I guess...
Gee, I didn't get the mouseover. Wonder if the html coding on the Active Rain blog stripped it. I can only guess what I would have seen had it worked!
Love the map thing. I appreciate the reminder that we are never alone, but for the most part we are who we are, flaws and all.
Hi Russ~ LOL! I would hate to be the one that stole Lenn's maps and used them in their newspaper! Lenn would get them good and rightfully so!
Very good point Russ! Never talk religion, politics or sex at appointments, isn't that what we learned in real estate 101? You are so right though people e-mail anything & everything and then uh-oh its printed!
Loved your graphics, someone is talented!
Al & Peggy Cunningham
http://www.TheHousePeople.com
Hi Russ, I think about this all the time while reading posts here. And I try to keep it smack dab at the front of my mind when I write anything here - be it a comment or a post. Whether it's a newspaper (and I strongly hope and believe they will continue to be around), a prospective employer, or a client - they're all potential witnesses to our rants words. While I occasionally can't resist taking a stand when I think it's important, I've never understood the desire to alienate at least half of the public. In person I spout off about all sorts of things that are important to me but I resist the urge when it comes to creating a permanent written record - especially in a forum that for me is in large part about business. Thanks for a thought provoking post.
Liz
Yes, we should all bow and scrape to the masses. Heaven forbid we not be politically correct at all times, big brother may be watching and taking notes. I'm just sayin.....
Hi, Russ. Too funny, especially the Lenn reference. She's a terrier for sure. No disrespect, Lenn. Just so you know. I sometimes say a few things, I might not want everyone in the world to read, but rarely. If they read it and don't like it, well, I might not want to work with them either. So there. We all want good clients, not tire-kickers. But, even so, there are still some clients I don't want to work with....they'll find the right people to represent them. So, I don't worry about this much. I want quality clients who understand the process and want great representation. Let the rest go.
Russ - this is a great reminder to be careful about what you write and how you write it. Thanks for sharing your insight! Many of my blogs actually come from a column I write in our local newspaper. I am not too worried about those, but I will watch to make sure I am careful with my comments.
Oh be careful what we blog. We just never know who is reading.
i got the mouse over to work! Oh no, Lenn is going to SUE you!
I can't wait for our local paper to drop like a fly. I hope they do pick my comment up. I have always wondered why the paper has been the FIRST to criticize our real estate market, when without our ads, they will fail..I LOVE internet marketing!
Hi Russ, I sure hope you got Lenns permission. I am sure you did. Ok good points all.
BUT, some issues are more important than business in my opinion or at least for me.
I am who I am and God, family come first.
That is to funny Russ, but you never know who is out there that could see it, you are absolutely right about that! Thanks for the post.
Russ, I didn't get the mouse over, either. I'm so jealous of those who did!
There is a recent story of a University of Louisville student who was dismissed. She is sueing the University, claiming her right to free speech was violated.
She had written some racially insensitive material on her blog, which came to the attention of the University.
I thought it was interesting that she found a lawyer to take the case. The University didn't take away her right to free speech -- they didn't shut down her blog. They just didn't want her to be a part of their University community. I imagine they didn't think they wanted a U of L nursing school graduate with that kind of racially insensitive attitude toward the patients in whatever care-giving situation she might be.
Our blogs and comments are out there for the world to see - so be proud of what you're saying, and live with the consequences.
btw - the mouseover worked for me.