Oct 20 2008
Does Your Message Change?
As more people follow your blog, twitter stream, Facebook page, or forum posts do you change the message or the way you talk? Understandably we all have to use different voices depending on the audience. We don’t, or at least shouldn’t, address our grandparents in the same way that we talk to our young friends. And we certainly shouldn’t be talking to the people at work in the same way that we talk to our children – trust me, I have tried it and it isn’t pretty.
The question remains though, do you significantly change your message? If all of a sudden I become aware that some relatively important people are now reading my twits on Twitter, is it appropriate or even wise to change the way I use that medium or what I am saying on it?
On one hand, they must have followed me for a reason. So, if I change to make myself more serious or less controversial then perhaps I am changing away from what they were looking for. On the other hand, maybe they didn’t know what they were getting themselves in to. Maybe I need to clean up my act so that I am more “acceptable” to these people and can hopefully keep them around as followers so that I can get my message out. But then, is it my message if I have changed for them?
Again, you are going to dress up for a job interview, you are going to be quiet in a library, and you are not going to curse around a minister. But, you went into those situations knowing that you would moderate your behavior. If someone enters your environment, of their own will and knowing what lies there, do you change to suit them, or to what you think suits them?
What are your thoughts? I really need to hear you on this one. And thanks for following along!
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Tags: facebook, followers, manners, personality, speech, Twitter
Honestly, there are only a few reasons why I could change my tone in my blog, on my facebook, or in a forum post. One reason would be if my career became at risk because of what I was posting on the internet.
Obviously I’m not going to run around the internet bragging about my 48 hour bender last weekend because I don’t know who is reading what I write. This doesn’t mean though that I’m going to stop being a sarcastic jerk on my blog or writing super random and weird status updates on facebook. That is who I am and obviously people are reading my blog because they like what I had to say AND the way I said it. The internet is full of the same thing, some people just say it in a way you might prefer.
Jesses last blog post..LittleBigPlanet Delayed
I’ve been told my blog persona is a bit kinder and a lot more reasoned than in “real life.”
Jamess last blog post..Two Pesky Problems in Logic that Spiritual Types (particularly liberals) Should Attend To
I’ve certainly struggled with this in the past and still find myself deleting my facebook status if it’s inappropriate for my professional colleagues to read. But I’ve made a concerted effort to start living more “honestly” (for lack of a better word). I’ve spent many years living two lives (my personal life vs. my professional life) but now that I’ve reached a certain age and a certain state of career independence, it’s much easier. If I don’t feel comfortable posting it on the Internet, I probably shouldn’t be doing it!
@Jesse – Yes, some people don’t realize that when they apply for jobs that the prospective employers Google them. Bragging about benders, stealing office supplies, and talking bad about your boss usually doesn’t help you get the job.
@James – Now that is scary!
@tNb – Maybe it is an age and place-in-career thing. I don’t seem to care as much as I used to, and people can either take me or leave me. The old saying goes something like “I would rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not.” I feel the same way.
For the most part anyway. I guess the question is does the audience come to see us and what we want to give them, or are we expected to give the audience what they want and expect?
Mike,
If you are a serious blogger, your blog(s) should evolve with you. If you follow what is popular and what isn’t, I think you’ll find the posts that reach the largest audience are the ones that you wrote with the least amount of effort.
If you are writing for profit — then you’ll probably be bored out of your mind in a couple of months — if you blog because you must — then you’ll find true success. You may not get rich, but you’ll be content.
I know when I write a post that doesn’t quite fit my personality — I want to delete it almost immediately. Judas Priest, if I can’t be myself on my own blog — then I’m probably giving up too much personal information in my “about me” or in photographs. That’s a big mistake that some people make. Ultimately, you end up with a wimpy, auto-biography full of lies and slick advertising about how great your life is. (Geez, I’m jaded.)
Blogs should be somewhat private in that you can share your dirty, gritty side with the rest of the world, but there are no serious consequences other than what YOU think. FTW — this is what blogs were supposed to be — freedom to speak your mind.
I’ve vented enough. Have a nice day!
Snow Vandemores last blog post..Ten Internet Links No One Ever Clicks (or should)
@Snow – that certainly makes me want to go dig even deeper into your blog! I haven’t seen that dark side of you anywhere on it. (Is the dark eyed avatar you?)
I understand what you mean though about the way you feel when you write one that really isn’t you. Those make my skin crawl and I hope nobody notices them. I usually post something else real soon afterwards to distract attention away.
About the avatar — take a look around and you’ll be able to answer that question all by yourself.
Snow Vandemores last blog post..Video: McCain Supporters Taunt NC Early Voters
sports message…
There is only one way to skin this critter, and that is a whole lot of anger and rage….
career change motivation…
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Twitter is much like a business connection. For me, it differs from connecting with members from other social sites. Blogcatalog is highly interactive, and I have met many new friends and followers in BC. Stumble is fantastic too.
My message on childhood has not changed; I am driven by the theme of my blog. If we stay true to our intention, the blog has greater appeal and first impression does last. I find I have lots of returning visitors coming from search engines, which are organic traffic.
People want to read your thoughts and feeling about things that matter to the blogger. But there are many blogs that are so professionally dressed to look like a commercial site, readers may not even know that they are actually reading a blog.
I am glad you post this thought.
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