PublicityHound said:

I frequently censor myself on social media these four ways:

---On Twitter and elsewhere, I never let people know when I am leaving the house if it's during a time when the house is unoccupied. I'm aghast at the number of people who do. I also find an incredible number of people I'm following who broadcast when they are going on vacation, where they are going and when they are returning home.

---I don't share my politics or religion. During the '08 presidential campaign, a surprising number of people got into shouting matches on Twitter and Facebook over their preferred candidates. If you're a consultant who wears your politics on your shirt sleeve, I probably would not refer my client to you if you describe yourself as "very liberal" and my client is "very conservative" and vice-versa. 

 ---I don't use four-letter words but see lots of business people who do on Twitter and in their blogs, including the F word. A few of them work in the corporate suite and, I'm sure, would never thing of uttering that word in front of clients and other business associates. (So why do you think it's OK to do it online?)

---As difficult as it is sometimes, I try to refrain from criticizing people publicly. I love the saying, "People won't remember what you said or did. But they'll always remember the way you made them feel."

 

ajwconsultingmedia said:

I think your point if valid, I had to go around all my sites and reedit every last one, to make sure that my clients, were getting a positive perceptive of me. Not that there's anything wrong with a little humor....I continue to check for, "what would others think" and then keep it simple. There is a side of me that says "I don't care what others thinks" and sometimes, I go ahead and add it.... so, be cautious, but don't let life rule who you truly are!

MikeDubrall said:

Are you kidding?  I censor myself even at the dinner table - so you can image how traumatic it is for me to try and create a stream of personal tweets about myself.  Everyone censors themselves - unless they are trying to create an on-line spectacle  (there are always people who scream to get attention).  But I am learning a new skill with all the on-line blogging.  Communicating just enough about myself to be interesting and useful - and hopefully generate a comment or two.  But not so much that anyone could be offended – most of all me.   Good blog.

 

operationdestination said:

Love this article!  I confess that I am a self-censored blogger.  I do it all the time.  I see something funny or interesting or enlightening and then...stop short of sharing it because of what some family or clients might think.  Your article really hit home with me.

 

AxelSchultze said:

AWESOME - question. I do in some respect and I don't in others. As you may see here and on other places I blog.

BUT I highly recommend to do so unless you very purposely do not and think through it:

Social Media is developing an additional cultural level on top of many very old and existing cultures. And this makes it harder and harder - almost impossible to respect them all in particular as there are many contradicting each other.

1) So I do not talk about religion or politics unless I'm in a forum or group where that is the topic, purpose or interest - however Google, Yahoo etc. makes it all public so you can't hide it.

2) Other than that, I do not censor myself for the very reasons Patrick mentioned.
B U T - if you don't, you have to live with all consequences. Yes some will like it because all the "yes yes - very nice right on" is boring - others will hate it. Some people appreciate my very direct style others get very aggressive and very personal. Some all of sudden don't care about the content but can write pages about my grammar and typos. I had more than once people asking me whether I'm German and pulled all the old stories just to take me down. So you may be highly discriminated when you speak up. Then others and you can see it here frequently, vote a thumbs down whatever you write - and by doing some more analysis I even know who. For the first time in 5 years blogging I actually didn't approve a comment last week - not because it would be embarrassing for me but for that person, who just didn't comprehend what she was writing. And so for both sides:
ALL YOU WRITE AS BLOG OR COMMENT IS HERE TO STAY FOR EVER.

So all I can say - consider all that when you speak up your mind. I don't mind and will not change - but we all have to consider the consequences very carefully. The line between flame war and random noise is often thin.

To close: there is obviously a wide belt in between with helpful and interesting content that doesn't need to go to the edge, but that was not the question Joyce asked.

@AxelS

For all who have trouble with my writing

JoanDamico said:

I censor myself too, Joyce,  for the same reasons you mention.  In the social media space, it's sometimes difficult to separate business from personal.  So I err on the side of caution and censor.  Having said that, my objectives for social media began from the business rather than personal aspect.

DanRyanTn said:

I am censoring myself more all of the time, especially on my more "business oriented" side of social media.

I want to have a broad appeal, but I also will not sacrifice my core principles.          

KarenHiller said:

I agree with you as well Joyce.

On the other side of the transaction, there is someone in my professional network that just started 'following' a pretty divisive (in my opinion) political fringe character. I can tell you I don’t feel the same about my contact anymore and would wonder how she would fit into my organization. No one wants to bring issues into the workplace and if she is willing to share this so publically I wonder if it would cause problems if I hired her. This is more a gut reaction than an intellectual one but I feel it nonetheless.

JoyceDierschke said:

Thanks for your comment Jon. I agree on the cautious route - for now.

JonBarilone said:

Great point, Joyce! I think an issue many of us have with Social Media is that we like to use it for both personal and professional networking. I may think that Will Ferrell's "Good Cop, Baby Cop" video is hilarious, but will a potential employer think the same?

I definitely censor myself when it comes to whatever I post on any profile because you never know who will see it and how they will interpret it. There are plenty of people out there who throw caution to the wind and society-be-damned if someone gets upset, but I'll take the more cautious route for now. :)

@jonbarilone