A male client, a corporate professional in his forties living in a small community and recently divorced came up with a good rule of thumb we could all use to more easily judge appropriateness of our actions. While out one evening for a few drinks with friends he found himself at the bar publicly displaying affections to a woman he just met. For a brief second he became aware of himself and how they must look to others and became slightly concerned if there was anyone at the bar who might know him professionally. After getting out of his "old school thinking" and realizing how widespread and quickly information can travel he really began to worry when realizing that anyone could be photographing him, worse making a movie of his PDA and sending it off to Youtube, Facebook or any networking web site, for the whole world to view! At that moment he pledged that would never do anything in a public place without first asking himself, "Would I want this being shown on Youtube for all to see?" Big brother is really watching and sharing it with anyone who wants to see it. mmmmm.....
Interesting and true. I have read this before recently. I find it a sad statement about us as a people though. I'm sure this could be helpful in avoiding personal embarrassments in a corporate setting, especially with more explicit behavior such as public drunkenness or such social taboos as revealing ones ignorance through the telling of a racial or sexist joke. These would be good things, I suppose. But I find myself feeling sorry that a single, successful businessman is now afraid to put himself out there with a public display of affection that could lead to a happy relationship with a woman he obviously finds attractive.
ReplyDeleteThere is that old adage that goes something like this: "Sing like no one is listening, dance like no one is watching." But in today's world of 24/7 instant news, fb, and youtube, we are all becoming the people we think we should be as others see us, as opposed to truly finding out who we really are, or can be. Don't you think that can and will have negative impacts upon us by inhibiting personal growth?
I love that perspective. Why not be who we are even if it might effect us negatively?
ReplyDeleteMethos,
ReplyDeleteI will make sure that my client reads your post. It may be important for him to see that there are people who believe, as you do, that having a spontaneous moment is an important part of living life to the fullest. Life is short, it should be sweet.
It's exciting to think that everyone can help out my clients!!