Social media is a community of strangers

That was said by someone close to me as I expressed the hurt over a very public falling out with a FB friend I’d become close to over the past few years.

It was a bond more fragile than I knew and was permanently (so it seems) fractured by a poorly executed joke on my part.

I posted impulsively and didn’t think through my choice of words.

My friend felt deeply insulted and in retrospect I can see why.

What followed was blocking from that end and aggressive attempts at character assassination by members of their community.

I wasn’t given a chance to clarify my words as a joke before being viciously attacked and blocked which resulted in me doing some blocking as well.

I want to be clear that I continue to hold this person in high regard and don’t blame them for being upset.

I don’t want to get into the who’s and what was said because that would distract from the point of this post.

Lessons from this (so far):

1. When you choose to live openly and professionally on social media people hold you to a much higher standard and allow you little room for error.

Where one negative experience negates thousands of positive experiences. It isn’t fair or reasonable but it is the reality.

2. I’m now questioning just how strong the bonds are with people I care about, passionately support but have never met in person.

3. I need to be far more thoughtful of what I post and realize the darker side of my humor needs to be saved for those who truly understand that part of my story.

4. I need to hold myself to an even higher standard if I expect to earn and keep the respect of those I ask to trust me to guide them.

I am forever learning, never perfect, brushing off the dust and moving forward. Very humbled and a bit wiser.