Okay, it's time for me to come clean. I am a lousy facebook stalker.
I know, I should be doing all sorts of things techie, and you might think I am "all over the net." But I am not. In fact, I not only don't like the invasion of privacy that is so often the net, I actively choose to not invade other's privacy as well.
So let me share my little rule book with you.
1. I view twitter as I do the ocean. I can't take it all in, even with the people I follow. I will read any and all messages sent @ me, and also the direct messages. I will try, when I am on, to scan the twitter feed of people I follow, but just as I can't catch every wave when I am at the beach, I can't read every tweet that flows my way.
2. I don't chase down people's comments and statements on "the Facebook." My family will tell you that. When asked by my kids or even my wife "did you see ____ on Facebook?" My answer invariably is "No." They have learned--if you want to be sure I see something on Facebook, you might want to let me know through some other means (say, an @ comment or DM on Twitter--or an email!)
3. If a platform is not meant to be a social communication platform, I DEFINITELY don't go there often. This includes Flickr, and PicasaWeb, and Youtube. I view these sites as places to go and see the creations of others, and perhaps be inspired. I certainly don't go there for conversation. If you thought I had been reading your conversations there, i am sorry. It wasn't me.
4. Honestly, I only put things on these sites that I want to have out there, and am willing to share with the world.
5. I have no expectation that the world will care, or even visit anything I write, or photograph, or post. If no one visits, then that is fine. I am not hurt.
6. If I create something for someone (think--water polo videos, or slideshows) I will point out that it is available.
7. Finally, I believe protecting other's privacy is so important that I actually think long and hard before posting things that include other people in them, and often will ensure (double, and triple check the privacy settings) that I have shared certain things only with those people. Generally these are family photographs, or photographs from events, and I will share those with "family and friends."
So there are my "not so short" rules that I live by when it comes to social media.
Now, dear reader, let me ask you: are you more or less open with your life and sharing your thoughts with the world now that we are in the era of "social"?
Or more importantly--do you really know just how much you are sharing, and how much "anyone" can actually see?
Let me know YOUR thoughts (in the comments, or in twitter! But remember to @ me, or I might not see it. LOL)