Keep It Vanilla!

"I'll think before I Twitter next time!"

With the advent of text messages, Facebook and Twitter I'm constantly telling my son and other young people that you can't write down everything that you're thinking. I need to extend that to a lot of adults I know as well.  Sometimes you have to use some self control and leave some thoughts in your head because once you write it down it becomes a public record.  

 Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall learned an expensive lesson this week after losing a lucrative endorsement deal with Champion Apparel after sending out controversial comments via Twitter about the death of Osama bin Laden and the events of 9/11. On Monday he tweeted "What kind of person celebrates death? It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side..."

He also tweeted, in reference to the 9/11 terror attacks: "We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."

In response to the remarks Champion released the following statement:

"While we respect Mr. Mendenhall's right to express sincere thoughts regarding potentially controversial topics, we no longer believe that Mr. Mendenhall can appropriately represent Champion and we have notified Mr. Mendenhall that we are ending our business relationship. Champion has appreciated its association with Mr. Mendenhall during his early professional football career and found him to be a dedicated and conscientious young athlete. We sincerely wish him all the best."

Now this guy has lost money because he made a comment that was at best a complete waste of his time. When are people going to wise up and get it? Social media is a valuable tool if used properly. It's  great for networking etc. but you've got to use common sense when using it. Don't write it down if it's questionable! It's really just that simple.

I'm always blown away when I see people talking crazy and using derogatory language to express themselves like the person that they were talking to is going to be the only one reading it. Employers, colleges and yes parents, are checking Facebook and Twitter. So why say something crazy while using it? Keep everything clean and bland and you'll stay out of trouble. If you've got something that bad to say. Just pick up the phone and give it to them live and direct. That way, it's your word against theirs.

I've seen more people go to jail, get fired or lose out on a job or opportunity because they've said something crazy on the Internet. If you want to find out who the real person is just check their Facebook or Twitter accounts. More often than not if a person lacks good judgement you'll find out on the Internet.

Sure, we all from time to time want to say or do something crazy but that's when good judgement and self-control takes over. We live in a world with rules and regulations that are supposed to be adhered to. People that can't seem to follow them are typically housed in places called penitentiary's. Life is like playing poker. You can't always show your hand. So do me a favor folks,  just keep it Vanilla!

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Jay Graves

Follow me on Twitter:@jaygravesreport