Welcome!
If you are new to blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking, etc., here are a few tips on what not to do to keep you on track with the happiest existence possible:
Do not respond to hostile communication. Yes, it’s unfortunate, there are more that a few odd balls out there who find great pleasure in attempting to destroy others with words. Do not engage in communication with them, their agenda is far different from yours. Post your glorious content, engage in pleasant or heated conversations with non-odd balls and live your fabulous life!
If you are posting content to the Internet via any medium (your own web site, Twitter, Facebook, blogging, etc) you have an obligation to the world to be the best you can be. If you are not, always remember that no matter how anonymous you incorrectly believe your words may be, YOU ARE WHAT YOU WRITE. Your words are a direct reflection of the kind of person you are, the kind of person you have been and the kind of person you will be.
If you are interested in garnering respect in any aspect of your life, your first step is your word. If you are incapable of doing this then you need to come to terms with how society will perceive you long term and the repercussions of that perception.
A few examples of poor online expression are as follows:
Posting unauthorized photos of people. This action will quickly shrink your circle of trusted acquaintances. With strangers, you never know who you are taking pictures of and you certainly would never dream of accepting part of the responsibility should the stranger be harmed due to their photo going public now would you? Weak as water!
Constant profanity. Using constant profanity in written communication is a quick way to convey to your audience that you are unable to control your own impulses.
Half-truths. Responding to a situation before you have the facts or simply writing about events before you have done research will decrease your perceived intelligence by the public greatly.
Crime. No one wants to live out their remaining years in a 6′ x 8′ with no glorious comforts like Pop Tarts and warm fleece blankets in the winter.
Possible repercussions of poor online expression include being categorized as an untrustworthy person. This categorization will impact many aspects of your life including limiting your options of getting and maintaining a job, getting and maintaining relationships with others, satisfaction out of life or lack thereof, and the final meeting of the maker you may or may not believe in when you die.
There are numerous examples of extremely successful people in the world who have made a fortune off of participating in poor online expression. As a human you have the ability to choose any path you like. Just remember, you are the only one in the entire universe that has to live inside your head for all eternity and no amount of outside racket or man-made substances will stop the voices in your head. Make the journey the best it can be by learning from mistakes and getting better. We are (possibly) only here once; make it count.
I have to go now; I have a million more mistakes to make before bedtime.
Coding Under the Stars 