My Grandma Never Crocheted Anything about Facebook

I can not even imagine what it would be like to sit with my grandma and show her my facebook page. I don't even know what she would think. Clicking here, things popping up there. I never even got the opportunity to even share e-mail with her. Even though my grandmother is not here for me to show her my FB if she was, there isn't anything on there that I would be embarrassed for her to see or read. There is the exception of a few of my friends' pages... or even my cousin for that matter. She might fall over dead if she saw that one! Though FB is a fabulous place to showcase your life and keep virtually in-touch with friends and family... it is no place to be actin' a fool. 

YOUR IN PUBLIC. Though it may not feel as such, you are, and if you wouldn't be taken off your shirt and showing everyone your cute new bra in the middle of times square in January than DO NOT show anyone on FB either! This is also not the place to showcase your intimate make out sessions with that hot new boy you met the other night and is now your hot new boyfriend. We are all so happy for you that you have a new love interest. I still don't want to be present at your kissing sessions nor does anyone else; virtually or other wise. The proper way to broadcast your love is using your relationship status in your information section. It will even come up on everyones news feed. But remember it will also come up in their news feed when you break up, so be cautious before you go around making it FB official you are in a relationship (if you are not already cautious for the sake of propriety). Getting off my soap box here is a list of my do's and dont's of FB:

Do:

• update your info regularly (every few months or after any significant change) 
  

• delete applications and groups you don't visit/ use regularly 
  

• write a quick "hello how are ya" on your friends walls every few months... thats why you should be fb friends to keep in touch.
  

• FB stalk, if people don't want you to read or see then they shouldn't put it up 
  

• use your status... how is anyone supposed to know what you are up to?

• go through your tagged photos of your self... un-tag some of the not so flattering ones. Besides which if someone is checking out your profile you can't look through 700+ photos of someone, the ten of you in the same place but you hand moves ever so slightly are my favorite examples of this. (another good rule is after photos being up for 6 months if its not your favorite one of you un-tag it)

• check your privacy settings limit what info people can see who are not your friend.

• take advantage of the privacy settings when creating a photo album for those pictures of you and your friends you want to share with them but not necessarily your future employer or grandmother.

Don't:

• Friend everyone! If you would not write on their wall comment on any of their activity they are not a friend. The ONLY exception is if you are using it as a work tool for networking and even then I suggest using a networking site such as LinkedIn
  

• use someone's wall as a way to hash out a disagreement, break up, or any other personal or private conversation!!!! If you really can not talk to them face to face use e-mail or at least send them a private message on FB. IT IS MOST CERTAINLY THE LAST PLACE FOR AN APOLOGY OF ANY KIND!!!
  

• go looking for trouble because you are nosy with your FB stalking you may feel awkward when you have to explain why you know something later on. Especially if others don't follow my list of do's and dont's. 
  

• update your status everyday. If you are habitual status updater use something like twitter to let everyone know what you are doing all day everyday.

There is so much out there in terms of FB etiquette. There is even a Facebook Etiquette group. (Not that I recommend joining... I think they are a little over the top example 17. when you make an album tag and caption all pictures except group shots of 15 or more. ummmm get a life!) Just always keep in mind you are in public. Look at all the options for your settings. It will allow you to go skinny dipping here and there with out getting caught or have explaining to do. 

If you still encounter a question of proper Facebooking write me!

Etiquette The Lost Art

In a world where anything goes sometimes we struggle to figure out where things really go. We never seem to loose sight of what is fashionable (well at least most of us) but even then, sometimes with all that is out there we forget about some of those fabulous essentials and overdo it. We can walk out of the house one trendy mess. But those of us who always keep those classics in our every day wardrobe and adorn it with those new fab pieces we splurge on, we walk out looking amazing. Socially speaking it is time to go to the back of the closet and dust off some of those essential teachings of etiquette our grandmothers crocheted on pillows. If we give them a modern twist they will guide us to be better connected through thoughtfulness and kindness; not just through facebook, twitter, blogs, e-mail, and what ever other social media is out there. Today we need to know where to sit your fiancé's father and his new girlfriend  (who happens to be your age), do you bring a hostess gift, what is a hostess gift, do I send a thank you via e-mail or snail mail, and what about those social medias you use... there is proper facebook etiquette believe it or not! Ahhh it could make your head spin... but lets stop spinning as I blog some of my solutions and my favorite web sites that tamed all my social nerves.