Comments on: Surviving Online Shame

By: Tuesday

Tuesday — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:01:51 +0000

Hi Chris! I think if Paris Hilton can go on with her life, we all can too. LOL. We just need to follow it up with good PR. Everyone makes mistakes and I don’t think anyone can be spared of an embarrasing moment or two. At least it makes for a great anecdote someday…

By: Chris Garrett

Chris Garrett — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:08:52 +0000

@Lorelle – Nuggets of wisdom as always, thanks! Yeah the impulsive acts are often the ones that catch us out, and often things are worse in our imagination than in reality. Thankfully! :)

By: Lorelle VanFossen

Lorelle VanFossen — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:30:51 +0000

You’ve made a good point, Chris – and Chris – but here’s a really important one. Much of the embarrassment we get from things we put online (which we thought were a good idea when initiated) or do in “public” are shameful because we think they are. The other parties might not even care, notice, or laugh it off. We make stuff up in our heads with entire conversations and life stories that have nothing to do with the moment of shame – and we make it worse by feeling embarrassed or “caught out right” which is dumb.

The awesome thing about the Internet is that there is a moment before you hit the Publish button, be it blog, email, YouTube, flickr, Twitter, etc., that you should think before you click. The problem is that people don’t take advantage of that moment enough. Maybe all computers and cells should come with a warning from the Internet attorney general that says:

“Think before thy click. Clicking could be harmful to your health.”

As for foot-in-mouth disease, for some it’s terminal. :D

By: Chris Garrett

Chris Garrett — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 10:30:46 +0000

@Jay – Good point, if it becomes a habit then perhaps the problems are deeper :)

@Chris – Thanks for being so understanding, and glad you got home safe so you could finally get some rest :)

By: Chris Brogan...

Chris Brogan... — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:28:33 +0000

You’re so funny. You know that I was teasing you, right? The folks in the room got a big kick out of it, and I was just happy to see you.

If Flickr didn’t spit the dummy, my only 2 pics of you from the event are up. : )

By: Jay

Jay — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:55:58 +0000

Good post, Chris, and one that deserves some consideration. Of course, there are one-time foibles, and there are the repeat offenders (author of article excluded :-). I would think an indiscretion is forgivable, but someone who continues down that path may not be able to repair such damage.

It’s about being aware of your Internet surroundings and having a good time, but not losing control. Not too different from the real world, I’d say.