posted on Monday, May 20, 2019
It's None of Your Business
Growing up in our house back in the 60s, we were often told those five words. Our parents also said these words if we asked about others. That statement meant that we were to move off that subject and to not bring it up again. This lesson taught us that some things are just personal and private.
I’ve been doing an unscientific study of this subject. It’s been a very long time since I’ve heard anyone say, “It’s none of your business.” It seems as if we’ve come to a time where everything is everybody’s business. Today, social media makes it possible to instantly put everything out there. It is a platform that allows others to easily find out information about people's personal lives. Many people seem to find themselves very interesting, marketable and believing that everyone enjoys hearing their opinion. I recently talked with a social media professional and she discussed the topic of oversharing online. This trend is when people post frequently and in-depth about their personal lives– pictures of their children, personal accomplishments, relationships, travels, and even just their daily routine.
When people post these details on their blogs or social media accounts, they are inviting others into their lives. However, as we all know, not all people are friendly and supportive of what we do. Sharing this information invites others to share their opinions and comment on your own choices.
The advice? Think before you share details of your personal life. It means people you may not even know will have instant access to you. And if you do share, you better be open to hearing both the good and the bad responses.
My research is unscientific, but things seemed a little more civil in the days where we minded our own business a little more.
"A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that's not his is like one who grabs a dog by the ears."
Proverbs 26:17
Your Challenge
Think before sharing. Ask yourself, “Do others really need to know this and do I want this out there forever?”
Respectfully,
Al Kerns & the Ed Thomas Family Foundation
This post is written by Al Kerns, a long-time friend of Ed Thomas and a team member with the Ed Thomas Family Foundation. Al coached with Ed for 30+ years at Aplington-Parkersburg.