Sunday, October 11, 2009
Want the good life? Watch what you post
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Beckham Stanley
Stanley, of Bedford County, is a freshman at Hampden-Sydney College.
When it comes to Internet exposure, there are clear boundaries between what is acceptable and what is not. Nudity, drug references, and depictions of alcohol use are just a few of many embarrassing things posted on Facebook every day. The decisions you make now regarding online exposure can bring on debilitating consequences down the road. It may cost you a job, or maybe even a potential love interest, all the while bringing shame on you, your family and your friends. I refrain from posting such material on my Facebook profile. Here is why you should too.
Any competent person can see the difference between material that will enhance one's reputation and material that will degrade one's reputation. However, it seems as though some people simply do not care. Every day, new pictures are posted on Facebook that were taken at the previous weekend party. They are all the same. Mostly fuzzy pictures of beer, liquor, weed and trashy looking girls. Each and every day, people get rejected by the school of their choice, don't receive social invitations, fail to become employed or are blatantly teased.
Instead of furthering their reputation, most teens today just don't care what graduate schools, family friends or future employers think. Those who do, however, reap the benefits. They are the ones who become the bosses, the trust-funders, the highest paid. They go on to have a parking space right next to their offices. They will get off at 2 o'clock every Wednesday afternoon and drive their Porsche to the local country club for a few beers and the back nine. They go home to a faithful wife each night. It may be hard to believe, but this is the society we live in today. Hard work and honesty do pay off. Trashy, rude, foolish behavior does not.
When I think of an attractive woman, I think of good looks, a nice smile, a prevalent family and of course, a good education. Do you think a woman with this background would ever consider pursuing a relationship with someone who posts as his Facebook status, "Gone to hit the pipe, gonna be in the clouds!" or "huuungover"? I doubt it. She is going to want to see clean pictures and witty jokes on a Facebook page. Accomplishments in the info section. Favorite books under interests. Family photos -- not images that show you dancing with a drunken girl who is probably under 18. Attractive women want classy guys, not slobs who decorate their Internet sites with garbage.
When I was younger, I indulged in some things that I regret. To make things even worse, there were pictures of me doing those things posted on the Internet. The worst one is of me bonging a beer in my living room while my parents were out of town. And then bonging another one on the deck. And another while standing on top of our antique dining room table. Do not get me wrong, it was a fun night. Waking up two days later to discover my mother looking at these pictures on Facebook was less than enjoyable. I'm pretty sure that she is still upset about that instance, and to be honest, so am I. Since then, I have removed such pictures and learned a valuable lesson in the process. Regardless of whether one participates in that behavior, what makes it anyone else's business? You do, by uploading such pictures onto the Internet.
Drug references, trashy language, rude comments and foolish photos can ruin anyone's reputation.
Exhibiting personal views, opinions or photos is no different than expressing such things in public because the Internet is in fact a public place. Instead of posting inappropriate material, make it a point to boost your reputation, your network and your social prowess by providing your friends on Facebook with clean pictures, witty humor and intellectual facts about yourself. Do this, and you will be that much closer to achieving goals that do matter: hot women, lots of money and a supportive, loving family.
