At lunch the other day, I was lamenting the fact that my professional world and my social world have collided, all because of Facebook/Twitter. My updates (as brilliant as they may be) are silly, ridiculous and not what I would want repeated back to me in a job interview. And yet, some of my friends on Facebook/Twitter are people I work with, have worked with, or hope to work with someday. (Does that sound like an Article of Faith?)
Case in point: While at the grocery store I run into a "business" friend. Someone I have known for over 15 years. I have not seen him in sometime. He shoots me a quirky smile and says "Well, I am sure learning A LOT about you".
Yikes, it looks like he now knows about Sue, not just Susan. See this post for an explanation.
My friend told me not to worry, that people who know me realize that I am multi-faceted and they will love all sides of me. (Raquel has a way of always making me feel fabulous). But I am not convinced. What if a future employer is interviewing me for an awesome job someday, and he brings up the facts that I called the OctoMom a "real life Octopussy"? (Seriously one of my best jokes ever, right?)
007 (new name for R) is no help at all. If it were up to him, I would never share anything personal with anyone. He is a very private person, and has had to learn to adapt to the fact that I am not.
And as the Princess would say, "Mom, you're sooo embarrassing".
10 comments:
Octopussy... exactly why you are awesome.
I get this, I really do (love your new look by the way). Just last night I commented on a former co-workers update that I had just stopped myself from typing something wholly inappropriate (he left the door wide open). I got ribbed a bit for that from other current co-workers but I thought hey, I'm old enough to be this kid's mom and I used to be his boss. But if it had been one of you well then I would have loved to let it rip.
*sigh*
But I say keep it coming--I love you just the way you are.
octopussy could go down as the greatest blog joke ever TOLD!
i know what you mean though, i mean look at my post today. now my mom knows that in the 7th grade i was letting a boy stick his tongue down my throat.
what mother wants to know that?
OVERSHARING, it's my curse
I feel you, sister. I had to unfriend all the young women (and young men) on my Facebook list because a parent of one of them was "shocked" at some of my pictures. It makes me sad.
Sassy tells me that I am embarrassing, too. She hates when I post pics of her on the blog. Too bad. I'm the mom.
I'm with CW, I can't tell you how many times I've had to keep my snark in check.
So that's my problem. My worlds have been collided from the beginning. (My english teacher should be proud.)
Sue(san), if I was your former boss, co-worker, or prospective employer I would hope to know you as fully-faceted rather than strategically selected. The whole person is usually better. In your case? Definitely!
(That said, I still wouldn't let Peachy start Facebooking.)
I totally get you though. My job-persona is no problem, being self-employed, but I do find it strange to have the different worlds I have move and move in coming together on Facebook. F'rinstance, are my young women's eyes gonna fry when I occasionally get a colorful message from an old friend who's. . . uh . . . not going to church with me on Sunday? I'm trying to see it as a Big Chance to practice being the same person at all times. That means sometimes restraining an impulse, but more often it means embracing my whole self and letting it be okay for others to make their own choices about me.
I think Sue, Susan, and even poor Peachy are all pretty great.
May I quote your blog header back to you?? :-)
It is a tough balance to strike. I struggled with the same thing when I had my own online business. Eventually I decided to separate my blog and website because it wasn't worth the sacrifice I felt I was making for authenticity. But maybe it IS worth it for YOU.
I've found that by being myself on my blog, I've attracted people to me that are like me. It's amazing how many liberal Mormons are out there!! I'm much happier now than when I was trying to blend in just to not upset the status quo. I wrote a whole post about this sort of topic of privacy. It's my very first blog post ever so it's fairly easy to find if you're interested.
Octopussy? FUNNY.
I can't imagine ANYONE not loving every side of you - I do! I think you are a breath of fresh air, truly.
And if I ever interview you for a job someday? I will simply hire you BECAUSE of the Octopussy remark. Genius!
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