I’ve noticed that a common theme among bloggers is to have a short statement saying something like this:
The thoughts of this blog are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of _________ church or _________ organization or _________ business. Don’t blame them if I say something stupid or offensive or yada yada yada…
Well, that may be the case technically, but that doesn’t make a difference practically. If you are writing something and I know you work at a specific church, even if you tell me not to connect what you said with that church, I’m still going to do it.
Try this example:
Say you go to a local restaurant and while in the parking lot, you notice what looks like an employee of the restaurant walking at you with a huge milk shake. As you are about to pass him on your way into said restaurant, he turns and dumps the shake all over you. You are mad and sticky, and offended he would waste such a good shake. You question him saying, “What the heck? I can’t believe you did that.” He runs off and you go in looking for manager of said restaurant to complain. You tell him what happened and explain to him and everyone else in said restaurant that you will never, ever, eat there again.
But the manager looks at you with a puzzled expression on his face and says, “I’m not sure why you are so upset. That employee wasn’t on the clock.”
“But he still works here and I’m out of here!”
That’s a ridiculous story, but if you have one of those conditional statements on your blog, it begs a few questions.
- Why would you not want to have what you say be a reflection of your church, organization or business?
- Does your organization not trust your judgment enough? Better yet, do you not trust your judgment enough?
Here’s something to keep in mind whether you are blogging, talking or even hiring someone: You are always casting vision. As a leader, pastor, salesman, and even parent, all of your words, actions and writings cast vision for both you personally and your organization. There are no passes when it comes to something you blog about. People will always make the connection either consciously or subconsciously. Instead of having a get out jail free sign, why not just be careful about what you say.
And if you are a manager, owner or pastor, don’t hire someone if you don’t trust them to write a blog post that will fit within your parameters of your organization’s vision.
Doug St. Martin
Nicely put Greg! I 100% agree with this. It brings to mind the situation with the recent “swine flu pandemic.” Dr. Oz on Oprah was pushing everyone to get vaccinated, yet he explained that his wife and his children would not be getting the vaccine. Hypocritical behavior from such a “guru” of health. I can not help but associate his hypocracy with Oprah Winfrey and her show. Completely separate entities, but I tie them together due to their association with each other. Oprah may have a completely different character than that, but in my book, she is now his equal. Too bad for her.
January 19, 2010 at 10:01 am
Greg
And welcome Europe to the conversation! Thanks for chiming in Doug. I would bet this is huge in the heath business.
January 19, 2010 at 1:33 pm
anne jackson
since i work for myself, i think it would actually be really funny to have this disclaimer…
January 19, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Greg
That is funny. Want you write one up and we’ll get it out to all the self employed folks! Well, don’t hold me to that…
January 19, 2010 at 1:35 pm
lyontamer73
This article makes a good point, but there is something it leaves out. No matter how someone writes a piece, on a blog or elsewhere, it is the reader who must interpret it. Half the responsibility comes from the reader’s interpretation. To borrow from the milkshake example, what if it were spilled because he tripped, or mistook you for someone else, etc. but you were so busy reacting to being spilt on that you didn’t take this into consideration? Maybe he wasn’t on the clock, or in uniform, at the time? (Many companies require professional behavior while in uniform, but not other times.) And, regarding flu shots, many people do not consider that there was a shortage of the vaccine, and so only the high-risk groups were getting them. Doctors and others urged those in high-risk groups to get it. Not all of them made that clear, though – there is where that doctor made his mistake. But he didn’t refuse it for being a hypocrite, and Oprah isn’t also a hypocrite because of the doctor’s error. (She is for other reasons.
)
It’s tricky. People have an innate tendency to make associations, even when they are not really there. Most of the public is not aware that their brains do this. For that reason, we need to be careful writers and speakers, true. But, as readers and listeners, we also need to be critical thinkers, be aware of our tendency to make associations, and look for more information before simply reacting.
January 19, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Greg
@lyontamer73
Thanks for the reply. I think your idea on reader association and interpretation is a way to reinforce the point I was trying to make which is people are going to make associations whether we want them to or not. So, whether you are on the clock/off the clock, in uniform/out of uniform or any other dichotomy, people are still going to make an association so we should all consider that when we walk out the door or fire out a blog post.
Great thoughts.
January 20, 2010 at 8:23 am
Tweets that mention Don’t blame my boss if I blog something stupid! « Greg Darley -- Topsy.com
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January 19, 2010 at 1:49 pm
chris
So true. We have a choice to make with all our decisions-Will I take responsibility or blame someone else. And sorry for dumping that shake on you…
January 19, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Greg
@chris, if that would have been a chocolate chip peppermint milk shake, I don’t think I would have been that upset!
January 20, 2010 at 8:24 am